Logo: IDOS

Sustainable Futures

Blog Header: Sustainable Futures. Debates to shape a collaborative multipolar world

  • The G20 Infrastructure Partnerships with Africa: Obstacles in the way

    Photo: Capetown by night

    This blog describes the infrastructure-related initiatives of the G20 Partnership with Africa, as set forth by the 2017 German G20 Summit. It proposes that (a) the G20 align its initiatives with key African agendas (e.g., the African Union’s Agenda 2063), (b) support the inclusion of civil society in key initiatives, and (c) ensure a fair balance of interests between private investors and citizens. Otherwise, with the megaprojects envisioned, including many Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), African nations could experience greater debt distress; environmental destruction, and human rights violations.

    (mehr …)

  • Reading recommendation: G20 pushes for Africa Connect

    cityscape and technology and network connection concept

    The global economy has been struggling for some time with surplus resources in search of a destination for optimum returns. The German G20 Presidency tried to address this issue with enhanced focus on strengthening cooperation with Africa. What are the policy choices for India?

    (mehr …)

  • The G20 Leaders’ Declaration on Migration

    Blog Series: What remains of the G20 Hamburg Summit?

    Photo: Trail

    International migration has effectively entered the G20 agenda only two years ago. When Turkey hosted the Antalya Summit in November 2015, it had also recently become host to several million refugees, mostly from Syria – some of whom were moving on to the Balkans and further to Western Europe. Accordingly, the Antalya Communiqué describes the “ongoing refugee crisis” as a global concern and uses rather specific language in calling for burden-sharing among states and more support for refugees, including through additional humanitarian and development assistance and third-country resettlement.

    (mehr …)

  • Humanitäre Hilfe als Herausforderung für die nächste Bundesregierung

    Sowohl konfliktbedingte Krisen (z.B. Syrien, Ukraine, Südsudan) als auch Naturkatastrophen (z.B. Erdbeben in Nepal) sind in den vergangenen Jahren in ihrer Anzahl, Intensität und Dauer stetig angestiegen. Hinzugekommen sind Krisen wie Ebola oder humanitäre Auswirkungen des Klimawandels, z.B. durch das El-Niño-Phänomen. Dies verdeutlicht: Der weltweite Bedarf an Humanitärer Hilfe ist immens gestiegen.

    (mehr …)

  • Reading recommendation: For Africa, the G20 Hamburg Summit is a door stopper, not a bookend

    Image: Juliane RosinAfrican leaders welcomed the Attention at this G20 Summit and praised Germany for the “new partnerships”. In concrete terms though, what results from this effort are the announcements of funding of less than $ 500 million. Time has come for the continent to position itself as part of the solution rather than part of the problems to address. Instead of being too distracted by others‘ plans, it’s time to have a plan for how the continent deals with them, G20 included.

    (mehr …)