We recognise that perceptions and experiences of 'threat' vary over time and place. As such, an understanding of short-term regional threats to security is important for our analysis of the long-term global drivers of insecurity. It is also essential to understand how current and future Western responses to these underlying drivers and immediate threats will impact on people outside North America and Europe.

Organised in association with local partner organisations and designed to draw upon non-Western analysis in the development of policy solutions, the purpose of these consultations was to, (1) identify the regional drivers of insecurity, (2) explore the blockages to achieving change in the region and, (3) develop recommendations for local and international civil society groups and governments. ORG and the local partner then published a report based on each consultation. 

The four consultations held so far have been:

• Australasia: Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Singapore, September 2008.
• Middle East and North Africa: Institute for Peace Studies, Egypt, October 2008.
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Institute for Security Studies, South Africa, December 2008.
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre, London, January 2010.

A new programme of work aimed at building on the knowledge gained in these consultations and exploring new avenues for promoting non-Western analysis of sustainable security issues in Western policymaking circles is currently being prepared.