The Centre is based in the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford. It is an acknowledged centre of excellence in a broad range of international peace and security areas. In particular, CICS has developed cutting-edge research and policy-programme expertise in the inter-relationships between violent conflict, human security, social development, governance and environmental sustainability. It is able to draw upon its own resources and an international network of over two hundred subject-matter experts. CICS researchers are internationally recognised for their expertise and contributions to regional and international negotiations and to the development and implementation of international co-operation and technical assistance programmes. CICS conducts academic and policy-programme research, training and programme evaluation on a range of conflict and co-operation issues, including international affairs, international assistance and co-operation programmes, trans-national policy and governance issues, particularly in the areas of:

• violent conflict, security and development;
• security sector reform;
• democratic governance;
• conflict prevention and reduction;
• post-conflict peace-building, Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), reconstruction and recovery;
• democratisation and democratic institution building, particularly in fragile and post-conflict countries;
• trans-national trafficking and organized crime; and
• non-proliferation, weapons reduction, arms control and confidence building measures.