Megatrends Africa: Structural transformation and international Zeitenwende

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.

Project Lead:
Benedikt Erforth
Christine Hackenesch

Project Team:
Lena Gutheil
Hangwei Li
Phemelo Tamasiga

Financing:
German Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Federal Ministry of Defence.

Time frame:
2021 - 2025 / ongoing

Co-operation Partner:

Megatrends Africa is a joint project of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) , and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW). Our project cooperates with the Kiel Institute Africa Initiative. 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.

Project description

In the project "Megatrends Africa: Implications and Options for German and International Policy", we 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:

  • Conflicts, statehood, and violent actors
  • Megatrends and political authority
  • New external actors

Megatrends Africa is a joint project of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) ), and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW). Our project cooperates with the Kiel Institute Africa Initiative. 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.

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 on the blog of our website. This way, we wish to contribute to a more nuanced public debate on Africa.

Publications

Events

The emerging global challenge of data authoritarianism

Project Coordination

Mark Theisen

Links