Matthias Rompel
@matthiasrompel.bsky.social
Director East Africa & Horn of Africa @giz.de, formerly Country Director Ethiopia, Djibouti, Malawi. Global Citizen, International Cooperation Practitioner, Hon. Professor @jlugiessen.bsky.social
Ethiopia, Eritrea ramp up rhetoric: Are they inching towards war? Today, I was interviewed by Al Jazeera about the escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa. Check it out: aje.news/7zf7e3
Ethiopia, Eritrea ramp up rhetoric: Are they inching towards war?
Allegations of Eritrean troop incursions into Tigray deepen the rift with Ethiopia, threatening fragile peace in the region.
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The world is becoming less peaceful. And the Horn of Africa shows why conflicts can no longer be understood in isolation. lnkd.in/p/eSDvRMWa
#globalpeaceindex #hornofafrica #peacebuilding #regionalcooperation #internationalcooperation | Matthias Rompel
🌍 The world is becoming less peaceful. And the Horn of Africa shows why conflicts can no longer be understood in isolation: The recently published Global Peace Index 2026 by the Institute for Economi...
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From North–South dialogue to a new global partnership: What can the South-North Commission achieve? www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#internationalcooperation #development #globalpartnerships #multilateralism | Matthias Rompel
From North–South dialogue to a new global partnership: What can the South-North Commission achieve? The establishment of the South-North Commission on Development, co-chaired by former German Chancel...
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For decades, development cooperation was largely framed around a relatively simple premise: richer countries support poorer countries in their efforts to develop. That world is changing. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#teameurope #germancooperation | Matthias Rompel
International cooperation in an age of economic geopolitics For decades, development cooperation was largely framed around a relatively simple premise: richer countries support poorer countries in th...
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From aid to connectivity: What does a real partnership between Europe and Africa look like? lnkd.in/p/e4mgvXNq
Signalling & Communications | Matthias Rompel
From aid to connectivity: What does a real partnership between Europe and Africa look like? Africa does not primarily need more aid. It needs more connectivity. That may sound provocative. But look ...
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Earlier this month I had the pleasure of joining a discussion on the future of sustainable transport in Africa: lnkd.in/p/eQuAiBsr
#sustainabletransport #africa #mobility #climateaction #urbandevelopment #internationalcooperation #germancooperation #gizworks #madewithgermany | Matthias Rompel
Turning points for sustainable transport in Africa 🌍🚌⚡ Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining an inspiring discussion on the future of sustainable transport in Africa at the launch of the...
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Speaking at the opening of the East Africa CEO & Investment Forum 2026 in Nairobi – my key message was simple: East Africa has enormous economic momentum, but regional integration ultimately has to work for businesses & people. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#investeastafrica #eac #teameurope #madewithgermany #germancooperation #hessen #gizworks #internationalcooperation | Matthias Rompel
From regional integration to investment: East Africa means business. 🌍 Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the opening of the East Africa CEO & Investment Forum 2026 in Nairobi – bringing t...
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Africa’s transport systems are at a turning point: With rapid urbanisation, a young and growing population, expanding regional trade and rising demand for mobility, the choices made today will shape Africa’s economic and social development for decades to come. lnkd.in/p/eMgwdviv
#africa #sustainabletransport #electricmobility #afcfta #germancooperation #gizworks #madewithgermany | Matthias Rompel
What if sustainable transport is not primarily a climate agenda — but a development strategy for Africa? Africa’s transport systems are at a turning point: With rapid urbanisation, a young and growi...
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A big thank-you to the Asia-Africa Institute (Hamburg) and the Centre for Business and Technology in Africa (Flensburg) for an excellent conference on “Decentralized Infrastructure in Africa: Approaches to Growth and Sustainability.” www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#africa #infrastructure | Matthias Rompel
A big thank-you to the Asia-Africa Institute (University of Hamburg) and the Centre for Business and Technology in Africa (Flensburg University of Applied Sciences) for an excellent conference on “Dec...
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Stronger partnerships in changing times: GIZ and KOICA deepen their cooperation www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#internationalcooperation #germany #korea #koica #giz #kenya #tvet #skillsdevelopment #youthemployment | Matthias Rompel
Stronger partnerships in changing times: GIZ and KOICA deepen their cooperation Last week, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH hosted the German-Korean Forum and its b...
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Working on the proofs of my new book on Africa The book rethinks Africa–Europe relations in a changing world. It starts from a deliberately pointed proposition: Africa is not simply a continent Europe needs to support. Africa is central to Europe’s own future. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
Working on the proofs of my new book on Africa The book rethinks Africa–Europe relations in a changing world. It starts from a deliberately pointed proposition: Africa is not simply a continent… | M...
Working on the proofs of my new book on Africa The book rethinks Africa–Europe relations in a changing world. It starts from a deliberately pointed proposition: Africa is not simply a continent Euro...
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Climate change is reshaping livelihoods & mobility – but displacement is not inevitable: I had the opportunity to participate in the SGAS–VAD 2026 Conference „African Perspectives on Global Transformations“ in Basel & to convene a panel on climate-induced mobility. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#climatechange #climateadaptation #migration #resilience #internationalcooperation #africa #disasterriskreduction #sgasvad2026 | Matthias Rompel
Climate change is reshaping livelihoods and mobility – but displacement is not inevitable. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in the SGAS–VAD 2026 Conference „African Perspectives on Gl...
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Strengthening climate risk intelligence and mobility responses in the Horn of Africa: I had the privilege of visiting the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#elniño #igad #icpac #climateservices #earlywarning #elniño #resilience #hornofafrica #germancooperation #gizworks #madewithgermany #teameurope | Matthias Rompel
Strengthening climate risk intelligence and mobility responses in the Horn of Africa I had the privilege of visiting the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi – IGAD’s sp...
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Reporting from Kenya, how innovative SMEs create decent jobs, strengthen local value creation and drive climate-friendly growth. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
Local innovation, global impact: How partnering with Kenyan SMEs creates decent jobs, boosts local value creation, and enables trade | Matthias Rompel
Reporting from Kenya, how innovative SMEs create decent jobs, strengthen local value creation and drive climate-friendly growth. My take-away: when entrepreneurs, public institutions, development part...
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From sunlight to fertilizer: Africa’s green industrial future in action 🇰🇪☀️ Reporting from Kenya about a fascinating example of how renewable energy and green hydrogen can be turned directly into agricultural value. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#kenya #germancooperation #renewableenergy #foodsecurity #greenhydrogen #climateaction #energytransition #gizworks | Matthias Rompel
From sunlight to fertilizer: Africa’s green industrial future in action 🇰🇪☀️ Today, during my visit to Talus Renewables in Naivasha, Kenya, I had the opportunity to see a fascinating example of how r...
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In Nairobi, I had the opportunity to exchange with the team of the Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies: www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#hornofafrica #kenya #internationalcooperation #giz #hdpnexus | Matthias Rompel
Today in Nairobi, I had the opportunity to exchange with the team of the The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies (HIIS). Our conversation highlighted just how interconnected the dynami...
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Today, international cooperation is under huge political & fiscal pressure. Budgets are being cut, and increasingly we are asked: Does international cooperation really make a difference? www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#internationalcooperation #development #globalsouth #sustainabledevelopment | Matthias Rompel
Why international cooperation still matters After more than 25 years working in international cooperation, I have learned to be sceptical of both easy optimism and easy pessimism. Today, internati...
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Regional integration can sometimes sound abstract: customs procedures, common standards, trade protocols and the removal of non-tariff barriers. But ultimately, integration succeeds when people can make use of it: www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
Building Legacies: Barbara Mulwana’s Vision for East Africa’s Industrial Future | Matthias Rompel
A particular highlight during my visit to Arusha in Tanzania this week was the opening of an exhibition celebrating the women who are driving trade and economic integration across East Africa. The exh...
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Over the past few days, I have been travelling across Tanzania – from Arusha to Dodoma. Different settings, but one common question: How can we make our cooperation even more strategic, effective and impactful? www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#germancooperation #teameurope #gizworks #madewithgermany | Matthias Rompel
Over the past few days, I have been travelling across Tanzania – from Arusha for negotiations between East African Community and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to Dodo...
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From my own experience working with governments, regional organisations, and health institutions across Africa, I have seen that the strongest responses are led locally. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
To stop Ebola, fund the response at its source | Matthias Rompel
The most effective Ebola response starts long before an outbreak makes global headlines. A thought-provoking article by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Reem Alabali Radovan, Hadja Lahbib and Éléonore Caroit in Deve...
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Happy belated Africa Women’s Day to all the inspiring women who continue to shape a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Africa. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#africawomensday #genderequality #au #womenempowerment #internationalcooperation | Matthias Rompel
Africa’s future is being shaped every day by millions of women who are leading businesses, transforming agriculture, driving scientific innovation, strengthening communities, and championing peace and...
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After an inspiring visit to Burundi, my journey took me to Rwanda: from policy discussions on mineral governance to descending into an underground mine, participating in a training for miners, and exchanging on the country’s new digital mineral traceability system. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
Responsible Minerals Start with Responsible Governance: Reflections from Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region | Matthias Rompel
After an inspiring visit to Burundi, my journey took me to Rwanda: from policy discussions on mineral governance to descending into an underground tin mine, participating in a GIZ training for miners,...
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Report from my visit to Burundi: www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#germancooperation #teameurope #burundi #greatlakes #icglr #peacebuilding | Matthias Rompel
Over the last few days, I had the opportunity to visit Burundi – a country that demonstrates how sustained cooperation can create lasting impact, both locally and across the wider Great Lakes region. ...
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Reflections on the recent government talks between Kenya and Germany: www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#kenya #germany #germancooperation #bmz #bmwe #renewableenergy #agribusiness #digitaleconomy #skillsdevelopment #madewithgermany #gizworks | Matthias Rompel
Kenya and Germany reaffirm their strategic partnership 🇰🇪🇩🇪 Yesterday and today in Berlin, at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Kenya & Germany held high-level gove...
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From project ideas to strategic cooperation: 1st Kenyan-German Business Day in Berlin. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#kenyagermany #businessforum #internationaltrade #germancooperation #partnerships #africabusiness | Matthias Rompel
From project ideas to strategic cooperation: Today in Berlin, the 1st Kenyan-German Business Day took place, involving a huge crowd from the business community of both countries. The event serves as ...
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Deepening the Kenyan-German partnership: www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
#germancooperation #kenya #africa | Matthias Rompel
Deepening the Kenyan-German partnership: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Kenyan President William Ruto held a high-level bilateral meeting on June 16, 2026, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in...
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Kenya is attempting one of the most ambitious refugee policy shifts in Africa. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
Kenya wants to close refugee camps: the promise and risks of its ambitious new plan | Matthias Rompel
Kenya is attempting one of the most ambitious refugee policy shifts in Africa. For years, nearly 1 million refugees - mainly from Somalia and South Sudan - have lived in camps like Dadaab and Kakuma....
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Mark Suzman’s recent Foreign Affairs article, “The End of Foreign Aid Is Not the End of Development”, makes an important point: while traditional aid budgets are shrinking, development itself is far from over. Here is where the future lies: www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
The End of Foreign Aid Is Not the End of Development | Matthias Rompel
Mark Suzman’s recent Foreign Affairs article, “The End of Foreign Aid Is Not the End of Development”, makes an important point: while traditional aid budgets are shrinking, development itself is far f...
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As Central and East Africa face a renewed Ebola threat, the current outbreak is a stark reminder that pandemics do not stop at borders, and that epidemic preparedness remains a global public good. www.linkedin.com/posts/matthi...
International aid cuts complicate Congo's Ebola epidemic | Matthias Rompel
As Central and East Africa face a renewed Ebola threat, the current outbreak is a stark reminder that pandemics do not stop at borders, and that epidemic preparedness remains a global public good. Th...
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Today, we celebrate Africa Day - a moment to reflect on the strength, diversity, resilience, and limitless potential of the African continent. Let us continue to invest in partnerships, amplify African voices, and create opportunities that empower future generations. Happy Africa Day! 🌍
