Welcome to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung!

Freedom, justice and solidarity are the basic principles underlying the work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). As co-founder of the CDU and the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) united Christian-social, conservative and liberal traditions. His name is synonymous with the democratic reconstruction of Germany, the firm alignment of foreign policy with the trans-Atlantic community of values, the vision of a unified Europe and an orientation towards the social market economy. His intellectual heritage continues to serve both as our aim as well as our obligation today.

In our European and international cooperation efforts we work for people to be able to live self-determined lives in freedom and dignity. We make a contribution underpinned by values to helping Germany meet its growing responsibilities throughout the world.

We encourage people to lend a hand in shaping the future along these lines. With more than 70 offices abroad and projects in over 120 countries, we make a unique contribution to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and a social market economy. To foster peace and freedom we encourage a continuous dialogue at the national and international levels as well as the exchange between cultures and religions.

Human beings in their distinctive dignity and with their rights and responsibilities are at the heart of our work. We are guided by the conviction that human beings are the starting point in the effort to bring about social justice and democratic freedom while promoting sustainable economic activity. By bringing people together who embrace their responsibilities in society, we develop active networks in the political and economic spheres as well as in society itself. The guidance we provide on the basis of our political know-how and knowledge helps to shape the globalization process along more socially equitable, ecologically sustainable and economically efficient lines.

We cooperate with governmental institutions, political parties, civil society organizations and handpicked elites, building strong partnerships along the way. In particular we seek to intensify political cooperation in the area of development cooperation at the national and international levels on the foundations of our objectives and values. Together with our partners we make a contribution to the creation of an international order that enables every country to develop in freedom and under its own responsibility.

Since 2006, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has had an active presence in Myanmar. The Myanmar country project focuses on four objectives:

 

• Strengthening society’s representation in the legislature by enabling parliaments and parties to do effective work

 

As part of Myanmar‘s transition to a civilian government and a democratic political order, we support Myanmar politicians on both national and regional level in various aspects of their work. One of the main goals is to sharpen elected representatives’ focus on the public interest. We therefore provide assistance in practical parliamentary and party organization and work.

• Building out the capacities of democratic and legal institutions as well as civil society

 

After decades of civil war, Myanmar is undergoing an intensive and difficult peace process that is hoped to result in a successful political integration of the country’s minorities. In this context, concepts like federalism are no longer taboo topics. We engage with local decision-makers in politics and administration, occasionally using the expertise of the German experience, to devise ways in which federal structures can be a viable solution to Myanmar’s political future.

• Promoting an ecologically-oriented Social Market Economy

 

The story of Myanmar’s economic development over the last 25 years since the end of the socialist experiment has been extremely one-sided. We strive towards raising select entrepreneurs‘ and politicians‘ awareness and support for the idea of a prospering, future-ready sector of medium-sized companies as the foundation of a more inclusive and sustainable growth model.

• Developing mechanisms of cooperation among Southeast Asian countries on the basis of democratic and peace-supporting principles

 

In the context of Myanmar’s diplomatic re-integration into the international community, we support the further development of the country’s foreign policy as a constructive contribution to the region’s integration.