African states and societies are undergoing profound transformations. In an increasing number of countries, ever-younger populations demand political change. External actors such as China or Russia intensify their engagement on the continent. The number and scale of armed conflicts are on the rise, particularly in the northern half of Africa.
Global megatrends are driving or influencing such processes of transformation on the African continent. Megatrends are long-term structural changes that largely escape political control. They have profound effects on social, economic, and political orders. Examples include climate change, digitalisation, urbanisation, and shifts in global power relations.
In the project “Megatrends Africa: Implications and Options for German and International Policy”, we, the project team, explore how megatrends affect African states and societies. We seek to develop ideas for German and European cooperation with African partners that help to make ongoing transformations fairer and more sustainable. This is all the more important as Africa is rising on the agenda of German and European policymakers, as does their need for evidence-based policy advice.
In the initial phase of the project in 2022, we focus on three thematic areas:
Megatrends Africa is a joint project of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the German Development Institute (DIE), and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW). Our project cooperates with the Kiel Institute Africa Initiative.
The project’s researchers adhere to the generally accepted principles for ensuring good scientific practice. All project publications are subject to an internal written internal peer review process. In case of our blog series MTA spotlight, the reviewing procedure is conducted through the project director affiliated with the author's organisation. Furthermore the Policy Briefs are subjected to a fact-checking process.
We produce policy-relevant research on major political, social, and economic trends in Africa. The team brings together scholars from both continents and different disciplines. Our aim is to exchange, take on, and critically question different perspectives. We do so at workshops with representatives from academia, politics, and civil society, through our publications, as well as here on the blog of our website. This way, we wish to contribute to a more nuanced public debate on Africa.
As an interdepartmentally financed research and advisory project, we receive funding from the German Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Anlässlich ihres Vorsitzes über die G7 lädt die Bundesregierung Staats- und Regierungschef*innen vom 26. bis 28. Juni zu einem Gipfeltreffen nach Schloss Elmau. Viele Themen auf der Agenda – Klima, Nahrungsmittelsicherheit, wirtschaftliche Erholung nach Covid-19 – betreffen afrikanische Gesellschaften und Staaten in besonderem Maße. Doch die afrikapolitische Dimension könnte stärker ausgeprägt sein, sagt Axel Berger, kommissarischer stellvertretender Direktor am German Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS). In diesem Megatrends Afrika Spotlight sprechen wir mit ihm darüber, dass die G7-Debatten einen stärkeren Blick nach Außen benötigen, insbesondere in Richtung der afrikanischen Partner.
On the occasion of its G7 presidency, the German government is welcoming heads of state and government to a summit at Schloss Elmau from June 26 to 28. Many issues on the agenda – climate, food security, economic recovery after Covid-19, among others – affect African societies and states in particular. Yet, this aspect is rarely part of the discussions at the G7, says Axel Berger, acting deputy director at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS). In this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight, we talk with him about the need for G7 debates to be more outward-looking, especially where it concerns its African partners.
The EU is reluctant to face the uncomfortable truth that its CSDP missions in Mali, especially EUTM, have failed to make a lasting impact. Its recent Strategic Review puts the blame on geopolitical competition with Russia rather than self-introspection. In this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight, Denis Tull (SWP) argues that the EU should take stock of its security force assistance before expanding its activities to Mali’s neighbouring countries.
Die EU tut sich schwer damit, der Tatsache ins Auge zu blicken, dass ihre GSVP-Missionen in Mali, insbesondere EUTM, wenig effektiv waren. Die jüngst verfasste „Strategic Review“ schiebt die Schuld auf den geopolitischen Wettbewerb mit Russland und weniger auf eigene Versäumnisse. Dabei, so argumentiert Denis Tull (SWP) in unserem Megatrends Afrika Spotlight, müsse die Union ihre Ertüchtigungsmaßnahmen zuerst auf ihre Wirksamkeit überprüfen, bevor sie – wie geplant – ihre CSDP-Aktivitäten in Malis Nachbarländer ausdehnt.
Russland, die Türkei, die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate oder China. Immer mehr Akteure engagieren sich verstärkt in Afrika. Sie beeinflussen besonders Wirtschaft und Sicherheit auf dem Kontinent. Während unseres ersten Megatrends Afrika Policy Workshops haben wir ihre Rolle mit internationalen Expert*innen diskutiert. Wie engagieren sich „die Neuen“ auf dem Kontinent? Was bedeutet das für das deutsche und europäische Engagement?
Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), or China. More and more actors are becoming involved in Africa. They influence economy and security on the continent in particular. For our first Megatrends Afrika policy workshop, we invited international experts to discuss the role of these actors in Africa: How do the alleged "newcomers" get involved on the continent? What does this mean for German and European engagement?
