Debates about security governance in Africa and about the place of women within it have generally not intersected, despite their obvious interconnection. The authors align them, locating African-specific and feminist analysis within the security discourse, and critiquing African and international approaches to the security and development challenges of Africa.

Funmi Olonisakin is director of the Conflict, Security and Development Group at King s College London. She has held research and visiting positions at the University of Lagos in Nigeria and the Institute of Strategic Studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She is the author of Peacekeeping in Sierra Leone and the coauthor of Global Development and Human Security. Awino Okech is a founding member of the African Network of Young Peace builders and serves on the editorial advisory board for the scholarly publication Feminist Africa. She contributed to the book Aid to Africa: Redeemer or Coloniser?"