informationsstelle südliches afrika/ Information Service Southern Africa
(Magazine "Africa South", Bonn)
| Adress |
informationsstelle südliches afrika
Königswinterer Straße. 116
53227 Bonn |
| Tel. |
+49-228 - 464369 |
| Fax |
+49-228 - 468177 |
| Email |
issa@comlink.org |
| Homepage |
www.issa-bonn.org |
| Contact |
Hein Möllers |
The information centre on Southern Africa or issa – as it
is commonly abbreviated in small letters – has already been
the address for expert information on the region for 30 years. Founded
as a registered association in 1971, issa now has approximately
180, mainly supporting, members.
The office with five salaried staff – two of which work full-time
– and interns is in charge of educational work and briefing
on development, collection and assessment of all relevant information
on the region of Southern Africa for the public and information
through individual investigation, consultation, books and magazines.
Geographically, the area of Southern Africa is covered while this
region is politically identical with the SADC (South African Developing
Countries). This emphasis derives, on the one hand, from the current
development in the region and, on the other, from the demand for
certain topics.
The main means of providing information is the periodical "afrika
süd" (Africa - South) with the integrated "sadc-brief"
(SADC circular). It is issued every two months with a circulation
of around 1,700. Further publications are the two book series "issa
– wissenschaftliche Reihe" (scientific series) with
analyses and background information on the developments in Southern
Africa and the relations between the North and the South as well
as the "edition südliches afrika" (Edition Southern
Africa) with fiction and non-fiction from the region.
issa keeps a comprehensive archive which is presently being stored
on a data bank:
 | a library of approx. 5,000 specialized books |
| an archive with approx. 130 periodicals and press overviews |
| a documentation with approx. 400,000 documents ranging from
fliers to unpublished investigations and expert opinions, classified
into geographical criteria and subjects. |
A number of about 200 visitors a year makes direct and personal
use of this archive, obtaining thus relevant expert advice. Around
400 annual enquiries received over the phone or in writing are answered
by staff of the information centre who also act as speakers and
advisers for organizations.
issa makes its knowledge available to individuals interested in
Southern Africa (travellers, politi-cians, academic experts) as
well as to people interested in and providing respective information
(journalists, teachers, etc.) and institutions (trade unions, employers’
associa-tions, churches, foundations, NGOs, etc.)
Investigation and information are therefore the fields of cooperation
between issa and other KOSA member groups.
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