#5 episode «It's not a moment to learn from Germany, it's a moment to learn from each other»

Shyndyq podcast

Balkans: Geopolitics in Times of Corona

Foreign Aid and Public Relations Work and Their Perception in South East Europe

The coronavirus pandemic is a stress test for global value chains, national health systems and the resilience of societies – with no clear outcome. Against the backdrop of the crisis, we are also witnessing a geopolitical, systemic competition to win the hearts and minds of states and societies and to dominate global narratives. True to the motto that every crisis harbours an opportunity, the People´s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in particular are striving to gain sympathies in selected countries through rapid aid and its propagandistic staging, so as to highlight the superiority of their own systems and thus to expand their soft power. It would be naive to assume that their actions are guided solely by humanitarian considerations and international solidarity. What´s more, they are applying illegitimate methods such as fake news and disinformation campaigns as well.

The WHO Under Pressure (17th April)

Weekly review of events in multilateral Geneva on COVID-19 (April 3 to 16)

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to hold the world in its grip – the global number of cases doubled in two weeks while the number of deaths almost tripled, even though the growth numbers in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe like Spain or Italy have slowed down. Meanwhile, the global discourse on the management of the pandemic has become more confrontational, with criticism being particularly directed towards the WHO.

One crisis too many

State bankruptcy and COVID-19 combine to form a toxic catalyst in Lebanon

For the first time in its history, Lebanon has defaulted - and loses its spotless record of its crisis-resistant solvency. The banking system, a pillar of the Lebanese economy, has begun to totter since the nationwide protests of October 17. The ailing economic system was dragged along for years and kept alive by highly irresponsible fiscal and monetary policies. The COVID-19 outbreak will deal the desolate economy an additional blow, with far reaching consequences that we can only imagine at this point.

Bridging the Financing Gap of the Sustainable Development Goals

Estimates presented during last year's United Nations General Assembly revealed dramatic funding gaps in achieving Agenda 2030. It becomes clear that traditional sources of development finance are merely a drop in the ocean. Alternative approaches, such as innovative financial instruments, blended finance and impact investments, are promising but have not lived up to their potential. This news comes at a difficult time when the world experiences a dramatic slowdown of economic activity in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the erosion of the multilateral rules-based order. Development practitioners are concerned that the coronavirus will 'infect' Agenda 2030 and that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be among its many victims. With the United Nations Headquarters in New York on lockdown and all international conferences being cancelled, it will be challenging but critical to keep up the momentum of the Financing for Development process.

State of Emergency: Corona, the Media and new Rules in South East Europe

The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic influences the daily life immensely and is responsible for sev-eral restrictions in our lives. Especially in these times of crisis it is important that the citizens receive correct information. Journalists and media play therefore a vital role. In the current con-text serious and reliable media are even more important as the current pandemic is also an “in-fodemic” where a lot of false information is spread. Thus, local authorities in South East Europe are not only fighting against the spread of the virus, but also against fake news and disinforma-tion. However, there comes the danger that the crisis is being used to turn off unwanted, critical voices.

The Fear of COVID-19 in Africa

While Ebola is over in the DR Congo, COVID-19 threatens to plunge the country and the rest of the continent into a humanitarian crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has reached Africa. Almost every country is affected. A humanitarian crisis is looming. The number of victims could be much higher than in Italy, China and the United States because of feeble health systems Africa’s governments are responsible for. The expectable aid aiming at improving their health systems after the current crisis must no longer be for free, but include conditions and duties. For this, the ‘G20 Compact With Africa’ initiative and its country partnerships offer an existing framework. Meanwhile, the health crisis in Africa could be followed by a political crisis that might topple a number of African governments.

Weekly overview of developments in multilateral Geneva on COVID-19

(27 March - 2 April)

The „Geneva Telegram“ analyses current developments in the multilateral organiza-tions in Geneva relative to current events. During these weeks, it focuses on devel-opments in the Geneva-based organizations related to COVID-19. The pandemic does not only have a health dimension but also substantial consequences for the future of the global economy, world trade, work, flight and migration, the humanitarian sector and human rights. It also affects the multilateral system as a whole.

Tektonische Verschiebungen in der politischen Landschaft Kenias?

Was verändern BBI und der Tod Mois?

Was verändern BBI und der Tod Mois? Am 4. Februar 2020 verstarb Kenias zweiter Präsident Daniel arap Moi. Durch sein Ableben ergeben sich neue politische Konstellationen, von denen besonders sein Sohn Gideon Moi zu profitieren scheint, der aktuelle Vorsitzende der KANU-Partei. Dies verstärkt eine Verschiebung politischer Konstellationen, welche ohnehin schon durch die Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) befeuert wird, durch welche eine Verfassungsreform vorbereitet wird.

Weekly overview of developments in multilateral Geneva on COVID-19

(20 March - 26 March)

The „Geneva Telegram“ analyses current developments in the multilateral organiza-tions in Geneva relative to current events. During these weeks, it focuses on devel-opments in the Geneva-based organizations related to COVID-19. The pandemic does not only have a health dimension but also substantial consequences for the future of the global economy, world trade, work, flight and migration, the humanitarian sector and human rights. It also affects the multilateral system as a whole.