In 1994, the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) initiated its first project in the Africa and the Middle East region—an academy-building effort in Somalia. In the years that have passed since this event, ICITAP has delivered a wide range of specialized training in nearly 30 countries located throughout Africa and the Middle East.

Today, ICITAP is involved on the African continent in several innovative programs that receive funding support from the U.S. Agency for International Development; the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and its Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

• In northern Uganda, ICITAP pioneered a community justice project that improved coordination between police, prisons, and courts.
• ICITAP's first MCC program was implemented in Malawi, and a precedent was set for subsequent MCC anti-corruption programs in other regions.
• ICITAP is a partner with the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT) in the Women's Justice and Empowerment Initiative—a presidential initiative that seeks to improve the ability of the governments of Benin, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate gender-based crime.

ICITAP programs are underway in more than a dozen countries in Africa and the Middle East. Learn more about ICITAP's training and technical assistance programs in this region:

Benin
Since 2002, ICITAP has provided training and technical assistance in criminal case management and investigations, including questioned documents examinations. Benin is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will provide training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Gabon
ICITAP began working with the State Department in 2007 on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Gambia
ICITAP began working with the State Department in 2007 on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Ghana
In 1999, ICITAP began providing training and technical assistance to Ghana's police service on civil disorder management, sex crimes investigation, first responder training, and community policing. The comprehensive program—which has included instructor development, mid-level management, basic criminal investigations, media relations, narcotics investigations, and internal affairs—is part of a major democracy-building initiative in Ghana. One of ICITAP's projects has been institutionalized in Ghana; in 2006, the inspector general of police announced that ICITAP's 16-week Basic Skills Development Program had been officially adopted as a core component of the police service's training.

Kenya
In July 2005, ICITAP provided Kenyan investigators training in basic criminal investigations. Kenya is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will be providing training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Madagascar
ICITAP began providing human trafficking investigations training to law enforcement investigators throughout the country in 2008. The project is focused on establishing the first nationwide interagency law enforcement unit dedicated to combating trafficking-in-persons.

Mozambique
ICITAP's work in Mozambique has contributed to the development of law enforcement capabilities in three critical areas. The initial project, in 2003, assisted the Academy of Police Sciences in creating training requirements for the Mozambican police and created a training forensics laboratory at the academy. The following year, ICITAP initiated a community policing project that included the creation and deployment of bicycle patrol units.

Nigeria
In 2002, ICITAP provided training in Nigeria on civil disorder management and election security. ICITAP also provided technical assistance on recruiting and training criminal investigators for the Police Service Commission, a civilian oversight body for the Nigerian police force. ICITAP has helped Nigeria reform its police training. ICITAP's development effort has included enhancing management capabilities and establishing a community policing pilot program in Kaduna. ICITAP is also working with the State Department on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Senegal
In 2002, ICITAP initiated a three-pronged law enforcement development program focused on mid-level management training for officers in Senegal's gendarmerie and national police, and on drug investigation training, including drug testing techniques and laboratory management. More recently, ICITAP launched a project to help establish a community policing program and an office to combat trafficking in persons. ICITAP is also working with the State Department on a program in Senegal to further combat trafficking in persons.

South Africa
ICITAP began a project in 2003 to help the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) become a full-service police organization. Working with senior JMPD officials, ICITAP developed a complete standard operating procedures and policy manual, and provided support for the development of basic recruit and in-service training. South Africa is one of four African countries in which ICITAP will be providing training and technical assistance—under the Women's Empowerment and Justice Initiative—to combat gender-based violence.

Sudan
ICITAP, working with the State Department, launched an election security program in southern Sudan in 2008 to provide police officers with the democratic policing skills necessary to maintain order during upcoming landmark elections.

Tanzania
ICITAP's assistance to Tanzania began in 2002 in response to the 1998 terrorist bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam. ICITAP's support has focused on civil disorder management and election security, basic police skills, criminal investigations, police training and curriculum development, and the establishment of a criminal forensics laboratory. ICITAP is working with Tanzania's police force, immigration service, and labor ministry on a program to combat trafficking in persons.

Uganda
Since the inception of its law enforcement development program in 2003, ICITAP has helped the Ugandan police force improve its basic and criminal investigation skills, including forensics capabilities, and has assisted in building criminal intelligence management systems. ICITAP has promoted training academy development, and is currently working with the State Department on a program to combat trafficking in persons.