| Abbreviation | ICOS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2002 (2002) |
| Type | International relationsthink tank |
| Location | |
President and Founder | Norine MacDonald |
| Website | www.icosgroup.net |
The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) is an internationalthink tank that focuses onAfghanistan and other conflict zones all over the world such asIraq,[2][3]Syria andSomalia.[4][5] ICOS is a project of theNetwork of European Foundations' The Mercator Fund.[6] The organization was originally named theSenlis Council[7] in 2002 but later in 2013 renamed as the International Council on Security and Development to reflect the interest and activities of theorganization.[8]
The organization works onsecurity anddevelopment issues and states that its objective is "to promote open debate to alleviate current governance, development and economic crises and ensure policymaking in these areas is informed, humanitarian and delivers impact."[9]
The organization currently runs five programs:Human Security and Youth Inclusion,Education and Employment,Public Safety and Citizenship,Global Food Security andThe Rome Consensus for a Humanitarian Drug Policy.[10]
The program on Human Security and Youth Inclusion focuses on contemporary conflict zones, includingAfghanistan,Iraq,Syria andSomalia. Reports have noted the problem of unemployment leading to "Angry Young Men" becoming involved in insurgency actions.[11][12] The 2010 field research in Afghanistan showed how Afghans were unaware of 11 September attacks,[13] and the negative views held by Afghan citizens against the foreign forces.[14] Reports have drawn controversy, withNATO spokesmen disputing an ICOS report's findings on the extent of theTaliban presence in Afghanistan.[15] The findings on the ineffectiveness of Canadian development aid in Kandahar were also disputed byCIDA officials, regarding food aid and hospitals.[16]
ThePublic Safety and Citizenship initiative "identifies global challenges for public safety in the 21st century".[17] ICOS supports social and economic development, using a "Policy Labs" tool ofparticipatory decision-making. It has conducted a pilot project inAsuncion,Paraguay, addressing the problem of crack consumption and trafficking, and it has also worked inFarmiga, a community in theTijuca neighborhood ofRio de Janeiro, on improving public safety in cooperation with the localPacifying Police Unit.[18]
The program on Global Food Security, in collaboration with theSir Ratan Tata Trust andCINI, examines the intersection betweenfood security, development, and state security. It currently focuses onIndia andBrazil, while maintaining a central aggregation website for information on food security.[19]
Norine MacDonald QC isFounder andPresident of ICOS.[20]
Emmanuel Reinert isexecutive director and works out of the Rio de Janeiro office.[21]
One of the major policy recommendations is thelicensing of opium in Afghanistan for pharmaceutical purposes.[22] They argue that it is based on the premise that there are two problems that need to be solved:
They contend that this would be a short-to-medium-term solution to address the opium crisis that is occurring in Afghanistan since alternative livelihood programs in the country will take many years to come to fruition and no crop matches theagronomic properties of opium.[23] Meanwhile, according to theWorld Health Organization there are unmet needs for morphine in developed countries[24] and this is an even greater problem in developing countries, compounded by the growing rates of HIV/AIDS and cancer around the world.[25]
Nobel Prize in Chemistry LaureateJohn Charles Polanyi andStéphane Dion, leader of theLiberal Party of Canada, have expressed their support for the poppy for medicines project.[26]
The organization has carried out some food aid activities in informalinternal refugee camps in the provinces ofKandahar andHelmand in southern Afghanistan.[27]
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