Dr. Melanie Müller
Thematic working group international cooperation in the context of systemic rivalry Co-Chair
Research Division:Africa and Middle East Deputy Head of Research Division
Areas of Expertise
- Southern Africa
- Human rights
- Migration
- Strategic partnerships
- Sustainability governance
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, political transformations in Southern Africa, resource governance and supply chain responsibility, metal supply chains, GIBSA
Short Curriculum vitae
Since February 2024: Guest Lecturer at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin
Since April 2024: Head of Project International Raw Material Cooperation for Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains
July 2022 - July 2025: Head of Project Research Network Sustainable Global Supply Chains
Since January 2017: Researcher in the Research Division Africa and Middle East, and since 2024 Co-Chair of the Thematic Working Group International Cooperation in the Context of Systemic Rivalry
August 2015 to December 2016: Postdoctoral Researcher at the Freie Universität Berlin
SWP Publications
-
The EU’s External Raw Materials Strategy: Key Fields for Action
Building Resilient Partnerships and Advancing Local Value Creation
Research Division Africa and Middle East | Working Paper Nr. 01, August 2025 -
The Russia-Ukraine War’s Shockwaves in Africa. A Zeitenwende for German Africa Policy?
Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, this Working Paper examines repercussions in Africa and on German Africa policy, analysing to what extent they are in continuity with trends that preceded the war and to what extent they represent a break with past patterns. Has the Ukraine war turned out to be a sea change for Africa and German Africa policy, too?
Megatrends Working Paper 2024 10, 13.02.2024, 39 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2024MTA-WP10
-
South Africa: Good Governance a Precondition for Progress on SDGs
in: Country-level Politics around the SDGsContribution to a Research Paper 2023/RP 07, 10.07.2023, 75 Pages, pp. 56–59
-
The Future of European-Chinese Raw Material Supply Chains
Three scenarios for 2030 and their implications
SWP Comment 2023/C 27, 16.05.2023, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2023C27
-
From Competition to a Sustainable Raw Materials Diplomacy
Pointers for European Policymakers
SWP Research Paper 2023/RP 01, 24.02.2023, 45 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2023RP01
-
Public-Private Alliances for Sustainable Commodity Supply Chains
Opportunities and Risks in the South African Mining Sector
SWP Comment 2022/C 05, 21.01.2022, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2022C05
External publications
-
Between global geopolitics and national interests: BRICS cooperation in the mineral sector
in: South African Journal of International Affairs (online first), 15.07.2025. -
South Africa and the EU Should Collaborate to Build Strategic Interdependence in Critical Minerals
in: SAIIA, 30.06.2025 -
Sustainable Global Supply Chains Report 2023
Project or Conference Paper 2023, 25.12.2023, 144 Pagesdoi:10.23661/r1.2024
-
Addressing Environmental Injustices in South African Artisanal Gold Mining
In: Obasesam Okoi, Victoria R Nalule (eds.): Governing Natural Resources for Sustainable Peace in Africa. Routledge, 2023, pp. 77-100. -
The energy transition and green mineral value chains: Challenges and opportunities for Africa and Latin America
in: South African Journal of International Affairs, 24.07.2023 (online) -
The ‘new geopolitics’ of mineral supply chains: A window of opportunity for African countries
in: South African Journal of International Affairs, 14.07.2023 (online)
News
Member of the Selection Committee of the Humboldt Foundation for the German Chancellor Fellowship from South Africa (since 2021) and Chairperson and academic member of the Advisory Board of the Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate (since 2021).