Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

Poor immigrant neighbourhoods in New York are being hit the hardest

As the COVID-19 virus spreads on the African continent, Somalis in Africa and around the world fear a devastating humanitarian disaster is in the making. While complex crises are not news in this part of the world, this time is different. Not only are there warnings that the Somali peninsula could become one of the worst hit areas on the globe; the global Somali diaspora is affected as well.

Public Procurement is a highly regulated process ruled by a complex legal framework. It comprises not only national but also, increasingly, sub- and supranational regulations, giving rise to a multi-level regulatory governance of public procurement. The integration of sustainability aspects into public procurement, as called for in goal 12.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030, needs to take this multi-level character into account. This reports focuses on social considerations, which are a central part of sustainable procurement – whether with a domestic focus or along international value chains. Social considerations have been somewhat neglected in Europe, whereas they feature prominently in procurement regulations in many countries of the Global South, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The advanced process of regional integration in the European Union (EU) and the progress made towards integration in some regional economic communities in Sub-Saharan Africa call for deeper analyses of the influence of the higher levels of the regulatory framework on the lower levels. The question is whether public entities, from the national down to the local level, are required or at least have the option to integrate socially responsible public procurement (SRPP) into their procurement processes and tenders, or at least have the option to do so.
This report is conducted as part of the project “Municipalities Promoting and Shaping Sustainable Value Creation (MUPASS) - Public Procurement for Fair and Sustainable Production”, implemented by DIE in cooperation with Service Agency Municipalities in One World (SKEW) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and compares public procurement in Germany and Kenya. In both countries, the multi-level regulatory frameworks allow for SRPP regulations and practices ar the national and sub-national levels of government. There is, however, an implementation gap for SRPP in Germany and Kenya that appears to be independent from the specifics of the respective regulatory framework. To tackle this, supportive measures, such as capacity building, are key. Furthermore, Regional economic communities, such as the EU and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), can play a role in promoting SRPP, even without introducing mandatory provisions. At the other end of the multi-level regulatory spectrum, municipalities in the EU had and have an important role in SRPP implementation, that might be replicable by sub-national public entities in Kenya and other contexts.

Public Procurement is a highly regulated process ruled by a complex legal framework. It comprises not only national but also, increasingly, sub- and supranational regulations, giving rise to a multi-level regulatory governance of public procurement. The integration of sustainability aspects into public procurement, as called for in goal 12.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030, needs to take this multi-level character into account. This reports focuses on social considerations, which are a central part of sustainable procurement – whether with a domestic focus or along international value chains. Social considerations have been somewhat neglected in Europe, whereas they feature prominently in procurement regulations in many countries of the Global South, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The advanced process of regional integration in the European Union (EU) and the progress made towards integration in some regional economic communities in Sub-Saharan Africa call for deeper analyses of the influence of the higher levels of the regulatory framework on the lower levels. The question is whether public entities, from the national down to the local level, are required or at least have the option to integrate socially responsible public procurement (SRPP) into their procurement processes and tenders, or at least have the option to do so.
This report is conducted as part of the project “Municipalities Promoting and Shaping Sustainable Value Creation (MUPASS) - Public Procurement for Fair and Sustainable Production”, implemented by DIE in cooperation with Service Agency Municipalities in One World (SKEW) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and compares public procurement in Germany and Kenya. In both countries, the multi-level regulatory frameworks allow for SRPP regulations and practices ar the national and sub-national levels of government. There is, however, an implementation gap for SRPP in Germany and Kenya that appears to be independent from the specifics of the respective regulatory framework. To tackle this, supportive measures, such as capacity building, are key. Furthermore, Regional economic communities, such as the EU and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), can play a role in promoting SRPP, even without introducing mandatory provisions. At the other end of the multi-level regulatory spectrum, municipalities in the EU had and have an important role in SRPP implementation, that might be replicable by sub-national public entities in Kenya and other contexts.

Public Procurement is a highly regulated process ruled by a complex legal framework. It comprises not only national but also, increasingly, sub- and supranational regulations, giving rise to a multi-level regulatory governance of public procurement. The integration of sustainability aspects into public procurement, as called for in goal 12.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030, needs to take this multi-level character into account. This reports focuses on social considerations, which are a central part of sustainable procurement – whether with a domestic focus or along international value chains. Social considerations have been somewhat neglected in Europe, whereas they feature prominently in procurement regulations in many countries of the Global South, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The advanced process of regional integration in the European Union (EU) and the progress made towards integration in some regional economic communities in Sub-Saharan Africa call for deeper analyses of the influence of the higher levels of the regulatory framework on the lower levels. The question is whether public entities, from the national down to the local level, are required or at least have the option to integrate socially responsible public procurement (SRPP) into their procurement processes and tenders, or at least have the option to do so.
This report is conducted as part of the project “Municipalities Promoting and Shaping Sustainable Value Creation (MUPASS) - Public Procurement for Fair and Sustainable Production”, implemented by DIE in cooperation with Service Agency Municipalities in One World (SKEW) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and compares public procurement in Germany and Kenya. In both countries, the multi-level regulatory frameworks allow for SRPP regulations and practices ar the national and sub-national levels of government. There is, however, an implementation gap for SRPP in Germany and Kenya that appears to be independent from the specifics of the respective regulatory framework. To tackle this, supportive measures, such as capacity building, are key. Furthermore, Regional economic communities, such as the EU and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), can play a role in promoting SRPP, even without introducing mandatory provisions. At the other end of the multi-level regulatory spectrum, municipalities in the EU had and have an important role in SRPP implementation, that might be replicable by sub-national public entities in Kenya and other contexts.

Obwohl sich die Erneuerbaren Energien am Markt behaupten, wird ihnen auf politischer Ebene das Leben schwer gemacht. Deshalb braucht es dringend eine EEG-Version 4.0.

Podcast: Danmarks udenrigs- og sikkerhedspolitiske strategi udløber i år. Kommer der en ny - og hvad skal den i givet fald indeholde?

Denmarks first foreign and security policy strategy is coming to an end - should we have a new one?

Der er masser af grunde til bekymring for hvad der vil ske når først coronavirus bidder sig fast i Afrika. Men erfaringer med epidemibekæmpelse vil nogle steder også kunne øge paratheden.

This article quantifies the net aggregate impact in 2030 of commitments by individual non-state and subnational actors (e.g. regions, cities and businesses, collectively referred to as ‘NSAs’) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis was conducted for NSAs operating within ten major emitting economies that together accounted for roughly two-thirds of global GHG emissions in 2016. Our assessment includes 79 regions (e.g. subnational states and provinces), approximately 6,000 cities, and nearly 1,600 companies with a net emissions coverage of 8.1 GtCO2e/year, or a quarter of the ten economies’ total GHG emissions in 2016. The analysis reflects a proposed methodology to aggregate commitments from different subnational (i.e. regional and city government) and non-state (i.e. business) actors, accounting for overlaps.

If individual commitments by NSAs in the ten high-emitting economies studied are fully implemented and do not change the pace of action elsewhere, projected GHG emissions in 2030 for the ten economies would be 1.2–2.0 GtCO2e/year or 3.8%–5.5% lower compared to scenario projections for current national policies (31.6–36.8 GtCO2e/year). On a country level, we find that the full implementation of these individual commitments alone could result in the European Union and Japan overachieving their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), while India could further overachieve its unconditional NDC target. In the United States, where the national government has rolled back climate policies, NSAs could become a potential driving force for climate action.

This article quantifies the net aggregate impact in 2030 of commitments by individual non-state and subnational actors (e.g. regions, cities and businesses, collectively referred to as ‘NSAs’) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis was conducted for NSAs operating within ten major emitting economies that together accounted for roughly two-thirds of global GHG emissions in 2016. Our assessment includes 79 regions (e.g. subnational states and provinces), approximately 6,000 cities, and nearly 1,600 companies with a net emissions coverage of 8.1 GtCO2e/year, or a quarter of the ten economies’ total GHG emissions in 2016. The analysis reflects a proposed methodology to aggregate commitments from different subnational (i.e. regional and city government) and non-state (i.e. business) actors, accounting for overlaps.

If individual commitments by NSAs in the ten high-emitting economies studied are fully implemented and do not change the pace of action elsewhere, projected GHG emissions in 2030 for the ten economies would be 1.2–2.0 GtCO2e/year or 3.8%–5.5% lower compared to scenario projections for current national policies (31.6–36.8 GtCO2e/year). On a country level, we find that the full implementation of these individual commitments alone could result in the European Union and Japan overachieving their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), while India could further overachieve its unconditional NDC target. In the United States, where the national government has rolled back climate policies, NSAs could become a potential driving force for climate action.

This article quantifies the net aggregate impact in 2030 of commitments by individual non-state and subnational actors (e.g. regions, cities and businesses, collectively referred to as ‘NSAs’) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis was conducted for NSAs operating within ten major emitting economies that together accounted for roughly two-thirds of global GHG emissions in 2016. Our assessment includes 79 regions (e.g. subnational states and provinces), approximately 6,000 cities, and nearly 1,600 companies with a net emissions coverage of 8.1 GtCO2e/year, or a quarter of the ten economies’ total GHG emissions in 2016. The analysis reflects a proposed methodology to aggregate commitments from different subnational (i.e. regional and city government) and non-state (i.e. business) actors, accounting for overlaps.

If individual commitments by NSAs in the ten high-emitting economies studied are fully implemented and do not change the pace of action elsewhere, projected GHG emissions in 2030 for the ten economies would be 1.2–2.0 GtCO2e/year or 3.8%–5.5% lower compared to scenario projections for current national policies (31.6–36.8 GtCO2e/year). On a country level, we find that the full implementation of these individual commitments alone could result in the European Union and Japan overachieving their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), while India could further overachieve its unconditional NDC target. In the United States, where the national government has rolled back climate policies, NSAs could become a potential driving force for climate action.

Fortement impacté dans les années 1990 par les plans d’ajustement structurel, la réduction des dépenses publiques et la libéralisation du secteur agricole, l’accroissement des surfaces irriguées en Afrique subsaharienne et dans les pays d’Afrique du Nord connaît un nouvel élan à partir des années 2000. Cette dynamique repose en grande partie sur des modèles portés par les grandes institutions financières internationales et certaines agences de développement. Ces institutions appellent à une participation croissante du « secteur privé » dans l’aménagement, la mise en valeur et la gestion des infrastructures au sein des espaces irrigués afin de limiter les dépenses publiques dans ces opérations.

Dans ce chapitre, à partir de quelques exemples concrets localisés au Sénégal, au Burkina Faso et au Maroc, nous décrirons d’abord les principales caractéristiques qui président à la formulation de ces projets. Nous discutons dans un deuxième temps les difficultés dans leur mise en oeuvre, les présupposés concernant les différentes formes d’agriculture sur lesquels leur conception repose, et les effets qu’ils sont susceptibles d’induire en matière de pression sur les ressources et de concentration et donc d’exclusion. Enfin, si les organisations paysannes n’ont bien souvent qu’une faible emprise sur l’orientation de la mise en place de l’irrigation dans les régions affectées par ces projets, nous verrons que les agriculteurs peuvent être porteurs d’alternatives.

Fortement impacté dans les années 1990 par les plans d’ajustement structurel, la réduction des dépenses publiques et la libéralisation du secteur agricole, l’accroissement des surfaces irriguées en Afrique subsaharienne et dans les pays d’Afrique du Nord connaît un nouvel élan à partir des années 2000. Cette dynamique repose en grande partie sur des modèles portés par les grandes institutions financières internationales et certaines agences de développement. Ces institutions appellent à une participation croissante du « secteur privé » dans l’aménagement, la mise en valeur et la gestion des infrastructures au sein des espaces irrigués afin de limiter les dépenses publiques dans ces opérations.

Dans ce chapitre, à partir de quelques exemples concrets localisés au Sénégal, au Burkina Faso et au Maroc, nous décrirons d’abord les principales caractéristiques qui président à la formulation de ces projets. Nous discutons dans un deuxième temps les difficultés dans leur mise en oeuvre, les présupposés concernant les différentes formes d’agriculture sur lesquels leur conception repose, et les effets qu’ils sont susceptibles d’induire en matière de pression sur les ressources et de concentration et donc d’exclusion. Enfin, si les organisations paysannes n’ont bien souvent qu’une faible emprise sur l’orientation de la mise en place de l’irrigation dans les régions affectées par ces projets, nous verrons que les agriculteurs peuvent être porteurs d’alternatives.

Fortement impacté dans les années 1990 par les plans d’ajustement structurel, la réduction des dépenses publiques et la libéralisation du secteur agricole, l’accroissement des surfaces irriguées en Afrique subsaharienne et dans les pays d’Afrique du Nord connaît un nouvel élan à partir des années 2000. Cette dynamique repose en grande partie sur des modèles portés par les grandes institutions financières internationales et certaines agences de développement. Ces institutions appellent à une participation croissante du « secteur privé » dans l’aménagement, la mise en valeur et la gestion des infrastructures au sein des espaces irrigués afin de limiter les dépenses publiques dans ces opérations.

Dans ce chapitre, à partir de quelques exemples concrets localisés au Sénégal, au Burkina Faso et au Maroc, nous décrirons d’abord les principales caractéristiques qui président à la formulation de ces projets. Nous discutons dans un deuxième temps les difficultés dans leur mise en oeuvre, les présupposés concernant les différentes formes d’agriculture sur lesquels leur conception repose, et les effets qu’ils sont susceptibles d’induire en matière de pression sur les ressources et de concentration et donc d’exclusion. Enfin, si les organisations paysannes n’ont bien souvent qu’une faible emprise sur l’orientation de la mise en place de l’irrigation dans les régions affectées par ces projets, nous verrons que les agriculteurs peuvent être porteurs d’alternatives.

New article concludes: Explanatory value of key concept now in doubt

Welche Rolle spielt körperliche Kommunikation in der Konstitution von Kommunikationsmacht in Prozessen wissenschaftlicher Wissensproduktion? Wie wirkt sich dies auf die wissenschaftliche Wissensproduktion selbst aus, leitet und prägt sie? Inwiefern ist dies besonders relevant in Zeiten, in der fast alle Bereiche der von Deutschland finanzierten Großforschung sukzessive aus den Universitäten in außeruniversitäre Forschungsinstituten wandern und mittels Forschungsinfrastrukturen, Laboren, Feldstationen, Forschungsschiffen global agierend in größer werdenden und wissenschaftlich immer mehr aufeinander angewiesenen internationalen Teams die Erforschung unseres Planeten vorantreiben? Welche Rolle spielt Körperwissen und -kommunikation in sozialen Prozessen wissenschaftlicher Wissensproduktion?

Diesen Fragen geht die Autorin am Beispiel einer landwirtschaftlichen Feldstation im Nordwesten Usbekistans und einem deutschen Forschungsschiff auf einer Ausfahrt im Südatlantik nach. Es handelt sich um Orte und Formen der wissenschaftlichen Wissensproduktion, die repräsentativ sind für von Deutschland aus finanzierte, international agierende Großforschung im Umweltbereich.

Welche Rolle spielt körperliche Kommunikation in der Konstitution von Kommunikationsmacht in Prozessen wissenschaftlicher Wissensproduktion? Wie wirkt sich dies auf die wissenschaftliche Wissensproduktion selbst aus, leitet und prägt sie? Inwiefern ist dies besonders relevant in Zeiten, in der fast alle Bereiche der von Deutschland finanzierten Großforschung sukzessive aus den Universitäten in außeruniversitäre Forschungsinstituten wandern und mittels Forschungsinfrastrukturen, Laboren, Feldstationen, Forschungsschiffen global agierend in größer werdenden und wissenschaftlich immer mehr aufeinander angewiesenen internationalen Teams die Erforschung unseres Planeten vorantreiben? Welche Rolle spielt Körperwissen und -kommunikation in sozialen Prozessen wissenschaftlicher Wissensproduktion?

Diesen Fragen geht die Autorin am Beispiel einer landwirtschaftlichen Feldstation im Nordwesten Usbekistans und einem deutschen Forschungsschiff auf einer Ausfahrt im Südatlantik nach. Es handelt sich um Orte und Formen der wissenschaftlichen Wissensproduktion, die repräsentativ sind für von Deutschland aus finanzierte, international agierende Großforschung im Umweltbereich.