Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Africa

Strong collaborations strengthen democracy! 🤝 🌍 Around the world, democracy is under pressure. Progressives are battling illiberal forces, right-wing populism, and disinformation—while also confronting the damage caused by inequality, neoliberal policies, austerity, and failing public services. Stabilising #democracy and rebuilding trust means addressing these socio-economic crises. ❗️One critical path forward is through stronger global collaboration among #progressives, building #internationalism.  By working together, we can rebuild trust in democratic systems, address socio-economic inequality, and create a fairer, more just world. In South Africa 🇿🇦, as the election dust settles, German Members of Parliament Bettina Lugk and Nils Schmid met with progressive activists and trade unionists in Pretoria and Johannesburg to exchange perspectives on the Government of National Unity and the broader state of democracy in the country. The African National Congress (#ANC) also received the delegation for further dialogue, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepening their cooperation. #Democracy #ProgressiveCooperation Sebastian Sperling Uta Dirksen

The Afro-Ukrainian friendship is growing! 🤝 🇺🇦 #Ukraine is a relatively new player on the African continent by global standards. Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s visits to #Zambia, #Malawi, and #Mauritius underline the strengthening of political #dialogue. Read the full article about Afro-Ukrainian relations by Iryna Zaporizka, Senior Analyst at Civitta Ukraine, on the IPS blog here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJQbvQkf #Ukraine #Africa #PoliticalDialogue #InternationalRelations

"Alle reden davon, aus den Fossilen auszusteigen", sagt Vivienne Kigondu von der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Kenia. "Wir haben das schon längst geschafft" bei ZEIT online ⬇️

It was a pleasure and an honour to join Lars Klingbeil, Co-Leader of the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD), Nicole Cardoch Ramos, State Secretary at the Ministry of the General Secretariat of Chile, H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Ambassador of Indonesia to Germany and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Katrin Bennhold of The New York Times - to discuss what the results of the recent US presidential elections mean for the Global South, as well as Germany/EU's relations with the Global South. With excellent moderation from Nana Brink. Thanks to the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Africa for the invitation to take part in this timely - and frank - panel discussion. Photo credit: FES/Saskia Uppenkamp. APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute, Henrik Maihack

🏭⚖️ A Just Transition is only possible when we secure fair working conditions and robust social protections for all! At FES, we believe that trade unions are at the heart of driving Just Transition, ensuring workers' voices are heard and their rights are protected as we move towards a greener economy. ♻️ In Senegal 🇸🇳, the recent exploitation of oil and gas reserves and the signing of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) mark important steps toward accelerating the shift to renewable energy. However, in a country with unequal access to electricity between urban and rural areas and a largely informal economy, the transition must contribute to quality job creation and affordable energy access to be truly just. 📌 At a recent workshop organised by IndustriALL Global Union and FES Senegal, Senegalese energy sector trade unions explored how they can prepare for these changes and actively engage in implementing the JETP. Learn more about Just Transition Partnerships here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dj_E688Z #JustTransition #JETP #Senegal #RenewableEnergy #DecentWork #ClimateAction #TradeUnions #SocialProtection Claudia Ehing Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

🎉 Nous avons une nouvelle Représentante pays ! 🇧🇯 Mme Nouratou ZATO KOTO-YERIMA, de nationalité béninoise, est notre nouvelle Représentante pays. Ancienne Senior Manager Officer, elle dirigera désormais l’équipe du Bureau de la FES Bénin pour faire progresser la démocratie sociale, la justice sociale, l’égalité de genre, la bonne gouvernance et le leadership politique. 👏 Kaweru, Kwabo, Willikomen, Bienvenue! Bravo à ceux qui ont pu deviner.

West Africa faces complex and evolving threats that increase the vulnerability of its states! Electoral tensions, which often disrupt the democratic process, need to be addressed with independent, transparent #reforms. The cost of elections must also be reduced, and election bodies should operate free from external interference. ❗️ This calls for a renewed, sustainable approach to #peacekeeping and security - one that fully integrates civil society actors who have long been overlooked but hold significant power to influence change. 🤝 It is urgent to involve #civilsociety more in decision-making for stability, especially in peacekeeping operations. To ensure the #security of West Africa and strengthen regional integration, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES/ASS) and the Economic Community of West African States (#ECOWAS) must set aside differences and collaborate for the region's collective security. 📝 This was the consensus at the fifth annual West Africa Dialogue, hosted by the FES Peace and Security Competence Centre (PSCC), where experts came together to discuss security challenges in West Africa, particularly in times of democratic transitions and conflict. 👉 Find out more about our work on peace and security in Africa on the PSCC website 🌐   https://lnkd.in/dy32DTC4 #WestAfrica #DemocraticTransition  Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Anna Reuss Philipp M. Goldberg

E-mobility is transforming African cities!  🛵🏍️ Africa's e-mobility story is currently not one of cars but motorcycles, tuk-tuks, and buses. However, the shift to e-mobility is reducing Africa’s reliance on imported petrol by tapping into locally produced electricity, mostly from clean national grids and improving the air quality in the cities. 🌍⚡ Countries like #Uganda 🇺🇬 and #Kenya 🇰🇪 are leading the charge, but stronger tax incentives, industry financing, and robust grid infrastructure are needed to accelerate this movement. 👉 Read the full IPS article by Tom Courtright, a transportation consultant based in Kenya, here: https://lnkd.in/d7KGSrNq. #Emobility #Africa #ElectricVehicles #FutureOfTransport #JustCity

Great pleasure to host a delegation of African experts, civil society, and trade unions representatives on reforms of the international financial architecture in Berlin over the next few days. Priscilla Twumasi Baffour, Baba Aye, Luckystar M., Kamal Ramburuth, Charity Dr. Musamba, and Kwame Owino will meet with German government representatives and experts here in #Berlin to share their perspectives on how to address debt crises and high borrowing costs for African countries and what role the #AU, the #G20, the #IMF and the #WorldBank can and should play. Our Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Africa AU Office is the convenor of the delegation. Check out their work: https://lnkd.in/eN9wXPXs

🚨 Across the world, young people are questioning the viability of established parties as vehicles for channelling aspirations for change and the extent to which politics is still an effective tool for enacting popular will. In South Africa 🇿🇦, this is becoming even more evident. After 30 years in power, the African National Congress (#ANC) has lost its parliamentary majority after this year's elections, leading to a new governing coalition, the ‘Government of National Unity’. But despite these political shifts, old concerns remain: inequality, poverty, racism, violence, and corruption continue to affect everyday life. Young people, in particular, are feeling disillusioned with the promise of #democracy. At FES, we believe that #youth voices are critical for the future of democracy. ✊ In a recent discussion group organised by FES South Africa, young activists reflected on the future of democracy in the country and shared ideas on strengthening youth political engagement. The participants concluded that South Africa should: 💡 Have more youth representation on party lists 💡 Lower the voting age 💡 Simplify the registration process with frequent activations 💡 Roll out campaigns aimed at youth 💡 Provide clear, accessible manifestos in multiple languages 💡 Make parliament more accessible through fully-funded school excursions #YouthEngagement #Democracy #SouthAfrica #PoliticalChange #YouthVoices