Heidi Kuhn’s Post

Until we realize as citizens that the future of our nation lies in self-reliance, not in speeches designed to impress Western audiences, we will continue to stagnate in a cycle of dependency and unfulfilled promises. President Bio’s recent keynote address at Oxford University, where he called for an integrated solution to food security and climate change, is yet another example of grand rhetoric disconnected from the harsh realities at home. It’s ironic that a president who proudly speaks of Sierra Leone’s potential to transform global food systems presides over a country that imports more than 80% of its food. While he talks about climate-smart agriculture and turning Sierra Leone into a "breadbasket," the truth is that Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector remains woefully underdeveloped. The FEED SALONE Programme, touted as a solution to food security, is yet another ambitious project that promises more than it delivers. Like the Lungi Bridge, which never materialized, these initiatives often seem designed to placate international donors and ensure continued foreign aid rather than create tangible benefits for Sierra Leoneans. Meanwhile, back home, deforestation is rampant, contributing to flooding that devastates communities with each rainy season. The absence of proper infrastructure, a failing drainage system, and an unreliable power supply further reveal the gap between the president’s international image and the lived experience of ordinary Sierra Leoneans. For a country that cannot generate consistent electricity, let alone meet its people’s basic needs, claims of leading the global charge on food, energy, and water security are not only far-fetched but embarrassing. The truth is, Sierra Leone has been trapped in a cycle of dependency on Western aid for far too long. Rather than putting real investment into local industries and infrastructure, our leaders appear content with external donations and grants that temporarily mask the symptoms of underdevelopment without addressing the root causes. It’s easier to make high-profile speeches in foreign institutions than to implement lasting change at home. The moment we begin to hold our government accountable for their empty promises, rather than being impressed by their international engagements, is the moment Sierra Leone can start moving toward genuine self-sufficiency. Until then, these high-sounding calls for innovation and partnerships will remain just that talk without substance, aimed at winning the next election, not solving the nation’s most pressing issues.

Today marks United Nations Charter Day, and I remain deeply grateful to all those who supported the vision of turning MINES TO VINES and planting the Roots of Peace—including Kofi Annan Foundation and Gillian Sorensen, former Assistant Secretary-General for their strong support. “….You have turned mines into vines by replacing the seeds of destruction with the seeds of life...and you have shown the world that even with modest beginnings, a partnership backed up by persistence can make a real difference." -- His Excellency Kofi Annan June 7, 2001 The name ‘Roots of Peace’ was inspired by the giant redwood trees of Muir Woods in Marin County, California, where the original 50 United Nations delegates gathered beneath the ‘temples of peace’ on May 19, 1945, to envision a more peaceful world. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 generated a desire among the Allied nations to create a new international body that would be more adequately equipped to maintain international peace in the future. The concept of international peace and security laid out in the UN Charter was signed at the War Memorial Building in San Francisco on June 26, 1945. The concept of an United Nations retreat to the redwoods was proposed in a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt by the Secretary of Interior Ickes: “Not only would this focus attention on this nation’s interest in preserving these mighty trees for posterity, but here in such a ‘temple of peace’ the delegates would gain a perspective and sense of time that could be obtained nowhere in America better than a forest. Muir Woods is a cathedral, the pillars of which have stood through much of recorded human history. Many of these trees were standing when The Magna Carta was written.” The outermost of their growth rings are contemporary with the birth of Roots of Peace on September 21, 1997. Each tree planted on a former minefield provides fruit for future generations. And, each tree planted sequesters the carbon that will fight climate change. Today, we continue our humanitarian work in Afghanistan in partnership with UNDP with funding from U.S. Department of State INL, as we plant over 1.5 million fruit trees, kitchen gardens and train Afghan farmers—cultivating peace through agriculture. World Food Prize Foundation USAID US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

If you are interested in a new conceptualisation of Europeanisation, then this Open Access article by Stella Ladi and myself might be for you. Since 2008, the EU has been engulfed in several crises. While distinct, these crises are feeding into each other and are testing the capacity and resilience of EU and member states. In the age of permacrisis, a new trend towards a novel mode of ‘coordinative Europeanization’ in EU decision-making has been observed. In this paper we define this new mode of coordinative Europeanization and outline its key features, and we argue that the recent crises have altered the EU member states’ relationship in pursuit of fast policy responses. We analyse the reasons behind this changing relationship as well as the possible avenues it may take. We then discuss the challenges caused by coordinative Europeanization and how it relates to pre-existing de-Europeanization tendencies. We close the paper with an analysis of the significance of our findings and with avenues for future research. This article is the theoretical underpinning of a forthcoming special issue in Comparative European Politics. Special thanks to Angelos Angelou, to the referees, to all contributors and to the reviewers of the whole Special Issue, Theofanis Exadaktylos and paolo graziano: your feedback has been super valuable and helped us improve our analysis! https://lnkd.in/gUmz9Q3j

The Schweizerischer Nationalfonds SNF is taking part in the Belmont Forum's Africa Regional call for proposals. The aim of this call for proposals is to bring together international and transdisciplinary research teams led by African scientists and stakeholders to meet the priorities and requirements that they have identified and grouped under three different topics: 1) Water, energy, food and health nexus 2) Pollution 3) Disaster preparedness, responsiveness and recovery

This week, our analyst, Nomqhele J.D Dube will be sharing insights at the Oceans Economy Conference & Expo 2024 in Cape Town. She will delve into the economic factors shaping South Africa’s fishing industry. Her comprehensive overview will explore key themes such as market trends, regulatory frameworks, sustainability challenges, and emerging opportunities within this vital sector of South Africa’s economy. #fishingindustry #oceanseconomy #oceanseconomyconference #southafrica

TITLE: "From Global and Local Perspectives to ‘Glocal’ practice" -------------------------------------------------------------------- In the face of a(ny) meta-crisis, it is crucial to switch back and forth from global concerns to local impact, and from local impact to global action. OK, so what are we looking at? 1. We need a Meta-approach to fight the overarching and ubiquitously present problems of 'Fragmentation' and 'Lack-of-Impact'. 2. We need to overcome the Nine Universal Roadblocks (NUR) that stand in the way of implementing research to transition from 'Risk' (= problems) to 'Resilience' (= opportunities). But..., are we, will we? And when we do, HOW? ------------------------------------- On 29 October the Insitute for Security Studies will explore the latest methodologies in foresight and environmental forecasting that will shape Africa's future. Gain insights from an esteemed panel of experts, including Eelco H. Dykstra, Katherine Snow, Nsah (Mala) KT, PhD, David Oyoo, and moderator Julius Gatune 7 days until the conference, register today: https://lnkd.in/dQdURrva #resilience #africa #fragmentation #allofusknowmorethanoneofus #metacrisis #commonsense #frompolicytopractice #fromglobaltolocal #fromlocaltoglobal

🚨 NEW PUBLICATION | Making the EU fit for the permacrisis This foresight analysis by EPC's Eric Maurice, Laura Rayner and Philipp Lausberg investigates the EU’s resilience capacities in three areas most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis: health and social, economy and governance. 🔸 It reviews the EU’s response to the pandemic, examines current and future challenges for the EU to address, and identifies ways to prepare the European institutions, policies and procedures to make the EU more resilient henceforth. 🔸 It argues that the EU should develop a more holistic and foresight-oriented policymaking to better identify the linkages between the crises and transformations it faces, considering the necessary trade-offs between policies. Read it here 👇

💡 Let’s get to know “National Institute of Social Affairs” our 3rd Innovation Partner of Ponlok Chomnes program!    Friday this week, we are thrilled to highlight a joint research undertaken by one of our new Innovation Partners, National Institute of Social Affairs (NISA) in collaboration with Advocacy and Policy Institute and Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT).    This joint-research will be conducted on “Climate Change Adaptation through a Cash-Transfer Program (CTP) in Cambodia: Empirical Experiences from Coastal Communities." The research aims to examine the Cash Transfer Program’s relationship with climate change and the resilience of coastal communities, analyse climate change impacts on livelihoods, examine the interconnection between the program and climate resilience development, and provide recommendations for enhancing benefits for disadvantaged communities.    Research has now commenced, stay tuned for more about this amazing new project! 😉    🔗 To learn more about the Ponlok Chomnes Program Innovation Partners, please click on this link to our website: National Institute of Social Affairs | Policy Pulse    🌟 The Ponlok Chomnes Innovation Fund supports local initiatives by addressing specific local issues through collaboration between civil society organisations and local authorities.      The Ponlok Chomnes Innovation Fund is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian Embassy, Cambodia) and through The Asia Foundation's Ponlok Chomnes: Data and Dialogue for Development in Cambodia program. #PonlokChomnes #InnovationPartner #KnowledgeSector #PolicyProcess #PolicyDialogue #DiverseEvidence #InclusiveResearch #InclusiveDialogue #EffectiveCommunication

2023 was defined by significant upheaval in international development cooperation. In addition to poverty, people in our project countries are increasingly afflicted by armed conflicts and natural disasters as a consequence of climate change. We believe that a far-reaching approach to development cooperation adapted to local contexts is more important than ever. We are delighted to share our Annual Report. In 2023, Swisscontact successfully carried out a total of 139 projects in 41 countries. Click below to explore the highlights of our work: https://bit.ly/4dKaihM En español: https://bit.ly/3UVUAHK En français : https://bit.ly/4bxLCYy Auf Deutsch: https://bit.ly/44VBAxN #Swisscontact #WeCreateOpportunities #AnnualReport

"Africa's political leaders, the private sector, and other key stakeholders need to unite to sustain and amplify the momentum for the continent's resilience and green growth agendas," said H.E. Ambassador Josefa L. C. Sacko, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, BlueEconomy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission (AUC). "The 2024 ReSAKSS ATOR, the official monitoring and evaluation report for the CAADP, recognizes the high-priority status of climate change on Africa's development agenda. The research should be leveraged as a policy tool for decision-makers to promote dialogue on pathways toward a more comprehensive Post-Malabo CAADP Agenda that integrates the priorities for a successful food systems transformation toward an agriculture-led, broad-based economic transformation across Africa". Read the full statement: https://shorturl.at/C8so3