Multi-stakeholder initiatives on garments and textiles in Germany and the Netherlands
To address bad working conditions and pollution in production countries, policymakers are showing increasing interest in multi-stakeholder initiatives. By analysing two cases, the German Agreement on Sustainable Textiles and the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile, this briefing note highlights the challenges and opportunities to support the transition towards a more sustainable and responsible production and supply chains. Read the note

Evaluation of the implementation of the African Peace Facility 2014-2016

The EU's African Peace Facility continues to be a highly relevant instrument in support of African efforts for peace and security on the continent. Yet the authors of this evaluation, carried out under ECDPM's Security and Resilience programme, have a number of recommendations for future improvement. Read the evaluation

The European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework: Prospects and challenges for EU development cooperation

Negotiations are underway on the next EU budget. How much funding should go towards EU external action? What should this money be spent on? And how should it be managed? The European Think Tanks Group addresses these questions. Read the paper

The Week of 9 – 16 March 2018

Briefings: Tajikistan, Kenya
Commentary: Central Asia, Korean Peninsula
Interviews: U.S., Global, Sri Lanka, U.S./North Korea
Crisis Group in the News: U.S./Iran, Afghanistan, DR Congo, South Ossetia, Syria, Kenya, Venezuela/Colombia, Somalia, Israel, Sudan/Egypt, U.S./Russia, African Union, Saudi Arabia/Yemen
Careers: Brussels

Read the report

Financing EU external action and development cooperation in the post-2020 EU budget: One instrument to play many tunes

A recent letter signed by Commission President Juncker and Budget Commissioner Oettinger sheds more light on the next EU budget. Among the various proposals emerges the idea of a single instrument for EU external action as well as the need for a more strategic and efficient use of fewer resources.

Read the blog

EU financing for peace and security post 2020 – Towards a European Peace Facility (EPF)?

How should the EU finance its assistance to peacebuilding activities of partner countries and organisations after 2020? HRVP Mogherini has put forward the idea of a European Peace Facility. This model has several advantages, but its potential disadvantages need to be taken into account as well.
Read the blog

The Week of 2 – 9 March 2018

Statement: Korean Peninsula

Commentary: Gender, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Ukraine, Syria

Interviews: Sri Lanka, Gender, Russia/Syria, Syria, Turkey

Crisis Group in the News: Sri Lanka, Korean Peninsula, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Somalia, El Salvador, Sudan

Read the report

Attacks on the Burkina Faso army headquarters and the French Embassy on 2 March 2018 were better organised, involved heavier weapons and were more sustained than anything seen so far in Burkina Faso.

Operations were carried out by two groups of at least four to five assailants each. While the incidents were confined to the city center, they hit two symbolic targets at the heart of power in the country. The official death toll is sixteen, including nine assailants. Reliable sources indicated more than 30 dead. The number of wounded is around 85.

In this Q&A, our West Africa Program Director Rinaldo Depagne says the jihadist assault further exposes worrying weakness in the Burkinabé security forces.

Read commentary

Beyond youth rhetoric: creating policies together with young people

Although young people are increasingly recognised as essential contributors to sustainable development, their participation in policy-making is still a challenge. What can Africa and Europe do together to boost youth participation? Read the blog

The Week of 23 February – 2 March 2018

CrisisWatch: February/March 2018

Report: Bangladesh

Trigger List: Iran-U.S., Strait of Hormuz, Golan Heights

Briefing Note: Turkey

Commentary: Syria/Venezuela, Russia/Syria, El Salvador, Nagorno-Karabakh, Colombia

Interviews: Syria, Turkey, El Salvador, Colombia, Israel/Palestine

Crisis Group In The News: Syria, Nigeria, Venezuela/Colombia, China, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Egypt/Ethiopia, Tunisia, Colombia, Turkey

Read the report

About

Analysis and News Worth Knowing on Africa from Monday to Friday. 

The site is updated weekdays at 10:00 am GMT. Depending on news flow stories are occasionally updated during the day.

28 Feb. 2018 - South Africa starts walking the tightrope to economic revival

27 Feb. 2018 - Mobile money is a story of success in Africa – but also failure

26 Feb. 2018 - What makes tiny Djibouti so confident?

23 Feb. 2018 - China-Africa relations are too easily underestimated

22 Feb. 2018 - The fight against corruption is not going so well

Read more ...

The European Union’s role in and contribution to development in Africa is what links all the items in this week’s Compass.

The economy of illicit trade in West Africa
A number of illicit activities interact with the economy, security and development of West African states. But how? In this report, the OECD, African Development Bank, World Bank, New Partnership for Africa’s Development Agency and Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa analyse the nature of thirteen criminal and illicit economies, to unveil illicit flows and understand their link to development - and how they hinder it. What leads these economies to thrive, and what motivates those involved?
Read the report

Regional organisations in Africa, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), try to tackle criminal and illicit economies by implementing common governance policies. Learn more about their joint efforts in ecdpm's dossier on regional integration.

The Week of 16 – 23 February 2018

Report: Iraq

Newly Translated Report & Briefing: Israel/Syria, Syria

Commentary: Sudan, Sahel, Mexico

Interviews: Syria, Israel/Palestine, Guatemala

Quotes: Israel/Syria, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Cameroon, Syria, Zimbabwe, Russia/Syria

Read the report