Nuri Shakoor

M. Nuri Shakoor is a global security analyst, peacebuilding advocate, and the founder of ARAC International Inc., a nonprofit focused on humanitarian advocacy. He is also an ambassador for the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). His work specializes in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into global security research and risk analysis.

Career and expertise

• Security and risk management: Shakoor is a certified Security Risk Management Professional (SRMP-C). He serves as a security risk analyst for IOSI Global, an international think tank, and is a cybersecurity and risk management consultant at Lladner Business Solutions.
• AI for security and NGOs: He develops AI solutions to assist non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups with security risk assessments, research, and training. He also contributes customized AI models to OpenAI's GPT marketplace.
• Peacebuilding and human rights: Through ARAC International, Shakoor conducts research and analysis on armed conflict, especially in Africa, to support peacebuilding initiatives. His efforts align with international frameworks like the U.S. Global Fragility Act and the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Former U.S. contractor: He has 17 years of experience as a U.S. government contractor, with roles in aerospace security, telecommunications, and spectrum analysis research.

Reports and publications
Shakoor has published extensively on topics related to global security and humanitarian efforts. His works include:

• Reports on conflict mapping in Sudan and Ethiopia.
• An analysis on strengthening Positive Peace in Niger.
• A framework for negotiating a ceasefire in Haiti.
• A guide on media literacy and applied critical thinking.
• The cybersecurity book, Outsmart Cyber Threats: A Guide to Protecting Your Online World.

Shakoor utilizes the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)'s Positive Peace framework to build societal resilience against malign influence campaigns, such as disinformation and propaganda. Instead of solely focusing on reacting to threats, his approach emphasizes strengthening a society's underlying structures to make it less vulnerable to manipulation.

This resilience is built by leveraging the eight "Pillars of Positive Peace," which, when improved, lead to stronger, more stable, and peaceful societies.

AI and Content Analysis

In his work with IOSI Global, Shakoor also develops content analysis platforms and frameworks specifically designed to counter malign influence. He develops AI models, including customized GPTs, available to the public on OpenAI's GPT Store, to interpret complex security data, conduct conflict analysis, and assess risks associated with influence operations.

Application in real-world contexts

Shakoor's organization, ARAC International, offers consulting services that help other organizations and NGOs integrate the Positive Peace framework into their strategies. By aligning projects with the Positive Peace pillars, his work aims to build lasting peace and resilience on the ground, particularly in conflict-prone regions. His approach provides a pragmatic, systems-based methodology for addressing the root causes that make societies vulnerable to disinformation and foreign interference.