Africa
Even today, Africa is home to many of the poorest countries in the world. However, the continent is undergoing major changes and is experiencing economic growth.
Africa, the second-largest continent on the globe, consists of 54 independent nation states and can be subdivided into five regions: North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa. Over the course of the past 40 years, it has experienced massive population growth – today counting over a billion people of more than 3,000 ethnic groups, with great variations in culture, language and religion. The continent is still home to a considerable proportion of the world’s poor, but it is also characterized by rapid development and economic growth.
NUPI conducts wide-ranging research on Africa, in particular on issues related to social and economic development: fundamental questions concerning the conditions for state formation and democracy, as well as specific studies of individual countries and areas. Other important thematic areas include how post-conflict counties can avoid relapse, and the role of international peace operations in such circumstances – not least, the activities of the UN and the African Union.
Source: Store Norske Leksikon and NUPI.
News about Africa
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The violence in Mali is getting bloodier, but religion is not necessarily at its root
8 Apr 2019The massacre of Fulani in central Mali on 23 March marks a grave, new turn in the conflict. How did we get here? NUPI researchers Natasja Rupesinghe and Morten Bøås provide insight into possible reasons.
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How can the EU improve its response to crises?
25 Mar 2019Researchers within and beyond Europe have been studying the EU's approach to conflict and crises. Here's what they found out.
Publications about Africa
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Publication
: ARTIKKEL
Local Ownership as Global Governance
2019The ownership discourse has profoundly altered the management of development aid. Nominally, it seeks to instil greater freedom as well as responsibilities among aid recipients. Revisiting two ethnographic studies (the World Bank–Uganda partnership and NGO relations in Ethiopia), this article shows how... -
Publication
EUNPACK Executive Summary of the Final Report & Selected Policy Recommendations. A conflict-sensitive unpacking of the eu comprehensive approach to...
Since adopting a ‘comprehensive approach’ to crisis management in 2013, the EU has spent considerable time and energy on streamlining its approach and improving internal coordination. New and protracted crises, from the conflict in Ukraine to the rise of Daesh in Syria and Iraq, and the refugee situation... -
Publication
: ARTIKKEL_POP
Complexity thinking and adaptive peacebuilding
2019Cedric de Coning explores how complexity thinking can contribute to our understanding of how to create more inclusive peace processes, and how adaptive approaches enable local and external peacebuilders to apply new models of practice, experimentation and learning. These differ fundamentally from approaches...
Research projects about Africa
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Foto: NTB Scanpix
Research project
Fragile states and violent entrepreneurs: conflict, climate, refugees (FRAGVENT)
2018 - 2021 (Ongoing)What forms of authority underpin, enable, and extend violent entrepreneurs in fragile states, and how do the combined effects of fragile states, conflict, and climate impact this?
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Research project
Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network (EPON)
2018 - 2021 (Ongoing)NUPI together with 40 partners from across the globe have established an international network to undertake research into the effectiveness of peace operations.
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Foto: UN Photo
Research project
Support to UN Peace Operations: Ensuring More Effective UN Peace Operations (UNPO)
2017 - 2020 (Ongoing)The aim of this project is to strengthen the ability of UN peace operations to respond to global security challenges and improve their effectiveness.