Publications

Our world is becoming increasingly urban - the 21st century is 'the century of cities'. The Misereor position paper 'Cities as levers for socio-ecological transformation' discusses the opportunities and challenges of urbanization in the face of urban poverty and inequality, the environmental and climate crisis and governance problems. Guidelines and recommendations are addressed to partners and allies as well as political decision-makers: how can the key role of cities and urban actors be (better) used in terms of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement? The document can also be found in German , Spanish and French

Publication

The importance of camelid herders for the conservation of our world's rangelands is increasingly recognized internationally. To mark the International Year of Camelids (IYC), this thematic dossier introduces camelid pastoralists, how they sustainably manage rangelands in the Andean highlands, East Africa and Mongolia, and why the global community should support camelid pastoralism for a resilient future of our planet.

• Publisher: Misereor, League for Pastoral Peoples, DITSL
• Pages: 20 
• Responsible in terms of the law: Sabine Dorlöchter-Sulser, Rural Development Specialist at Misereor (sabine.dorloechter-sulser@misereor.de)

Publication

This study aims at giving fresh impetus to the debate in a threefold manner: firstly, it provides an overview of the legal  framework conditions with regard to PSS at the international level. Secondly, it analyses national legislation of countries (India, Brazil, Ecuador, Italy and Ethiopia) which have attempted to legally recognise peasant varieties or PSS. Thirdly, it presents two examples of countries (Mali and Uganda) where civil society actors advocate for the recognition of PSS. 

Briefing paper
Since German diplomatic missions can make an important contribution to protecting space for civil society as well as HRDs, Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), Konsortium ZFD (Civil Peace Service Consortium) and Misereor have commissioned a study on good practices in the cooperation between diplomatic missions and civil society.

Report

Compared to the years during the COVID-19 crisis, in some countries of the Global South the debt situation has slightly eased. For most countries there, however, the debt situation remains tense. In 130 of the 152 countries surveyed in the Global South, the debt situation is at least slightly critical; in 24 of these countries, the situation is very critical. Overall, 55% of the countries surveyed are critically or very critically indebted – in contrast to only 37% before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, countries in the Global South have to make more debt service payments to their external creditors than ever before. For 45 countries, more than 15% of government revenue flows into debt servicing.

• Published: 15 April 2024
• Editors: Misereor and erlassjahr.d

Stories from the Panguna Listening Project

From 1989 to 2001, Bougainville experienced a violent conflict directly connected to the Panguna Mine. The Panguna Listening Project (PLP) is an initiative of the Catholic Diocese of Bougainville seeking to make the voices of the people heard in the Panguna mine affected areas.

Publication

The expansion of fossil fuels in Africa has serious social and economic consequences that hinder development in many countries. The report “Fossils Implicated.” shows how renewable energies can promote sustainable development and at the same time support global goals such as the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement.

• Publisher: Climate Advisers Network, Power Shift Africa, Misereor
• Publication date: June 2024
• Pages: 40

Publication

Fossil fuel extraction fans the flames of the climate crisis and hinders development in African countries
This dossier emphasises a forward-looking perspective through African voices, advocating for an African future where development is decoupled from fossil fuels, where sustainable energy drives prosperity and Africa’s well-being, and where the continent takes its rightful place in the global dialogue on climate, energy and development.

• Publisher: Misereor
• Publication date: June 2024
• Pages: 42

Publication

The following documents discuss different ways of supporting marginalised people with shaping their change processes in a self-determined manner. This document is the outcome of the ongoing learning process around ‘people-led development’ of Misereor, selected partner organisations and their partner communities in Asia. It looks more closely at the roles and responsibilities Misereor, the partner organisations and marginalised communities could play in transformation processes, and the ‘how’ of project-related, yet self-determined, change processes with people at the centre. It critically reflects on ‘project business’ and the crucial roles of change facilitators and their organisations that endeavour to ideally respond to the needs of donors without compromising the participatory and empowering potential of such processes.

Reading the electronic version of the text provides the reader with additional short texts examples, explanations and comments that are not included in the printable version.

Publication

Violence wounds both the body and the soul. Stable peace and long-term development are only possible when people are able to overcome their fear, their generalized mistrust, and their grief. This is where trauma work comes into play.