Disruption and Reform
In light of global crises and increasingly disruptive, authoritarian forms of politics, forward-looking, cooperative reforms are necessary to secure sustainable development, international cooperation and democratic foundations. In this web special you will find IDOS's work on the dynamics of our 2025/26 annual theme, ‘Disruption and Reform’.
Read more
The Future of World Trade
The global trading system is in a phase of upheaval and uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the trade experts at IDOS are examining the effectiveness, legitimacy and sustainability of the international trading system.
Food security and agriculture for a world without hunger
The research and advisory project addresses the question of how development cooperation can make a more effective contribution to improving food security in rural sub-Saharan Africa.
The application period of the 62nd Postgraduate Programme is open until 31 March 2026
YouTube Video: Looking back at 2025
Sustainable Futures Blog: “South Africa closes series of four ‘Southern’ G20 Presidencies
Watch all Videos of the series on International Cooperation
Our expertise on the Trump presidency as well as on other topics
Opinion pieces and media contributions
Partnerships, not spheres of influence
The year 2026 will be shaped by disruption and reform. For Europe, this means expanding their own strategic autonomy and becoming more independent.
Read moreExecutive Disorder – The United States officially turn their back on international climate governance
Steffen Bauer examines why the United States’ withdrawal from the international climate regime shakes the foundations of global climate governance — and what scientific and geopolitical consequences this move may trigger.
Read moreEvents
Current publications
From anticolonial heroes to post-independence liabilities: morphing refugee categorizations in African geopolitics
Jaji, Rose (2025)
How lack of legitimacy leads to policy failure: public resistance to water charges in Ireland Open Access
Schuitema, Geertje / Aparajita Banerjee (2025)
A change in thinking: new pathways for citywide inclusive sanitation in Nakuru County, Kenya
Saravanan V. Subramanian, Pireh Hezekiah, Moses Onyango, Simon Okoth (2026)
Fragmenting development cooperation and the wider Atlantic: geopolitical drift, normative contestation, and the emerging coalitions
Sumner, Andy / Stephan Klingebiel (2025)
Newsletter
Sign up here for our monthly newsletter and stay informed about all the important news from the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS). The newsletter provides you with information on new publications, research projects, events and job vacancies.
Subscribe now