The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES (Stiftung is the German word for foundation) is a non-profit, private, educational, and cultural institution committed to the concepts and basic values of social democracy and the labour movement.                                              

The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung was founded in 1925 to honour the democratic heritage of Germany’s first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert, who died in that year. FES is following the mission, both in Germany and elsewhere, of promoting democracy and social justice through  capacity building, policy development, and dialogue.

The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung is active in over 100 countries worldwide, with representatives in about 80 countries. With the assistance of local staff, projects  in the fields of socio-political development and economic and social promotion are being implemented.

Sub-Saharan Africa has traditionally been a focus of international co-operation work for the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Currently, FES has offices in 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and operates projects in 23 countries. An overall theme for the FES-Africa Department is the promotion of the implementation of the Cotonou-Agreement between the ACP-Countries and the European Union. In its regional programme for Southern Africa, FES is trying to foster regional integration, especially in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

For more information see:

FES Homepage

FES Africa Department

FES ACP-EU Project

FES Globalization Project

The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Botswana

The Botswana Office in Gaborone was established in October 1973. The FES signed an agreement with the Government of Botswana in April 1974 manifesting strong ties with state institutions, civil organisations, trade unions and academic bodies. Priorities of cooperation were then placed on strengthening political institutions in order to enhance the democratic development of Botswana despite an adverse political environment in the neighbourhood. Early projects targeted political partners, small business, trade unions, radio journalists, and academic research. From the 1990ties onwards the focus of co-operation shifted. The scope of activities nowadays comprises issues such as institutional reforms, economic and social policy, local democracy, policy dialogue with civil society, and strengthening of regional integration.

Today our main objectives are the support of major institutional and political reforms that would foster the democratic stability in Botswana, and the promotion of the involvement of Non-State Actors into the process of shaping policy and democracy.                                                     

FES is a co-operation partner, not a funding agency. Activities are jointly planned and carried out in close coordination with our local partners. Instruments include national, regional, and international workshops and conferences, studies and publications, as well as international exchange programmes

Our activities focus on the following areas:
Democracy & Reforms
Non State Actors
Regional Activities

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