FES in South Africa

FES in South Africa

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) shares a long common history with the African National Congress (ANC) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). From the 1980s, FES supported the ANC in exile. Within South Africa, we worked together with the evolving trade union movement, mainly through university-based labor support organizations. Towards the late eighties, the FES furthermore facilitated dialogue between the opposition in exile and reform oriented quarters within the white establishment.

In 1991, we were allowed to open up our first official office in Cape Town, which was subsequently moved to Johannesburg in 1993. We were now able to offer dialogue, consultation, as well as capacity building to assist in the process of political transformation and preparation of the ANC as the future government in South Africa. Before and after the 1994 elections the FES contributed to the constitution-making process by conducting research and through capacity building. Simultaneously, we offered training and advice to the South African trade unions.

The FES was instrumental in setting up a new policy think tank, the “Institute of Global Dialogue” (IGD). The IGD was designed to analyze key foreign policy and international relations issues confronting South Africa and southern Africa and to develop appropriate strategies and provide consultation to the new democratic government.

Today, FES is working with a broad range of likeminded progressive partners. Our cooperation is based on social democratic values and principles of solidarity, social justice as well as peace and security. Together with our partners we are developing strategies and programs designed to overcome political, social and economic challenges in South Africa. Our common goals are a sustainable and inclusive socio-economic transformation, broad based civic political participation and a strong democratic and solidary South Africa fulfilling its role as a soft power on the regional and international level.

Our instruments for achieving these goals comprise targeted political education, information and training programs, public dialogues, action oriented research as well as publications and political consultation. Our work in South Africa is embedded in the FES Africa strategy, which is part of our worldwide international development cooperation.

In joint programs with our partners, we strive to enable and strengthen social and democratic political participation. Together with young people, we develop ideas for shaping a better future. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung contributes to the dialogue on peace and security, migration and processes of economic transformation. We act towards strengthening the representation of workers' interests by means of political education and international networking. We can only confront global challenges such as climate change, organised crime and migration by acting jointly with the countries of Africa. Therefore we are committed to global partnership with the countries of Africa

Visit the website of the Africa Department