The continent of Africa is on the move - and undergoing momentous change processes Africa's growing self-assertion and self-determination resolve, coupled with an awareness of its own victimhood and marginalisation, forms the basis of MISEREOR’s strategy for development cooperation with this continent. MISEREOR’s intention is to help ensure that Africa's voice will be heard in the world. And it is not least because recent reform movements in Africa have themselves opted for peaceful paths to change, that MISEREOR aims to help strengthen those paths.

The focus of MISEREOR’s work in Africa is on concrete project work. This means satisfying basic needs, which is absolutely key to all further development. Yet a more ambitious vision is also required, based on respect for human rights, and embracing comprehensive development. This means helping strengthen in particular:

• the rule of law
• political rights
• good governance (political accountability, transparency, development orientation)
• democratisation (people’s participation, decentralisation/subsidiarity, equality of opportunity)
• civil society.

Above and beyond local action in projects, programmes and networks, MISEREOR therefore also seeks to respond to the wider social development concerns that our partners communicate to us. It is absolutely essential that we do respond, so that peace can become a fact, and the global community can finally come to realise that the world also belongs to Africans.

Despite all the differences between our work in Africa and our work in the Near and Middle East, there are many similarities in terms of the goals and structure of that work. The increasing levels of violence in Israel/Palestine, and the devastating impacts of the war in Iraq, demonstrate the importance of designing strategies to build peaceful conflict transformation and establish the rule of law.

MISEREOR has been working together with many regional or local partner organisations for a good number of years on the basis of long-term cooperation agreements.

As to practical procedure, MISEREOR basically responds to funding requests. Applicants are expected to send in their proposals in writing, i.e. as a hard copy (printout), and should present their proposed project or programme with its rationale in a comprehensive and convincing manner. We very much regret we have to advise applicants that funding requests sent in by e-mail cannot be considered.

Africa: Recent Trends

The wave of democratisation in the early 90s was brought about by people themselves. In particular, church-based groups participated in these developments – with MISEREOR’s support. Since then, many events have occurred that signal positive change. In Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Kenya, for instance, elections have taken place that won international recognition, and even brought about peaceful, democratic change. Peace-building efforts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo have made progress. In Angola, there is hope for lasting peace.

On the other hand, the growing economic marginalisation of Africa brought about by globalisation, the spread of HIV/AIDS, persistent armed conflicts, failed states and repressive regimes continue to give rise to pessimism.

The debate surrounding the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) initiative reflects these contradictions. The efforts undertaken by African statesmen to strengthen the continent politically, economically and socially have triggered a lively debate, both among Africans and around the world, concerning the political future of Africa. Despite the justified criticism that the process is not sufficiently rooted within African societies, improved social self-organisation and a new awareness have led Africans to engage critically with the problems they are facing. In line with the well-known and yet still crucial principle of helping people help themselves, MISEREOR would like to appropriately support and promote this process.