©IDOS
The Megatrends Afrika event was organised by the three project partners, namely the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW).
The first panel on “Climate Change and Conflict in Africa” discussed the relationship between climate change and conflict and how thinking on the matter shapes donor policies and interventions. Panellists pointed towards indirect effects of climate change on conflicts and highlighted a number of other factors that have a major impact on current conflicts in Africa. Participants on the second panel, entitled, “Contentious politics, Digitalisation and Youth Movements: A Recipe for Democracy?” analysed protests and social movements that form part of the so-called third wave of protests in Africa. Speakers highlighted some of the challenges these movements face, including the “NGO-isation” of movements and co-optation by the state. They also proposed factors that could translate these new forms of mobilisation into long-lasting participation and political change. With the last panel, “The Russian Invasion, Germany’s ‘Zeitenwende՚ and Europe-African Relations”, conference participants scrutinised the mid- to long-term effects of the Russian aggression against Ukraine on Africa, against the backdrop of a newly emerging global order. Among others, different avenues for a renewed Africa-Europe partnership were discussed.
For IDOS, Daouda Cissé, Benedikt Erforth, Lennart Gloker, Lena Gutheil, Emmanuel Rukundo, and Saskia Stolte participated in the event.
