Governance

Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals will require good governance – from the local to the global level.

Self-righteous aggressiveness versus universal values

Humankind’s religions share a common core of values, as the Swiss theologian Hans Küng prominently argued. He called it the “global ethic”.

Pharmaceuticals

Brief history of ARV treatment in South Africa

Why it took so long for innovative treatments to make a difference in HIV positive people’s lives in South Africa

Sexually transmitted disease

HIV/AIDS still haunts South Africa

Elderly are particularly affected by HIV/AIDS

Gender justice

NGO documents worsening plight of Afghan women

Islamist Taliban regime has effectively erased women from public life.

Conflict region

Coping with strife, climate impacts and a broken economy

Eco-friendly farming can put grassroots communities in the DRC in a better position to ensure their own food security.

Syncretism

Voodoo allows a holistic view of the cosmos

In Benin, voodoo is practiced as a religion – regardless of whether someone is Christian, Muslim or Hindu. However, the proliferation of Christian free churches and the increase in Islamist attacks are endangering the harmony between the religious groups.

Brazil

Brazil’s colonial legacies and current challenges

The lasting influence of Portuguese colonialism continues to hinder efforts to improve public welfare, address structural racism and protect the country’s rich ecosystems.

Bank takeover

Indigenous banks collapsing in Zambia: A closer look at Investrust

The closure of Zambia’s Investrust Bank reflects the struggles of local financial institutions facing competition from multinational banks. The recent closure poses major challenges for former account holders and employees.

D+C/E+Z

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Global governance

Financing development and climate goals

A recent white paper published by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation identifies global priorities and suggests how to allocate funding for maximum impact.

Restitution

No surrender to the Germans

The story of the skull of the resistant Chief Mkwawa is an example of the arbitrariness with which the colonisers treated their subjects – even decades after their death.