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Dear reader, |
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an eventful autumn lies ahead of us, as we in Germany address the fallout from the recent elections in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg. The EU is still digesting the implications of the European elections in June, while the US is gearing up for its presidential election in November. While the results of these events are not yet available, one development is becoming increasingly evident: populist parties are gaining support and influencing political content. At our Bonn Symposium 2024, we will discuss the implications of this development for international cooperation with experts from politics, academia and civil society in several online sessions and at an evening event in Bonn.
The issue of energy security has also become a key concern, particularly in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. European countries are increasingly focusing their attention on Africa in this regard. At this year's Potsdam Africa Dialogues and our Policy Lunch in Brussels, we will be discussing the potential of fair partnerships between Europe and Africa to provide a sustainable energy supply and stimulate economic growth in Africa.
As always, this newsletter contains further information on current events and publications from sef: and INEF. We hope you enjoy reading!
With best regards Carolin Rosenberg,
Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) |
| Dr Marcus Kaplan,
Development and Peace Foundation (sef:) | | | | |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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 © shutterstock/Rawpixel |
Brandenburg Dialogue “Learning with Africa” 2024
23 October 2024, 18:00 hrs, NH Hotel Potsdam, German/English (simultaneous interpretation)
Within the context of the global energy transformation, the debate on the expansion of decentralised energy is gaining momentum. Tomorrow’s energy should be reliable, sustainable, affordable, and accessible – universally. Yet, the global community still has long way to go to achieve this goal.
At the fourth Brandenburg Dialogue, we will discuss opportunities and obstacles to the expansion of a decentralised energy supply. Is decentralisation the solution to our problems regarding climate change and energy security? What is needed to increase acceptance and demand for decentralised solutions? What can community energy projects in Africa and Germany learn from each other? And what role can decentralised energy supply play compared to centralised energy supply?
Please register here! |
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 © Siemens AG |
Potsdam Africa Dialogues 2024
24 – 25 October 2024, NH Hotel Potsdam, German/English (simultaneous interpretation)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has propelled the issue of energy security to the top of the international political agenda and drastically increased the pressure for a global energy transformation.
Given its unparalleled potential for renewable energy, Africa could become a game changer on the road to a global transformation. The continent boasts the most favourable solar energy locations in the world and could be able to cover the entire global energy demand with green hydrogen. Despite these sunny prospects, millions of people in Africa are affected by acute energy poverty. Many African countries are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, an issue compounded by insufficient investments.
At this year’s Potsdam Africa Dialogues, we will be discussing how a just energy transformation can succeed in Africa and what hurdles need to be overcome. Join the discussion: Register here! |
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 © sef/unsplash |
Policy Lunch 2024
14 November 2024, 12:00 hrs, Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Brussels
The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve this, the continent needs to rapidly transition to sustainable, climate-neutral energy. Africa holds enormous potential for renewable energy production and could benefit from European investment in the energy sector. How can a just energy partnership between Africa and Europe be achieved in practice? How can the necessary mutual trust be built? This is what we will discuss with international experts at the Policy Lunch 2024 in Brussels.
Register now! |
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 © sef: |
Bonn Symposium 2024
9 October (postponed, new date to follow soon), 30 October 2024, 14:15 hrs (online series)
29 November 2024, 18:00 hrs (evening event in Bonn)
The super election year of 2024 presents a serious test for liberal democracy. Nearly half of the world's population will be or has already been called to the polls in 2024: From the European elections to the elections in the United States, India and other countries, to three state elections in Germany. Significant gains in votes or even victories for populist parties are expected or have already occurred.
In a three-part online series followed by an in-person evening event and reception at the Old Town Hall, the Bonn Symposium 2024 will therefore focus on how the worldwide rise of populism is affecting international cooperation.
Register now for all or individual parts of the event! The full programme is available on our website.
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PUBLICATIONS
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 © Frank Bliss |
AVE Study 37b
School feeding, in which children, at least, in primary school classes receive a hot meal daily before or during school lessons, has been regarded worldwide as a core contribution to social security. Based on empirical studies in Ethiopia, Benin and Cambodia, a new AVE study discusses which models work well, in particular school meals with local procurement of food, and what should be improved overall in the implementation of school meal programs.
The publication is part of the INEF project “Ways out of Poverty, Vulnerability and Food Insecurity“ (AVE), which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). |
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 © Zeitschrift für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (ZeFKo) |
New Article in ZeFKo Studies in Peace and Conflict
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) safeguards play a pivotal role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Over time, these safeguards have adapted to technological advancements, changing political landscapes, and international crises. A new article, co-authored by INEF member Leonardo Bandarra, explores responses to potential crises at interim nuclear storage facilities where knowledge continuity is broken. Through a scenario-based simulation with peace and conflict experts, three scenarios were tested: terrorist occupation, flood, and information mismatch after a coup d’état. The article provides insights into crisis management strategies, data sampling, and the importance of social networks in managing unavoidable crises. |
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The Development and Peace Foundation (sef:) was founded in 1986 on the initiative of Willy Brandt. It is a cross-party and non-profitmaking
organisation. sef: provides an international high-level forum for shared thinking on the complex challenges of globalisation. It is linked to the
Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) by a cooperation agreement. The aim of INEF’s application-oriented research is to build bridges
between theory and practice.
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