Nairobi
Kenya is a beacon in East Africa: the largest national economy, despite many problems a functioning democracy with an active civil society, but above all a young country with well-educated, committed people.
The foundation strengthens democracy and civic engagement in Kenya. It promotes entrepreneurship and free, fair trade. And it is a strong advocate for human rights.
At the same time, Nairobi is home to the Global Partnership Hub, the centre of excellence for development cooperation. The Hub generates knowledge and innovative concepts from the Global South - for a better future for North and South.
News
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Mombasa’s women find dignity in the circular economy
Women in Mombasa are turning textile waste into opportunity. Through Green Stitch Africa, discarded fabrics become fashion pieces, creating jobs, protecting the environment, and restoring dignity.
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FNF mourns the death of Raila Odinga
The FNF mourns former Kenyan PM Raila Odinga, a champion of democracy and justice. His leadership and courage inspired generations, strengthening liberal values in Kenya and across Africa.
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Market immersion opens doors for founders in Tanzania
Five Kenyan entrepreneurs expanded across borders via FNF Kenya’s ENEA program, testing products, meeting partners, and refining strategies during a five-day market immersion in Tanzania.
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Kenya Grapples with Deepening Repression as Gen Z Revolt Marks One Year
The death of teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody highlights Kenya’s shrinking civic space, casting a shadow over Gen Z protests’ first anniversary and rising repression of youth activism.
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Africa’s $100B corruption crisis: Can an Intl Court help?
Corruption is an economic crisis draining Africa, which loses over $100B yearly to illicit flows and theft, double its foreign aid, keeping the continent poor despite vast wealth and potential.
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The power of art in shaping society and reflecting change
FNF Kenya’s Freedom Café launched Sam Mugumya’s poetry collection “We Refuse to Be Victims,” sharing 82 powerful poems of survival, resilience, and the fight for freedom under political repression.
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A new era of collaboration
On Sept 13, 2024, FNF Berlin signed an MOU with Kenya, Hamburg Chamber, and Qhala Trust to boost labor and skills exchange between the Global North and South amid job and talent gaps.
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First Women’s Leadership Training for African Liberal Parties
Progress is being made globally to increase the number of women in political leadership positions. Political parties can play a fundamental role supporting more women to get in to politics.
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Advancing LGBTQI Digital Activism in Africa
The project, which will take effect in June 2019, will contribute to effective, creative, non-violent, youth activism for LGBTQI rights in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The young activists will engage in participatory training and create an effective network of empowered change makers across the region.
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Official Observers to the Elections in South Africa
Elections are the expression of the will of the people and they determine the fate of a country’s political, social and economic growth. With this act, the Foundation is demonstrating its commitment to advancing the pillars that safeguard democracy in developing countries.
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South Africa’s Elections - A test of Hope in a changing Society
Since South Africa became a free country in 1994 under the leadership of then President Nelson Mandela, the country’s politics was generally easy to understand, and elections relatively easy to predict. They were simply a test of the current popularity of the governing African National Congress (ANC).
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Towards a Free Trade Agreement between Africa and the European Union
“This Continent-to-Continent free trade agreement could help create up to 10 million new jobs in Africa. It could one day form one giant free-trade zone, a partnership between equals,” the members added. It was also noted that a single Euro-African economic area would have enormous potential: 1.5 billion consumers, 20 trillion in value, able to rival China.
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Freedom Means Change
"The Friedrich Naumann Foundation is the creative innovation platform for the social mediation of freedom." That is why we have initiated a foundation-wide process that sharpens our messages inward and outward and strengthens our powers of persuasion. Freedom has been our mission for over 60 years.
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Mobilising Women Against Violent Extremism in Mali
Represented to the Minister of Women of the Republic of Mali, at the opening of the seminar to strengthen the capacity of Malian women against violent extremism, the director of legal affairs of the Ministry welcomed the "commitment" of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for "the improvement of the conditions of women and their emancipation for economic and social development".
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South Sudan Elections Come with a Big Question Mark
South Sudan has not had democratic elections since it won its independence from Sudan in 2011 after more than two decades of civil war that ended with President Salva Kiir ascending to power through referendum vote, ushering in a transition period in the oil-rich yet impoverished country.
Social Media
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When walls fall, ideas rise. Across Africa, young innovators are breaking barriers with science, creativity, and courage — and taking their breakthroughs to global stages like Falling Walls. This is how we build new bridges between Africa and Germany. #WallsAreFalling #AfricaMeetsGermany #FallingWallsLab #InnovationAfrica
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Dr Nasra Nassor Omar’s path has never followed a straight line. From treating patients in the clinics of Zanzibar to navigating the realities of grassroots politics, her journey shows what determination looks like when public service becomes a calling. In this conversation, Nasra reflects on her early inspiration to join politics back in 2015, her years volunteering at party level, and the lessons she learned as her party transitioned from CUF to ACT Wazalendo. She also speaks openly about the pressures young women face in Tanzania’s political environment, an environment where merit often takes a back seat to loyalty. Today, Nasra stands as a newly sworn-in Member of Parliament following the October 2025 elections. She shares what it means to step into this role while still holding her identity as a medical doctor, and how both worlds have shaped her leadership. Nasra is an alumna of the Africa Liberal Network’s inaugural Women Leadership Programme (2019) and the IAF Academy, experiences that broadened her exposure and deepened her belief in mentorship and intergenerational learning. Now, she is committed to using her platform to expand opportunities for women and youth, whether through economic empowerment, fair access to land and loans, or increased political participation. She also touches on Tanzania’s current political climate, her hopes for stability, and the responsibility she believes leaders carry in strengthening democracy. This is more than a political journey. It’s the story of someone choosing to stand in two worlds, medicine and politics, not because it is easy, but because her country needs both.
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At the end of August 2025, Candace Eslick stepped onto the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town stage and shared a project close to her heart: Breaking the Wall of Clean Cooking in Africa. Her passion and clarity earned her the top spot and a ticket to Berlin, where she joined young innovators from around the world on 6 November. In this video, Candace talks about what clean cooking really means for African families, why access to safe and modern cooking fuels matters, and how the experience of being surrounded by like-minded researchers opened her eyes to what’s possible. She also reflects on the value of genuine collaboration between Africa and Germany, and why African voices need to be part of the decisions shaping the future. You’ll also hear from other African participants speaking about the “walls” they are breaking in their own fields, from energy access and agriculture to women’s visibility in science. A reminder that breaking walls is not just about innovation, it’s about people, community, and creating space for new voices to be heard.
