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 Afrika: Strukturelle Transformation und internationale Zeitenwende”, 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.
We are currently focussing our research on three areas:
Megatrends Africa is a joint project of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the German Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS), 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.
Die Berichterstattung über den Krieg in Sudan wird durch drei gängige Erzählungen vernebelt, vom "vergessenen Konflikt", der "Auseinandersetzung zweier Generäle" und dem "Stellvertreterkrieg". Gerrit Kurtz (SWP) wirbt für eine nuanciertere Betrachtungsweise durch Journalist:innen und Politiker:innen.
Reporting about the war in Sudan is clouded by three oversimplified narratives – “forgotten conflict”, “war of two generals” and the “proxy war” classification. Gerrit Kurtz (SWP) calls for a more nuanced phrasing by journalists and policymakers.
Why the German Government Should Not Support the EU-Egypt Agreement in its Present Form
Warum die Bundesregierung das EU-Abkommen mit Ägypten in seiner vorliegenden Form nicht unterstützen sollte
In the face of a growing threat of jihadism from the Sahel, this brief investigates how Ghana, Benin, and Togo respond, diversifying security ties beyond traditional allies. Amidst expanding networks and complex regional arrangements, this brief calls for an integrated security cooperation and urges coherence in countering the jihadist threat in the Sahel.
doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB25
Kenya's diplomatic strides in a multipolar world, balancing East and West ties, increasingly face scrutiny at home. This policy brief analyzes the divergent views on President Ruto's foreign policy domestically as well as abroad. What role for non-alignment in an environment of global division?
doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB24