Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

Digital transformation has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it affects almost all areas of social and economic life. As a cross-cutting issue and solution to specific challenges, it is also increasingly the subject of initiatives at EU level. Since 2015, the EU has developed a comprehensive digital agenda that involves various areas, ranging from the single market to foreign and security policy. The paper traces the dynamic development on the basis of strategy documents and policy guidelines in three phases with a focus on 2020 and 2021. It takes stock of the EU’s overarching strategy towards digitalisation by examining what the EU understands by it, what its goals are, and what role it draws for itself in shaping the digital transformation. The study shows that the EU tries to grasp digitalisation in a substantial number of policy-specific strategies and guidelines, using mainly four patterns of interpretation - partly in parallel - which differ in terms of geopolitical, environmental, socio-political and economic policy framing.

Digital transformation has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it affects almost all areas of social and economic life. As a cross-cutting issue and solution to specific challenges, it is also increasingly the subject of initiatives at EU level. Since 2015, the EU has developed a comprehensive digital agenda that involves various areas, ranging from the single market to foreign and security policy. The paper traces the dynamic development on the basis of strategy documents and policy guidelines in three phases with a focus on 2020 and 2021. It takes stock of the EU’s overarching strategy towards digitalisation by examining what the EU understands by it, what its goals are, and what role it draws for itself in shaping the digital transformation. The study shows that the EU tries to grasp digitalisation in a substantial number of policy-specific strategies and guidelines, using mainly four patterns of interpretation - partly in parallel - which differ in terms of geopolitical, environmental, socio-political and economic policy framing.

Digital transformation has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it affects almost all areas of social and economic life. As a cross-cutting issue and solution to specific challenges, it is also increasingly the subject of initiatives at EU level. Since 2015, the EU has developed a comprehensive digital agenda that involves various areas, ranging from the single market to foreign and security policy. The paper traces the dynamic development on the basis of strategy documents and policy guidelines in three phases with a focus on 2020 and 2021. It takes stock of the EU’s overarching strategy towards digitalisation by examining what the EU understands by it, what its goals are, and what role it draws for itself in shaping the digital transformation. The study shows that the EU tries to grasp digitalisation in a substantial number of policy-specific strategies and guidelines, using mainly four patterns of interpretation - partly in parallel - which differ in terms of geopolitical, environmental, socio-political and economic policy framing.

International cooperation for sustainable development is crucial for securing life in dignity for current and future generations. In a globalized world like ours, without such cooperation, it is impossible to strengthen individual and societal freedoms for flourishing, to curb climate change and biodiversity loss, reduce inequalities in income and wealth, end armed conflicts and avoid outbursts of violence, strengthen the rule of law and accountable and effective public institutions, and shape digitalisation.

International cooperation for sustainable development is crucial for securing life in dignity for current and future generations. In a globalized world like ours, without such cooperation, it is impossible to strengthen individual and societal freedoms for flourishing, to curb climate change and biodiversity loss, reduce inequalities in income and wealth, end armed conflicts and avoid outbursts of violence, strengthen the rule of law and accountable and effective public institutions, and shape digitalisation.

International cooperation for sustainable development is crucial for securing life in dignity for current and future generations. In a globalized world like ours, without such cooperation, it is impossible to strengthen individual and societal freedoms for flourishing, to curb climate change and biodiversity loss, reduce inequalities in income and wealth, end armed conflicts and avoid outbursts of violence, strengthen the rule of law and accountable and effective public institutions, and shape digitalisation.

Das Deutsche Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) sucht zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n

VorstandsreferentIn (w/m/div)

Die 14th International German Socio-Economic Panel User Conference - SOEP2022 findet am 30. Juni und 1. Juli 2022 in Berlin statt.

SOEP-ForscherInnen aller Disziplinen sind eingeladen, sich mit einem Abstract zu bewerben. Das Hauptthema der Konferenz und der Keynotes lautet "The Opportunities and Challenges of Technological Change and Digitalization".

Die Deadline für die Einsendung eines Abstracts (bis zu 300 Worten) ist der 31. Januar 2022. Bitte schicken Sie es per Mail an uns

Mehr Informationen (auf englisch) finden sich auf unserer Konferenzhomepage.

Call for Papers SOEP2022

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is considered the cheapest and fastest to implement mass transportation system compared to rail and tram. However, the implementation of BRT becomes complicated where there are incumbent paratransit service providers. In African cities, it has become mandatory to include these operators because they are the most extensive public transport service providers, employ many people, and make governments unpopular when excluded. In Accra, the government sought to implement BRT with the inclusion of incumbent paratransit operators but could only implement a conventional bus service. This article analyses the approach adopted to examine the reasons behind the inability to execute the planned BRT and draw lessons from the Ghana experience. This article adopted informal transportation and BRT characteristics based on the African experience to analyse the incorporation of incumbent paratransit operators in Ghana. The findings show the challenges the implementing agency encountered, resulting in a shift from BRT to a conventional bus. The underlying reason for the difficulty is the depth of change required by both paratransit operators and government institutions. Given the depth of change for capital investment, capacity, and governance reforms required, the paper recommends a more gradual BRT implementation approach in African cities.

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is considered the cheapest and fastest to implement mass transportation system compared to rail and tram. However, the implementation of BRT becomes complicated where there are incumbent paratransit service providers. In African cities, it has become mandatory to include these operators because they are the most extensive public transport service providers, employ many people, and make governments unpopular when excluded. In Accra, the government sought to implement BRT with the inclusion of incumbent paratransit operators but could only implement a conventional bus service. This article analyses the approach adopted to examine the reasons behind the inability to execute the planned BRT and draw lessons from the Ghana experience. This article adopted informal transportation and BRT characteristics based on the African experience to analyse the incorporation of incumbent paratransit operators in Ghana. The findings show the challenges the implementing agency encountered, resulting in a shift from BRT to a conventional bus. The underlying reason for the difficulty is the depth of change required by both paratransit operators and government institutions. Given the depth of change for capital investment, capacity, and governance reforms required, the paper recommends a more gradual BRT implementation approach in African cities.

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is considered the cheapest and fastest to implement mass transportation system compared to rail and tram. However, the implementation of BRT becomes complicated where there are incumbent paratransit service providers. In African cities, it has become mandatory to include these operators because they are the most extensive public transport service providers, employ many people, and make governments unpopular when excluded. In Accra, the government sought to implement BRT with the inclusion of incumbent paratransit operators but could only implement a conventional bus service. This article analyses the approach adopted to examine the reasons behind the inability to execute the planned BRT and draw lessons from the Ghana experience. This article adopted informal transportation and BRT characteristics based on the African experience to analyse the incorporation of incumbent paratransit operators in Ghana. The findings show the challenges the implementing agency encountered, resulting in a shift from BRT to a conventional bus. The underlying reason for the difficulty is the depth of change required by both paratransit operators and government institutions. Given the depth of change for capital investment, capacity, and governance reforms required, the paper recommends a more gradual BRT implementation approach in African cities.

The author acknowledges progress in reforming the United Nations development system, but points out that the overarching reform goal — delivering better on the 2030 Agenda — has received comparatively little attention in recent assessments of reform implementation. Based on research carried out at the DIE, the author argues that change has been limited in key areas such as SDG integration, the UN's role in holding up human rights, and focus on transboundary challenges. To achieve greater impact for the 2030 Agenda, UN organizations should adjust their operating model, focusing more on generating knowledge and contributing to national policy-making.

The author acknowledges progress in reforming the United Nations development system, but points out that the overarching reform goal — delivering better on the 2030 Agenda — has received comparatively little attention in recent assessments of reform implementation. Based on research carried out at the DIE, the author argues that change has been limited in key areas such as SDG integration, the UN's role in holding up human rights, and focus on transboundary challenges. To achieve greater impact for the 2030 Agenda, UN organizations should adjust their operating model, focusing more on generating knowledge and contributing to national policy-making.

The author acknowledges progress in reforming the United Nations development system, but points out that the overarching reform goal — delivering better on the 2030 Agenda — has received comparatively little attention in recent assessments of reform implementation. Based on research carried out at the DIE, the author argues that change has been limited in key areas such as SDG integration, the UN's role in holding up human rights, and focus on transboundary challenges. To achieve greater impact for the 2030 Agenda, UN organizations should adjust their operating model, focusing more on generating knowledge and contributing to national policy-making.

Die Serviceabteilung Personal und Organisation bietet interne Dienstleistungen für den Vorstand des DIW Berlin und für die Abteilungsleitungen, MitarbeiterInnen und DoktorandInnen sowie für Gäste aus dem In- und Ausland.

Wir kümmern uns um alle administrativen Personalangelegenheiten und betreuen derzeit ca. 350 MitarbeiterInnen.

Darüber hinaus unterstützen wir den Vorstand und die Abteilungen bei der strategischen Organisations- und Personalentwicklung.

Zur Verstärkung unseres Teams suchen wir im Umfang von 65% zum 01.04.2022 eine/einen

ProjektmanagerIn Diversität und Chancengleichheit (w/m/div)

This paper provides an overview of digital innovation in refugee and displacement contexts, drawing on data from refugee communities about how they use digital identity, cash transfer, and education solutions. This data was collected in 2019 in Kenya and Malaysia in cooperation with refugee community organizations, university partners, and UNHCR. Along with data analysis, there is historical background on digitalization in displacement response, and an overview of current work being done in this space. The paper provides  recommendations for maximizing the potential of digital innovation in these areas, and how they can best serve forcibly displaced populations and contribute to the goals of the Global Compact on Refugees.

This paper provides an overview of digital innovation in refugee and displacement contexts, drawing on data from refugee communities about how they use digital identity, cash transfer, and education solutions. This data was collected in 2019 in Kenya and Malaysia in cooperation with refugee community organizations, university partners, and UNHCR. Along with data analysis, there is historical background on digitalization in displacement response, and an overview of current work being done in this space. The paper provides  recommendations for maximizing the potential of digital innovation in these areas, and how they can best serve forcibly displaced populations and contribute to the goals of the Global Compact on Refugees.

This paper provides an overview of digital innovation in refugee and displacement contexts, drawing on data from refugee communities about how they use digital identity, cash transfer, and education solutions. This data was collected in 2019 in Kenya and Malaysia in cooperation with refugee community organizations, university partners, and UNHCR. Along with data analysis, there is historical background on digitalization in displacement response, and an overview of current work being done in this space. The paper provides  recommendations for maximizing the potential of digital innovation in these areas, and how they can best serve forcibly displaced populations and contribute to the goals of the Global Compact on Refugees.

This paper examines empirically whether social protection in the form of adapted social assistance programmes are affecting social cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using unique primary data from nationally representative, in-person surveys from Kenya allows for the exploration of the effect of social protection on attributes of social cohesion (trust, cooperation and identity). The analysis employs a difference-in-differences approach that compares households with and without social assistance coverage before and after the first wave of the pandemic. The findings suggest that social assistance programmes have a preserving effect on social cohesion. Attributes of social cohesion remain stable for beneficiaries, while they decline for non-beneficiaries due to the pandemic. This result is pronounced in regions that faced larger restrictions due to government lockdown policies. Overall, the results suggest that existing national social assistance programmes and their adaptation in times of large covariate shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can be beneficial for social cohesion.