SADC MONITORING STATION: ACTIVE
RISK BULLETIN: Q3 LIVE

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 27 August 2026

1. Introduction

The Afrika Center for Security and Conflict Resolution (“ACSCR”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information collected through our website, digital platforms, forms and online services.

 

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect and disclose personal information when you visit www.acscr.co.za, contact us, access our Knowledge Portal, submit an enquiry, participate in our programmes, or make use of any online registration or application facilities.

We process personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) in South Africa and, where applicable, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).


 

2. About ACSCR

The Afrika Center for Security and Conflict Resolution is an African civil society organisation focused on human security, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, security governance, research, training and institutional capacity development.

For privacy-related enquiries, you may contact:

 

Afrika Center for Security and Conflict Resolution (ACSCR)
15 Kennington Road
Nahoon
East London
5210
South Africa

 

Telephone: +27 (0)69 505 9905
Email: info@acscr.co.za
Website: www.acscr.co.za


 

3. Personal Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with ACSCR, we may collect information including:

Information You Provide Directly

This may include:

  • Full name

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Organisation or institution

  • Job title or professional role

  • Country or region

  • Information submitted through contact or enquiry forms

  • Programme, training or event registration information

  • Information contained in correspondence with ACSCR

  • Applications, registrations or expressions of interest

  • Documents voluntarily submitted through dedicated online portals

 

We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is required.

Professional and Credential Information

Where ACSCR operates a registration, mediator, deployment, training or professional portal, you may be invited to submit additional information such as:

  • Professional qualifications

  • Official credentials

  • Professional experience

  • Security or professional background summaries

  • Supporting documentation

  • Relevant institutional affiliations

  • Other information required to assess an application or registration

 

Where information of a sensitive nature is requested, ACSCR will process such information only where there is an appropriate lawful basis and, where required, your explicit consent.

 

The purpose and requirements of any specialised portal will be communicated at the point where the information is collected.


 

4. Information Collected Automatically

When you access the ACSCR website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Device type

  • Operating system

  • Approximate geographic region

  • Pages viewed

  • Referring website

  • Date and time of visits

  • Website interaction information

  • Cookie and similar technology information

 

This information may be used to operate, secure and improve the website and to better understand how visitors interact with our online content.


 

5. How We Use Personal Information

ACSCR may process personal information for purposes including:

  • Responding to enquiries and correspondence

  • Providing information about ACSCR and its activities

  • Processing registrations and applications

  • Managing training, workshops, peacebuilding initiatives and related programmes

  • Assessing professional credentials where relevant

  • Administering mediator, deployment or professional databases

  • Managing relationships with stakeholders, institutions and programme participants

  • Providing access to resources and the Knowledge Portal

  • Conducting research and programme administration

  • Improving website performance and user experience

  • Maintaining the security and integrity of our systems

  • Meeting administrative, legal and regulatory obligations

  • Sending communications that you have requested or consented to receive

  • Preventing misuse, fraud, unauthorised access or other security threats

 

We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was originally collected unless permitted by law or we obtain appropriate consent.


 

6. Legal Grounds for Processing

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, ACSCR may process personal information because:

  • You have provided your consent

  • Processing is necessary to respond to your request

  • Processing is necessary to perform an agreement or take steps requested by you

  • Processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation

  • Processing is necessary for a legitimate organisational purpose that does not unjustifiably interfere with your privacy

  • Processing is necessary to protect legitimate interests or legal rights

  • Another lawful ground recognised by applicable data protection legislation applies

 

Where consent is relied upon, you may withdraw that consent subject to applicable law and any lawful retention requirements.


 

7. Credential and Portal Submissions

Certain ACSCR services may in future include dedicated portals for professional registrations, mediator rosters, deployments, training programmes or evidence-of-track-record functions.

 

Where such facilities are available, information submitted may include professional credentials and supporting documentation.

ACSCR will:

  • Clearly explain why the information is required

  • Collect only information reasonably necessary for the stated purpose

  • Request consent where required

  • Apply reasonable safeguards to protect submitted information

  • Restrict access to authorised persons

  • Retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary or required by law

 

Submitting information through a specialised portal does not automatically guarantee acceptance, appointment, deployment, accreditation or participation in an ACSCR programme.

 

Where appropriate, an additional privacy notice or consent statement may be presented before submission.


 

8. Sharing of Personal Information

ACSCR does not sell personal information.

We may disclose personal information to carefully selected third parties where reasonably necessary, including:

  • Website hosting and technology service providers

  • Email and communication service providers

  • IT support and cybersecurity providers

  • Professional advisers

  • Programme administrators

  • Training or event service providers

  • Research or project partners where appropriate

  • Contractors or service providers acting on ACSCR’s behalf

  • Governmental, regulatory or law-enforcement authorities where legally required

 

Service providers processing personal information on behalf of ACSCR are expected to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security safeguards.

Where a project requires information to be shared with another organisation, ACSCR will seek to ensure that the sharing is lawful, appropriate and consistent with the purpose for which the information was collected.


 

9. International Transfers

ACSCR’s activities may involve organisations, institutions, service providers or stakeholders located outside South Africa.

Where personal information is transferred across national borders, ACSCR will take reasonable steps to ensure that the information receives an appropriate level of protection in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

This may include contractual safeguards, appropriate consent or another legally permitted transfer mechanism.


 

10. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The ACSCR website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Enable essential website functionality

  • Maintain website security

  • Remember user preferences

  • Measure website performance

  • Understand website usage

  • Improve content and user experience

 

Some cookies may be placed by third-party technology or analytics services used by the website.

Where required, visitors will be provided with a cookie notice or consent mechanism allowing them to manage non-essential cookies.

You may also disable or delete cookies through your browser settings. Doing so may affect certain website functionality.


 

11. Analytics

ACSCR may use website analytics tools to understand how visitors interact with the website.

Analytics information may include pages visited, approximate location, device information, referral sources and website interaction data.

Where reasonably possible, analytics information will be used in aggregated or de-identified form to improve the website, communications and digital services.


 

12. Electronic Communications

Where you subscribe to updates, request information or consent to receive communications from ACSCR, we may contact you regarding:

  • Research and publications

  • Training programmes

  • Events and workshops

  • Security and peacebuilding initiatives

  • Institutional developments

  • Relevant ACSCR news and announcements

 

Where required by law, communications will only be sent with appropriate consent or another permitted basis.

You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe facility provided or by contacting ACSCR.

Administrative or transactional communications relating to an application, enquiry or programme may still be sent where necessary.


 

13. Information Security

ACSCR takes reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:

  • Loss

  • Misuse

  • Unauthorised access

  • Unauthorised disclosure

  • Alteration

  • Destruction

  • Unlawful processing

 

Measures may include access controls, secure hosting, software security controls, form validation, system monitoring, backup procedures and restrictions on access to personal information.

 

Although reasonable precautions are taken, no internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users are encouraged not to submit highly sensitive information through ordinary website contact forms unless specifically requested to do so through an approved secure process.


 

14. Data Retention

ACSCR retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

  • Fulfil the purpose for which it was collected

  • Administer an ongoing programme or relationship

  • Meet legal, regulatory, contractual or reporting requirements

  • Establish, exercise or defend legal rights

  • Maintain legitimate organisational records

 

When personal information is no longer required, it may be securely deleted, destroyed, anonymised or de-identified in accordance with applicable requirements.

Different categories of information may be subject to different retention periods.


 

15. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

  • Ask whether ACSCR holds personal information about you

  • Request access to your personal information

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

  • Request deletion or destruction of information where legally permitted

  • Object to certain processing

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

  • Request restriction of processing in appropriate circumstances

  • Request information about how your personal information is being used

  • Lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority

 

Where the GDPR applies, you may also have rights including data portability and additional rights relating to automated decision-making.

ACSCR may request reasonable proof of identity before processing a privacy request to protect information against unauthorised disclosure.


 

16. Third-Party Websites and External Resources

The ACSCR website may contain links to external organisations, institutions, frameworks, research resources or third-party websites.

 

ACSCR does not control the privacy practices of external websites.

Visiting a third-party website is subject to that organisation’s own privacy policy and terms. We encourage users to review those policies before providing personal information.

 

The inclusion of a third-party link, logo, framework or reference does not necessarily imply a formal partnership, endorsement or contractual relationship unless expressly stated.


 

17. Research, Publications and Knowledge Resources

ACSCR may publish research, policy analysis, reports, briefings, training resources and other knowledge materials.

Where personal information is collected for research purposes, ACSCR will seek to ensure that the processing is lawful and appropriate to the nature of the project.

Where practical, published research and statistical information will use aggregated, anonymised or de-identified data unless identification is necessary, lawful and appropriately authorised.


 

18. Children’s Personal Information

The ACSCR website is primarily intended for professionals, institutions, stakeholders and members of the public interested in security, peacebuilding and conflict-resolution matters.

 

ACSCR does not intentionally collect personal information from children through the general website unless this forms part of a legitimate programme and appropriate safeguards, permissions and consent mechanisms have been established.


 

19. Security Incidents

If ACSCR becomes aware of a security compromise involving personal information, the organisation will investigate the incident and take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law.

 

Where legally required, affected individuals and the relevant regulatory authority will be notified.


 

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

ACSCR may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect:

  • Changes to the website

  • New digital services or programmes

  • Changes to our information-processing practices

  • Legal or regulatory developments

  • Technology or security requirements

 

The latest version will be published on this website together with the date of the most recent update.

 

Continued use of the website following an update will be subject to the revised Privacy Policy.


 

21. Contact ACSCR

Questions, requests or concerns regarding privacy or personal information may be directed to:

 

Afrika Center for Security and Conflict Resolution (ACSCR)
15 Kennington Road
Nahoon
East London
5210
South Africa

 

Telephone: +27 (0)69 505 9905
Email: info@acscr.co.za
Website: www.acscr.co.za

 

Please use “Privacy Request” in the subject line where possible.


22. Complaints to the Information Regulator

If you believe that your personal information has been processed contrary to POPIA, you may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

 

Information Regulator (South Africa)
Woodmead North Office Park
54 Maxwell Drive
Woodmead
Johannesburg, 2191
South Africa

 

Telephone: 010 023 5200
Toll Free: 0800 017 160
General Enquiries: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za
POPIA Complaints: POPIAComplaints@inforegulator.org.za

ACSCR encourages individuals to contact us first where possible so that we have an opportunity to address any privacy concern directly.


© 2026 Afrika Center for Security and Conflict Resolution (ACSCR). All Rights Reserved.