Feed aggregator

This paper draws on the 2020/21 Egyptian Industrial Firm Behaviour Survey of 2,383 manufacturing firms to provide the first systematic, firm-level evidence on how Egypt’s industrial policy institutions are experienced by manufacturing firms. Using firms’ own perceptions of institutional obstacles, the analysis distinguishes between ministries (“institutions”) and subordinate ministerial and corporatist bodies (“entities”), and classifies these entities into capability-building bodies, regulatory gatekeepers, and quasi-public corporatist bodies. This framework allows the identification of systematic differences in firms’ perceptions across types of institutions and entities, as well as across firm types. It also enables the mapping of mandate overlaps among the entities most frequently identified as problematic. Three results emerge. First, firms report entities as substantially more problematic than ministries. Second, reported institutional burdens are unevenly distributed. In particular, regulatory gatekeepers that control licensing, standards, inspections and continued market access are associated with disproportionately higher reported burdens on structurally more vulnerable firms. Reported frictions are systematically higher for domestically oriented non-exporters, small and medium enterprises, firms located outside industrial zones, privately owned firms and especially informal firms. Third, these patterns are consistent with coordination failures arising from overlapping mandates and weak accountability within specialised agencies. The findings suggest several reform priorities centred on predictable and published requirements, a single coordinated front end for firms, end-to-end case handling, outcome-based monitoring and disclosure, and scaling only those programmes with rigorously demonstrated impact.

This paper draws on the 2020/21 Egyptian Industrial Firm Behaviour Survey of 2,383 manufacturing firms to provide the first systematic, firm-level evidence on how Egypt’s industrial policy institutions are experienced by manufacturing firms. Using firms’ own perceptions of institutional obstacles, the analysis distinguishes between ministries (“institutions”) and subordinate ministerial and corporatist bodies (“entities”), and classifies these entities into capability-building bodies, regulatory gatekeepers, and quasi-public corporatist bodies. This framework allows the identification of systematic differences in firms’ perceptions across types of institutions and entities, as well as across firm types. It also enables the mapping of mandate overlaps among the entities most frequently identified as problematic. Three results emerge. First, firms report entities as substantially more problematic than ministries. Second, reported institutional burdens are unevenly distributed. In particular, regulatory gatekeepers that control licensing, standards, inspections and continued market access are associated with disproportionately higher reported burdens on structurally more vulnerable firms. Reported frictions are systematically higher for domestically oriented non-exporters, small and medium enterprises, firms located outside industrial zones, privately owned firms and especially informal firms. Third, these patterns are consistent with coordination failures arising from overlapping mandates and weak accountability within specialised agencies. The findings suggest several reform priorities centred on predictable and published requirements, a single coordinated front end for firms, end-to-end case handling, outcome-based monitoring and disclosure, and scaling only those programmes with rigorously demonstrated impact.

Carrefour Innovations est une plateforme panafricaine qui met en relation les startups, porteurs de projets et initiatives innovantes avec des investisseurs, entreprises, institutions, experts et partenaires.

L'objectif est de permettre aux porteurs de projets de mieux présenter leurs solutions, de structurer leur profil, d'accroître leur visibilité et de faciliter les connexions susceptibles d'ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives de partenariat, d'accompagnement ou de développement.

À l'approche de LeFasoDigital 2026, les startups, entrepreneurs et porteurs de solutions innovantes sont invités à rejoindre cette dynamique.

Vous avez une innovation à faire connaître ? C'est le moment de la rendre visible.

Découvrez Carrefour Innovations : www.carrefour-innovations.africa

#CarrefourInnovations #Innovation #Startups
1.

Le numérique transforme nos économies, nos métiers, nos institutions et progressivement notre quotidien. Mais derrière les technologies se trouvent des choix, des femmes et des hommes, des expériences et surtout des questions auxquelles nos sociétés doivent répondre.
Digitales Solidaires lance Les Instants du Numérique, un nouveau rendez-vous éditorial consacré à celles et ceux qui pensent, construisent et utilisent le numérique en Afrique.

Pour cette première saison : 12 épisodes, 12 regards et près de trois mois de conversations autour de quatre mouvements : comprendre les transformations en cours, explorer les usages, construire la confiance et préparer l'avenir.

Intelligence artificielle, marché numérique régional, connectivité, financement, paiements, compétences, services publics numériques, données personnelles, cybersécurité, gouvernance de l'Internet et technologies africaines seront au cœur de la saison.

Premier épisode : jeudi 1er octobre 2026. Puis un nouveau rendez-vous chaque jeudi jusqu'au 17 décembre.
Découvrez la bande-annonce.
Les Instants du Numérique — Des voix d'aujourd'hui pour le numérique de demain.
#LesInstantsDuNumérique #Numérique #Innovation #Afrique #DigitalesSolidaires

Fighting on Yemen's west coast has prompted thousands of people to flee by boat across the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

New photos provide another look at an F-22A Raptor carrying the external sensor pods, while also revealing distinctive light-colored panels on the aircraft’s underside.

Newly emerged photos provide another look at an F-22A Raptor carrying the external sensor pods which are currently being developed for the stealth fighter. Interestingly, distinctive light-colored panels can be seen on the aircraft’s underside, although their function is unknown.

The photos which you can see in this article were shared with us by our friend and contributor @stinkjet, who shared them on social media on Sept. 19, 2026. The F-22, callsign “FEVER21,” was flying over the Aerospace Valley of California at the time.

The F-22 was later spotted, accompanied by an F-16 Fighting Falcon, while refueling from the NKC-135 tanker “GHOST81.” The specialized tanker, assigned to Edwards Air Force Base, California, is modified with equipment that allows it to support test and evaluation activities.

 

          Visualizza questo post su Instagram                      

 

Un post condiviso da Alex (@stinkjet)

The Raptor can be seen with the two pods installed beneath its outer wing stations. This is possibly the best view of the pods on the F-22 since their appearance in March 2026 alongside the new stealth external fuel tanks.

The equipment has previously been associated with the development of an infrared search and track (IRST) capability for the F-22, although the exact configuration and purpose of the individual pods have not been publicly disclosed. At least one of the pods appeared to feature a transparent section at its forward end, consistent with an infrared or other optical sensor.

The photos are particularly interesting because of the appearance of the aircraft’s underside panels. Their light coloration is clearly visible in some of the images, but it is not possible to determine from the photographs alone whether they represent a new coating, temporary test instrumentation, or another modification.

An IRST Capability for the Raptor

The F-22 was originally designed with provisions for an integrated Infrared Search and Track System (IRST), but the capability was removed during development as a result of budget constraints. The production aircraft thus does not have an equivalent to the F-35 Lightning II’s integrated Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), which also limited the Raptor’s air-to-ground capability to GPS-guided munitions only.

The F-22 Raptor captured in March 2026 with both the pods and the new stealth external fuel tanks. | Source: Jarod Hamilton/jmh.creates

Integrating an EOTS-like solution is however not feasible for a host of reasons, starting from the heavy and expensive modifications required by the airframe. The external pod solution thus appears to offer a way to introduce new sensing capabilities without undertaking the extensive structural modifications that would be required to install a new internal sensor.

The addition of a passive optical sensing capability would represent a significant enhancement to the F-22’s ability to detect and track airborne targets, complementing the AN/APG-77 radar. Being a passive system, the IRST has also the advantage of not alerting an adversary of a target lock, contrary to the radar which can be picked up by a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR).

The new pods have been spotted during flight testing on an F-22 at the Air Force’s since February 2022. They also made an appearance under the fuselage of a Rockwell Sabreliner 65 used as airborne testbed.

Budget documents mention an InfraRed Search and Track (IRST) sensor being developed for the F-22, which could be the sensor housed inside the two pods, although they could host also other capabilities in addition to the IRST. Among these could be electronic warfare (EW) capabilities or even networking for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).

A close-up of the stealthy pod installed under the Rockwell Sabreliner 65 airborne testbed. | Source: @SR_Planespotter The Raptor’s Light-Colored Underside

Another particularly interesting detail visible in the new imagery is the markedly lighter appearance of portions of the F-22’s underside, specifically the weapons bays’ doors and engines’ underside. The apparent difference in surface finish is sufficiently pronounced to raise questions about whether these areas have been modified.

One possibility is that the aircraft is carrying replacement or temporary panels associated with the ongoing flight-test campaign. However, the positioning and extent of the lighter areas also make it worth considering whether they could be related to testing of new low-observable materials or surface treatments.

The F-22’s radar-absorbent material (RAM) system is an integral part of its low-observable characteristics. Even relatively small changes to the aircraft’s external materials can have implications for radar signature, maintainability and environmental durability.

In the past, the F-22 was spotted with a “mirror-like” coating, which was attributed to either RAM or IR testing, although it has never been officially confirmed. However, the new images shows notable differences compared to that coating, including the reflective surface and the pattern of tiles, which here appear to be absent.

At present, however there is no evidence to conclusively link the light-colored panels to a new round of testing on surface coatings.

Thanks again to our friend @StinkJet for allowing us to use the photos. Make sure to follow him on Instagram or X for more!

It is prioritizing economic recovery and establishing accountability of powerful people for past crimes to build the mass support needed to pursue constitutional reform.

La communauté internationale célèbre ce lundi 21 septembre la Journée internationale de la paix. Pour l’édition 2026, placée sous le thème « Investir dans la paix- Pour tous, partout, chaque jour », le secrétaire général des Nations unies, Antonio Guterres, appelle à renforcer les efforts en faveur de la paix, dans un contexte mondial marqué par de nombreuses crises.

La vaccination des agents de première ligne dans la lutte contre Ebola a été officiellement lancée samedi 19 septembre par le gouverneur de province de l’Ituri. Cette vaccination s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une étude scientifique visant à déterminer le niveau de protection que le vaccin pourrait éventuellement offrir contre la souche Bundibugyo. Pour l’instant, seules les zones de santé de Bunia et de Mongwalu sont ciblées dans le cadre de cette vaccination.

 

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

It is wonderful to be back at UACES. I first attended the conference last year, and the discussions there gave me many valuable insights for developing my research. Over the past year, I have revisited my arguments, refined my framework, and incorporated some of those insights into my analysis. Returning to UACES 2026, therefore, felt particularly meaningful: I was bringing a substantially developed version of the project back to the platform where some of its ideas were first discussed. This year, I presented my research on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the EU’s Global Gateway (GG), posing a seemingly simple yet intriguing question: why do two initiatives increasingly seen as geopolitical competitors sometimes sound remarkably similar?

Let me start with a simple observation. If you pick up an official document from China’s BRI and one from the EU’s Global Gateway, you may notice something surprising. Both initiatives speak about closing global infrastructure gaps, supporting sustainable development, and promoting green and digital connectivity. Yet they are often understood as competing for the same partner countries, markets, and geopolitical influence. So, are these expressions of convergence real—or only superficial?

This puzzle motivates my research: to what extent and in what ways do the BRI and Global Gateway exhibit narrative convergence, and how can we explain it? I argue that this convergence does not necessarily reflect genuine strategic alignment. Instead, it can be understood as a form of strategic branding: the deliberate use of governance narratives to establish legitimacy and manage influence in a competitive geopolitical environment.

My analysis identifies two complementary drivers. First, both initiatives operate under a common international normative environment. They face similar global challenges, expectations associated with their roles as major powers, and reputational criticisms—including concerns about dependency in partner countries. This encourages both China and the EU to draw on widely accepted international language, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN climate framework. The international normative environment does not determine what they do, but it shapes which narratives are considered credible and legitimate.

Second, convergence also emerges through selective mimicry and strategic interaction. The BRI and Global Gateway target many of the same regions, creating a competitive environment in which each seeks to establish an attractive and distinctive identity. China presents the BRI as pragmatic, inclusive, and supportive of the Global South, while the EU frames Global Gateway as a transparent, sustainable, and rules-based alternative. These self-images both enable and constrain their branding strategies.

This becomes particularly visible when each side selectively borrows elements associated with the other. Under criticism over debt sustainability and the environmental impact of the BRI, China increasingly incorporated language around “high-quality” development and introduced initiatives such as the Debt Sustainability Framework and the Clean Silk Road. Meanwhile, the EU adopted the BRI’s logic of a coherent, visible, state-backed connectivity offer, most clearly through the “Team Europe” approach and Global Gateway’s headline financial commitment. In other words, each actor can borrow from the other without abandoning its own identity: China can adopt elements associated with quality and sustainability, while the EU can adopt the visibility and coherence of a unified geopolitical offer.

Yet there is a gap between normative convergence and practical depth. Where shared institutional language generates the appearance of convergence, the underlying divergence in interests and governance philosophy tends to reassert itself. When cooperation requires moving from rhetoric to resource commitment, the underlying divergences in governance philosophy and strategic interest reassert themselves. Practice cooperation was, in other words, most effective precisely where it was least costly: in low-risk technical compatibility and procedural dialogue, not in the strategic integration that either side’s role conception might have implied. This also suggests that narrative convergence can coexist with strategic competition. For China and the EU, branding is not simply about communicating policies; it is part of how they compete for legitimacy, influence, and partners. At the same time, understanding the strategic logic behind each other’s narratives matters for avoiding mutual misunderstanding and identifying areas where competition might coexist with cooperation on shared challenges.

For partner countries, the stakes are even higher. Choosing between the BRI and Global Gateway is not simply a choice between two brands or sources of funding. It can also mean navigating different governance models, conditionalities, and long-term relationships with external powers. Looking beyond the language of convergence, therefore, helps us understand what lies beneath it—and why two geopolitical competitors may sometimes speak remarkably similar languages.

The post Converging to Compete: EU-China Strategic Branding in connectivity appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

A recent debate over whether France's National Rally (RN) party might cut financial aid to Ukraine should it win next [...]

Nach den Landtagswahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern und Berlin kommentiert Marcel Fratzscher, Präsident des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin), die Wahlergebnisse wie folgt: 

Dieser Wahltag war ein weiterer schlechter Tag für unsere Demokratie. Die AfD hat in beiden Bundesländern stark zugelegt. Da in beiden Ländern nun Dreierkoalitionen zur Regierungsbildung nötig sein werden, dürfte die Umsetzung dringend notwendiger Reformprogramme noch schwieriger werden.

Diese Wahlergebnisse sind ein weiteres Misstrauensvotum für die Bundesregierung. Für die Bundesregierung wird es nun noch schwieriger werden, den Mut und die politische Unterstützung für ein grundlegendes Reformprogramm zu mobilisieren. Wenn CDU, CSU und SPD weiterhin an ihren roten Linien festhalten, wird sich die politische Lähmung verfestigen, die wirtschaftliche Schwäche fortsetzen und die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Wahlsiegs der AfD 2029 weiter steigen.

Das Versprechen eines Tankrabatts zwei Tage vor der Wahl hat wohl weder der CDU noch der SPD entscheidend geholfen. Die falsche Lehre für die Bundesregierung wäre nun der Versuch, die Bürgerinnen und Bürger mit Wahlgeschenken wie dem Tankrabatt ruhigzustellen. Die Energiekrise wird sich mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit verschärfen. Die Bundesregierung braucht jetzt einen überzeugenden Plan, wie sie Menschen und Unternehmen sozial und wirtschaftlich ausgewogen entlastet. Dafür wird sie das Steuersystem reformieren und Subventionen abbauen müssen. Genauso wichtig sind Strukturreformen, die Deutschland wirtschaftlich voranbringen und die Sorgen der Menschen nachhaltig beantworten.

Deutschland hat noch immer alle Karten in der Hand, um seine eigene Zukunft zu bestimmen. Dafür braucht es jetzt jedoch einen Pakt zwischen Politik und Wirtschaft: mutige Reformen umzusetzen und auch seitens der Wirtschaft mehr Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Stetes Klagen über die Politik wird nicht ausreichen, um Deutschland zukunftsfähig zu machen.

DIGITAL 08H : Avez-vous tenté votre chance ?

Le tirage DIGITAL 08H N°196 a livré son verdict !

Lundi 21 Septembre 2026

Avez-vous joué ?

Avez-vous misé sur vos numéros porte-bonheur ?

RÉSULTAT : 33 • 22 • 54 • 50 • 47

Félicitations aux heureux gagnants !

Pas encore cette fois ? Gardez le sourire.

Rendez-vous à 11H pour le prochain tirage.

Jouez dans les points de vente ou : Tapez *590# ou rendez-vous sur lnbloto.bj

Jouez avec modération et responsabilité. Le jeu doit rester un plaisir.

RECEVEZ LA CROIX DU LUNDI 21 SEPTEMBRE 2026

A Bassila, dans le département de la Donga, un apprenti boucher a été condamné à une peine de 8 ans de prison pour viol sur une fille mineure.

Un apprenti boucher habitant le quartier Zongo Haoussa à Bassila, est en prison pour viol sur mineure. Les faits selon le bulletin d'information de l'Institut national de la femme (INF), remontent au mardi 20 août 2019.
Ce jour-là, aux environs de 19h, une voisine du quartier aperçoit une fillette devant la chambre du prévenu. Surprise, elle interpelle la fillette qui lui explique que sa sœur aînée, âgée de 8 ans, y serait enfermée avec l'apprenti boucher âgé de 35 ans. Ainsi, la dame ouvrit la porte et vit la fillette « toute nue, allongée sur un pagne blanc étalé au sol ». A ses côtés, le mis en cause, accroupi, et « tout aussi nu ».

Interpellé et placé en détention, l'apprenti boucher a été situé sur son sort le 6 février 2024. La Chambre des infractions commises à raison du sexe de la Cour de répression des infractions économiques et du terrorisme (CRIET), l'a condamné à une peine de 8 ans de prison et 500 000 francs de dommages et intérêts pour la victime.

Ne voulant pas s'en tenir à cette décision de la justice, le prévenu a interjeté appel. Le 2 avril 2026, la Chambre d'appel de la CRIET statuant en matière criminelle des infractions commises à raison du sexe confirme la première décision en toutes ses dispositions.

Le prévenu habite dans un studio communément appelé « Entrée coucher », situé en bordure d'une ruelle très empruntée par la plupart des enfants du quartier. Il profite de cet emplacement et de l'absence ou de l'inattention des parents pour attirer « régulièrement les fillettes avec des biscuits et quelques pièces de monnaie afin d'abuser sexuellement d'elles ».

F. A. A.

DIGITAL 00H : Avez-vous tenté votre chance ?

Le tirage DIGITAL 00H N°195 a livré son verdict !

Lundi 21 Septembre 2026

Avez-vous joué ?

Avez-vous misé sur vos numéros porte-bonheur ?

RÉSULTAT : 63 • 83 • 09 • 18 • 08

Félicitations aux heureux gagnants !

Pas encore cette fois ? Gardez le sourire.

Rendez-vous à 08H pour le prochain tirage.

Jouez dans les points de vente ou : Tapez *590# ou rendez-vous sur lnbloto.bj

Jouez avec modération et responsabilité. Le jeu doit rester un plaisir.

In a world undergoing tumultuous transition, sustainable futures are at stake. Disruptive policy-making is on the rise, taking the form of new waves of authoritarian nationalism and the systematic erosion of rules-based politics. Yet, reform initiatives are simultaneously taking shape. Rather than proclaiming the collapse of the multilateral order or focusing on disruptive trends, this volume highlights the institutions, actors and coalitions that are advancing and shaping reform to sustain and rebuild cooperation in a multipolar world. It builds on the premise that,
in this era of concurrent disruption and reform, Germany and Europe need to invest in politics of cooperation and perseverance. Drawing on research and policy engagement by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and its partner networks, the publication identifies practical and political pathways for reform. These include opportunities for middle-power coalitions; new forms of plurilateral cooperation and institutional adaptation; reconfigured partnership and financing architectures; and new cultures of cooperation and political leadership. These pathways are explored across four thematic sections: geopolitics, partnerships and a new global order; multilateralism in a multipolar world; sustainable transformation architectures; and (social) innovation and transformative capabilities. The volume does not seek to resolve the tension between disruption and reform, but to equip its readers to understand where reform is already taking shape and the actors who may need to be persuaded or supported to take the lead. It thereby aims to offer the expertise and inspiration needed to turn disruptive change into reform dynamics that enable the pursuit of sustainable futures.

Table of Contents: 

Introduction: Sustainable Futures at Stake? The Case for Politics of Cooperation and Perseverance (Hornidge, Anna-Katharina / Axel Berger)

1) Geopolitics, Partnerships, and a New Global Order

From Crisis to Change: The Future of Global Peace and Security (Fiedler, Charlotte / Jasmin Lorch / Karina Mross)

Reforming the WTO in an Age of Power-Based Trade (Brandi, Clara)

Europe’s International Cooperation as a Key Component of a Stable World Order (Keijzer, Niels / Mark Furness)

2) Multilateralism in a Multipolar World

A bold post-UN80 reform agenda for the next UN Secretary-General (Novoselova Anna / Ronny Patz)

The Geopolitics of a Global Sustainability Framework Beyond 2030 (Leininger, Julia)

Environmental Multilateralism in 2026: more robust than disruption narratives suggest (Bauer, Steffen / Niklas Wagner / Ines Dombrowsky)

3) Sustainable Transformation Architectures

Development Finance: Proposals to Make Blended Finance (Finally) Deliver (Berensmann, Kathrin / Bao-We-Wal Bambe)

Domestic Revenue Mobilisation, the Financing Gap and why Tax Expenditures Matter (Sen, Kunal / Christian von Haldenwang

Global Health Beyond 2030: Protecting Ambition in a Fragmented World (von Haaren, Paula)

4) (Social) Innovation and Transformative Capabilities

AI’s Potential to Facilitate More Agile Development Cooperation (Sinanoglu, Semuhi / Michael Roll)

Resilience in Knowledge Infrastructures: Science at a Juncture (Effert, Sarah-Lea / Anna-Katharina Hornidge)

Training Competencies to Navigate Tectonic Shifts and Shape Change (Domingues, Joãao Vitor / Sven Grimm / Zahrina Tamimi)

Futuring Politics of Cooperation and Perseverance: A Possible World in 2040 (Effert, Sarah-Lea / Sven Grimm / Christopher Wingens)

In a world undergoing tumultuous transition, sustainable futures are at stake. Disruptive policy-making is on the rise, taking the form of new waves of authoritarian nationalism and the systematic erosion of rules-based politics. Yet, reform initiatives are simultaneously taking shape. Rather than proclaiming the collapse of the multilateral order or focusing on disruptive trends, this volume highlights the institutions, actors and coalitions that are advancing and shaping reform to sustain and rebuild cooperation in a multipolar world. It builds on the premise that,
in this era of concurrent disruption and reform, Germany and Europe need to invest in politics of cooperation and perseverance. Drawing on research and policy engagement by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and its partner networks, the publication identifies practical and political pathways for reform. These include opportunities for middle-power coalitions; new forms of plurilateral cooperation and institutional adaptation; reconfigured partnership and financing architectures; and new cultures of cooperation and political leadership. These pathways are explored across four thematic sections: geopolitics, partnerships and a new global order; multilateralism in a multipolar world; sustainable transformation architectures; and (social) innovation and transformative capabilities. The volume does not seek to resolve the tension between disruption and reform, but to equip its readers to understand where reform is already taking shape and the actors who may need to be persuaded or supported to take the lead. It thereby aims to offer the expertise and inspiration needed to turn disruptive change into reform dynamics that enable the pursuit of sustainable futures.

Table of Contents: 

Introduction: Sustainable Futures at Stake? The Case for Politics of Cooperation and Perseverance (Hornidge, Anna-Katharina / Axel Berger)

1) Geopolitics, Partnerships, and a New Global Order

From Crisis to Change: The Future of Global Peace and Security (Fiedler, Charlotte / Jasmin Lorch / Karina Mross)

Reforming the WTO in an Age of Power-Based Trade (Brandi, Clara)

Europe’s International Cooperation as a Key Component of a Stable World Order (Keijzer, Niels / Mark Furness)

2) Multilateralism in a Multipolar World

A bold post-UN80 reform agenda for the next UN Secretary-General (Novoselova Anna / Ronny Patz)

The Geopolitics of a Global Sustainability Framework Beyond 2030 (Leininger, Julia)

Environmental Multilateralism in 2026: more robust than disruption narratives suggest (Bauer, Steffen / Niklas Wagner / Ines Dombrowsky)

3) Sustainable Transformation Architectures

Development Finance: Proposals to Make Blended Finance (Finally) Deliver (Berensmann, Kathrin / Bao-We-Wal Bambe)

Domestic Revenue Mobilisation, the Financing Gap and why Tax Expenditures Matter (Sen, Kunal / Christian von Haldenwang

Global Health Beyond 2030: Protecting Ambition in a Fragmented World (von Haaren, Paula)

4) (Social) Innovation and Transformative Capabilities

AI’s Potential to Facilitate More Agile Development Cooperation (Sinanoglu, Semuhi / Michael Roll)

Resilience in Knowledge Infrastructures: Science at a Juncture (Effert, Sarah-Lea / Anna-Katharina Hornidge)

Training Competencies to Navigate Tectonic Shifts and Shape Change (Domingues, Joãao Vitor / Sven Grimm / Zahrina Tamimi)

Futuring Politics of Cooperation and Perseverance: A Possible World in 2040 (Effert, Sarah-Lea / Sven Grimm / Christopher Wingens)

In a world undergoing tumultuous transition, sustainable futures are at stake. Disruptive policy-making is on the rise, taking the form of new waves of authoritarian nationalism and the systematic erosion of rules-based politics. Yet, reform initiatives are simultaneously taking shape. Rather than proclaiming the collapse of the multilateral order or focusing on disruptive trends, this volume highlights the institutions, actors and coalitions that are advancing and shaping reform to sustain and rebuild cooperation in a multipolar world. It builds on the premise that,
in this era of concurrent disruption and reform, Germany and Europe need to invest in politics of cooperation and perseverance. Drawing on research and policy engagement by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and its partner networks, the publication identifies practical and political pathways for reform. These include opportunities for middle-power coalitions; new forms of plurilateral cooperation and institutional adaptation; reconfigured partnership and financing architectures; and new cultures of cooperation and political leadership. These pathways are explored across four thematic sections: geopolitics, partnerships and a new global order; multilateralism in a multipolar world; sustainable transformation architectures; and (social) innovation and transformative capabilities. The volume does not seek to resolve the tension between disruption and reform, but to equip its readers to understand where reform is already taking shape and the actors who may need to be persuaded or supported to take the lead. It thereby aims to offer the expertise and inspiration needed to turn disruptive change into reform dynamics that enable the pursuit of sustainable futures.

Table of Contents: 

Introduction: Sustainable Futures at Stake? The Case for Politics of Cooperation and Perseverance (Hornidge, Anna-Katharina / Axel Berger)

1) Geopolitics, Partnerships, and a New Global Order

From Crisis to Change: The Future of Global Peace and Security (Fiedler, Charlotte / Jasmin Lorch / Karina Mross)

Reforming the WTO in an Age of Power-Based Trade (Brandi, Clara)

Europe’s International Cooperation as a Key Component of a Stable World Order (Keijzer, Niels / Mark Furness)

2) Multilateralism in a Multipolar World

A bold post-UN80 reform agenda for the next UN Secretary-General (Novoselova Anna / Ronny Patz)

The Geopolitics of a Global Sustainability Framework Beyond 2030 (Leininger, Julia)

Environmental Multilateralism in 2026: more robust than disruption narratives suggest (Bauer, Steffen / Niklas Wagner / Ines Dombrowsky)

3) Sustainable Transformation Architectures

Development Finance: Proposals to Make Blended Finance (Finally) Deliver (Berensmann, Kathrin / Bao-We-Wal Bambe)

Domestic Revenue Mobilisation, the Financing Gap and why Tax Expenditures Matter (Sen, Kunal / Christian von Haldenwang

Global Health Beyond 2030: Protecting Ambition in a Fragmented World (von Haaren, Paula)

4) (Social) Innovation and Transformative Capabilities

AI’s Potential to Facilitate More Agile Development Cooperation (Sinanoglu, Semuhi / Michael Roll)

Resilience in Knowledge Infrastructures: Science at a Juncture (Effert, Sarah-Lea / Anna-Katharina Hornidge)

Training Competencies to Navigate Tectonic Shifts and Shape Change (Domingues, Joãao Vitor / Sven Grimm / Zahrina Tamimi)

Futuring Politics of Cooperation and Perseverance: A Possible World in 2040 (Effert, Sarah-Lea / Sven Grimm / Christopher Wingens)

How do local elections affect societal peace after civil war? Existing research focuses on national elections or secession risks. This article examines municipal elections in post-war Mozambique and their impact on social cohesion (positive horizontal and vertical societal relations). Based on 33 semi-structured interviews conducted in Maputo and Nampula in 2019, the analysis finds limited but positive effects, mainly through improved state-society relations, more inclusive representation, and a greater sense of belonging. However, these gains are constrained by an autocratic context and centralised party structures. Against theoretical expectations, local elections neither enhanced inter-party cooperation nor intensified social divisions.