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.
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.
Africa’s digital transformations are unfolding against the backdrop of global competition between major global actors, including China, the United States, and Europe. Amidst this dynamic, the continent’s own agency is a crucial element that should not be overlooked.
Die digitale Transformation in Afrika vollzieht sich vor dem Hintergrund des globalen Wettbewerbs zwischen wichtigen globalen Akteuren wie China, den Vereinigten Staaten und Europa. Inmitten dieser Dynamik ist die eigene Handlungsfähigkeit des Kontinents ein entscheidendes Element.
For Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) to be truly “just” they must prioritize social equity and inclusivity. This policy brief analyses a South African case study to identify challenges and opportunities for an equitable energy transition.
doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB30
Der Kolonialismus hat dauerhafte Auswirkungen auf die sozioökonomische Entwicklung und die politische Stabilität Afrikas. Nancy Rushohora erklärt, wie Ausbeutung und Willkür aus der deutschen Kolonialzeit sich über Generationen hinweg auf betroffene Gemeinden in Tansania auswirken.
Colonialism has enduring effects on Africa’s socio-economic development and political stability. Nancy Rushohora explains how in Tanzania, German rule introduced exploitative economic practices and arbitrary political structures both with transgenerational impact on affected local communities.
This policy brief analyses recent patterns and motives of China’s party diplomacy in Africa. It finds that the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP-ID) maintains close ties with the main ruling parties in some countries in the South and East of the continent as well as a broad range of parties in countries in North Africa.
doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB29
