Africa and Germany

Former UNEP chief Dr. Klaus Töpfer gives public lecture in South Africa

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:45:19 GMT

Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, environmental politics expert and former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be the featured guest at a University of Johannesburg public lecture on February 23. Dr. Töpfer, along with a panel of experts, will examine the experiences of recent and past world environment summits to assess the prospects and progress on the transition to a low carbon economy.

Intensive dialogue with important African partners

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:29:06 GMT

A German-Angolan Binational Commission has been established at Germany's Foreign Office to help the German Government achieve its goal of strengthening its cooperation with Angola.

Zambians celebrate their heroes

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:19:49 GMT

Zambia's triumph in the 2012 Arican Cup of Nations came as a surprise to many. Here a short story on the wild celebrations in Zambia by Lusaka-based German journalist and employee of the German Develo...

South Africa’s contemporary dance scene bursts to life during Dance Umbrella

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:52:54 GMT

Johannesburg will yet again play host to the fifteen-day dance festival Dance Umbrella from February 17- March 4, 2012. The festival includes performances, workshops and face to face discussions with the choreographers. The Goethe Institut continues its partnership with the festival by hosting a three-day dance writers’ workshop and providing venues and support for performances.

South African football coaches receive certificates for DFB-Course

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:06:40 GMT

Three South African football coaches received their coaching certificates today at the German Embassy in Pretoria. They successfully completed the three-week International Coaching Course of the Germa...

Private-public support for adult education program for cotton farmers in Burkina Faso

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:10:46 GMT

The Aid by Trade Foundation and Otto Group have furthered their ongoing support to smallholder cotton farmers in Africa, this time through a program to increase literacy in adults in the Bazega Region of central south Burkina Faso. Courses will begin in March 2012 for farmers who work with the Cotton made in Africa initiative. The program is also supported by Germany's DEG and the NGO Welthungerhilfe.

“New era for German-African research cooperation" with climate protection initiative in West Africa

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:47:04 GMT

Together with ten West African countries, Germany's Research Ministry will launch the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use. The objective is to research the effects of climate change and develop effective protective measures against climate-related risks. Up to 50 million Euro has been allocated by Germany for the development of West African research infrastructure in the long run.

Berlinale is fertile ground for those in SA film industry

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:26:56 GMT

The Berlin International Film Festival officially opened on February 9. In the German capital, amongst the glitterati, are two dynamic representatives of South Africa's film scene who have their minds set on making the most of this experience: Nodi Murphy, pivotal player in the Out in Africa and Encounters film festivals, and Sakhumzi Mati, a promising young filmmaker.

German government steps up humanitarian assistance for Sahel zone

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:10:37 GMT

Germany's Foreign Office and its Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development are making 12 million Euro available to fund emergency assistance for the people affected by the drought in the Sahel zone.

Travelling exhibit Alptraum opens in Johannesburg

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:09:03 GMT

After showings in Germany, the US, Great Britain and Cape Town, the travelling exhibition Alptraum opens on February 9 at the Goethe Institut Johannesburg. The various pieces explore how the concept of nightmares is shaped by different cultures and expressed by artists. The exhibition will run until March 9 at the Institut's gallery.

Learning through volunteering

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:06:26 GMT

Many young people in Germany are choosing to spend time abroad before or during their university studies working on development or volunteer projects. One such student was Maxie Witt who went to Kumasi, Ghana and spent six months working with young people. Her experiences are recounted here in an interview with Young Germany.

German support for promoting market research in Africa

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:44:11 GMT

A joint project with investments totalling over 2.5 million Euro is set to promote market research in Africa. The aim is to build a foundation of trained academics and courses of study with orientation towards market research at universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The project is funded by the DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, and the German market research company GfK.

Science and technology partnerships in focus during German-South African Year of Science

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:03:33 GMT

A year-long programme of activities will begin in April focused on Germany and South Africa’s long-standing and diverse partnership in the fields of research, science and technology. The Year of Science will feature live and virtual activities throughout both countries during 2012 and 2013. The opening will take place in Cape Town with German Education and Research Minister Dr. Annette Schavan and South African Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor in attendance.

German Development Minister Niebel visits Turkana drought region

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:14:19 GMT

The German Minister for Development and Economic Cooperation, Dirk Niebel, arrived today in Kenya for a one-day visit. His trip will include political talks in the capital Nairobi, but also a visit to the Turkana region, on the border of Southern Sudan, that was particularly hard hit by the drought.

German-African musician begins tour of East Africa

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:09:46 GMT

Nneka, a successful Afro-German recording artist, will perform in Nairobi on Saturday, February 4. The concert is the start of an East Africa tour sponsored by the Goethe Institute which will include performances in Rwanda, Uganda and at the Sauti za Busara festival in Zanzibar.

Minister of State Pieper concerned about clashes in Senegal

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:34:36 GMT

In the night of January 29 to30, the Senegalese Constitutional Council confirmed its ruling that President Wade can run for a third term in office in the presidential elections due to take place on February 26, 2012. At the same time Youssou N’Dour and other candidates were barred from standing. The opposition has called for resistance and for renewed demonstrations to be staged all over the country.

Religious tolerance for the new Egypt

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:34:36 GMT

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle began his visit on January 30, with a tour round Cairo’s Coptic quarter and discussions with representatives of the Coptic Church. “It is very important for us to keep highlighting the need for tolerance and religious pluralism,” he said.

Germany supports Ghanaian police training facility

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:21:47 GMT

More than 300,000 Ghanaian peacekeepers have helped promote peace and security in over 63 missions in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans. Recently, renovations were completed at a police training centre in Pwalugu, Ghana as part of a German programme run in various African countries which make their police officers available for international peace missions. Roughly three million Euro has been made available for this programme.

World's Agriculture Ministers commit to a resolute fight against hunger

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:15:22 GMT

At the conclusion of the International Agriculture Ministers' Summit in Berlin on January 21, Ministers of Agriculture from 65 countries of the world agreed on new strategies and closer cooperation in the fight against hunger. In the final communiqué, the participating countries, which included 15 African countries as well as China, Brazil, Japan, and Indonesia, state their commitment to an intensified protection of scarce resources and to a farming sector that strictly adheres to the principles of sustainability.

Dynamic partnership marks Johannesburg's Mozart Festival

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:09:52 GMT

For the past four years, South African and German artists have shaped the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival into a much-awaited and successful event. This year, from January 27 to February 19, classical meets jazz as the festival puts a new twist on the old classics, featuring artists from both countries in the program. The Goethe Institut adds to this partnership, sponsoring the festival for yet another year.