Urban governance and democratisation, non-governmental organizations, civil society, project management in development cooperation, Africa south of the Sahara (Uganda and Kamerun),
as of 2022 Researcher at the Research Program "Inter- and transnational cooperation" at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability
2021 PhD, Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen
2016-2021 Scientific staff and study programme coordinator, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kleve
2014-2015 Consultant for GIZ (Addis Abeba) and UNU-EHS (Bonn)
2014 MSc, Cultural Anthropology, Utrecht University
Africa’s future will be young, urban and digital, but will it be more democratic? This Working Paper explores how age, urbanization and access to social media shape African citizens’ political attitudes, their willingness to participate in democratic institutions, and forms of collective action.
doi:10.18449/2025MTA-WP16
The recent wave of coups in the Sahel puts Western policy makers in a difficult situation: While they wish to maintain relations and vie for influence, they also want to avoid strengthening unconstitutional rule. Collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) who are supposedly closer to citizens, is currently discussed as a way out of the dilemma. However, this policy brief reveals that especially in authoritarian contexts, the lines between CSOs and the state are often blurred.
doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB28v02
Secondary cities in Africa are increasingly central to discussions on urbanisation. At the same time, capital cities maintain their economic and political significance. In this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight, Lena Gutheil and Sina Schlimmer argue for policies that address the complementarity of both city categories.
While public engagement has contributed to enhancing social justice in Nakuru City, Kenia, challenges in improving governance effectiveness and legitimacy persist. This is due to limited responsiveness of local elites, political and legal loopholes, and restricted public participation.
doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB18
Collaborations between civil society organisations in the development sector are often driven by priorities set in donor countries. In this Spotlight, Megatrends Afrika talked to Margit van Wessel, Wageningen University, about ways to make civil society collaborations more equal.
The BMZ has presented its new Africa strategy. The strategy turns away from focussing on private sector development, our authors comment in this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight. It promises global structural policy and multilateral cooperation - and a more self-critical attitude towards development.