Welcome to our first quarterly newsletter of 2025!
Kofi Annan Foundation
Building on Kofi Annan’s legacy for peace by advancing democracy, youth leadership and international cooperation.
👋 Hello and welcome to our first LI newsletter - a summary of the latest news and updates from the Kofi Annan Foundation, sent every 3 months.
The year is off to a powerful start for the Kofi Annan Foundation, with leadership announcements, new projects, and opportunities to drive impact. We stand firm in our belief that international cooperation, driven by values of justice and solidarity, democracy and youth leadership are key to unlocking solutions to our common challenges.
We’re pleased to welcome to our Board the three following members: Kojo Annan, John Nagulendran and Neha Sanghrajka, (pictured in the main image above). Their expertise and vision will help shape the future of the Kofi Annan Foundation. → Discover more in our official announcement.
🚀 We launched three new projects—The Sawa Project in Eastern Africa, Rooting for the Future in Lebanon, and Digitalise Youth—designed to empower young changemakers, increase knowledge and strengthen resilience.
🏆 Plus, we opened nominations and applications for the Kofi Annan Changemakers, and nominations for the 2025 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize, recognizing the next generation of global leaders.
📖 And we dived deep into critical global issues with two newly published reports: The final report of the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security and a roundtable report on AI, Democracy, and Governance.
Scroll down for the latest updates, and thank you for being part of this journey with us.
YOUTH & PEACE
NEW: The Sawa Project
Strengthening community-led efforts to improve mental health awareness, services and policies across Eastern Africa
Mental health conditions represent 16% of the global burden of disease and injury among young people aged 10-19, according to the WHO. In Africa—the world’s youngest continent, with a median age of just 19.7—this challenge is especially pressing. We are proud to announce The Sawa Project with our partners MCW Global and Africa Alliance YMCA . The project, which is funded by the Wellcome Trust , will engage with professionals and young people active in the field of mental health to equip them with training, resources and networks to ensure mental health is a priority in Eastern Africa.
NEW: Rooting for the Future
Empowering Lebanese youth through cultural heritage restoration to foster social cohesion and employability
Lebanon has faced several wars and one of the most severe economic crises, with youth unemployment and inter-communal tensions persisting. The region’s rich cultural heritage, including the Citadel of Tripoli, is under threat due to neglect and conflict. Rooting for the Future will engage with youth in the restoration of a major historical site while equipping them with technical and professional skills. Using cultural heritage as a foundation for dialogue and collaboration, young people from diverse backgrounds will work together to promote social cohesion in their communities. Rooting for the Future is led by Kofi Annan Foundation, Fight for Humanity, Permanent Peace Movement, IECD - Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement and Directorate General of Antiquities of Lebanon. Project supported by ALIPH - International alliance for the protection of heritage with the financial participation of the Principality of Monaco.
→ Learn more about the project
Deux nouvelles études de cas sur les jeunes, la paix et le climat désormais disponibles en français, sur le Burkina Faso et le Niger
Ces études font partie du rapport “Resilience Rising” publié l'année dernière, qui met en lumière le rôle crucial des jeunes leaders dans la gestion des défis interconnectés du changement climatique et des conflits.
→ Toutes les études de cas et le rapport complet sont disponibles ici
ELECTIONS & DEMOCRACY
Exploring the intersection of AI, democracy and governance
The Kofi Annan Foundation and the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute are hosting a series of discussions to highlight how democracy at a national level drives effective multilateral action and how both are essential to addressing global challenges. Our latest roundtable explored the intersection of artificial intelligence, democracy and governance.
23 young African leaders gathered in Tanzania to forge plans for strengthening democracy
In March, the Kofi Annan Foundation, in collaboration with alda* - European Association for Local Democracy, gathered 23 young African leaders from 12 countries in Africa for a week-long training and networking event in Dar es Salaam. The programme included training and discussions on innovative ways to enhance accountability and transparency in governance, and exchanges with senior figures, including Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania, the EU Delegation, African Development Bank Group and UNDP . Our WYDE Accountability Hubs members gained invaluable knowledge and connections and we are excited about the next step in the programme: the launch of their pilot projects, funded by the WYDE seed grants.
NEW: Digitalise Youth Empowering local youth activists and civil society organisations
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Digitalise Youth Project, part of the Digital Democracy Initiative, which aims to address the shrinking civic space and rampant disinformation in the Sahel and neighbouring regions by empowering local youth activists and civil society organisations. Launched in January 2025, Digitalise Youth is led by a cohort of organisations, including the Kofi Annan Foundation, and focuses on enhancing digital skills, promoting civic tech solutions, and raising awareness about online political engagement.
Call for Nominations: The 2025 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
Know a young leader who has shown exceptional leadership in promoting or defending democracy? Nominate them for the 2025 edition of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize! Nominations close on 31 March 2025.
MULTILATERALISM & KOFI ANNAN LEGACY
REPORT: A Call for Urgent Action to Reform Global Food Governance
Despite living in an era of unprecedented innovation and resources, 733 million people still suffer from hunger, and nearly one-third of the global population experiences food insecurity. The newly released report from the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security (KACFS) highlights that this crisis is not merely a failure of resources— but a fundamental failure of governance.
Podcast: The legacy and influence of Kofi Annan and the Kofi Annan Foundation in peace practices
The Geneva Graduate Institute’s CCDP - Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding Podcast team, “CCDP Spotlight”, spoke with Corinne Momal-Vanian , Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation, about Kofi Annan’s legacy in peacebuilding, democracy, and today’s evolving multilateral system.
How to support us
We actively seek support from individuals and organisations who wish to invest in peace, democracy, development, human rights and youth.
Contact us
Email: info@kofiannanfoundation.org
Address: Kofi Annan Foundation, P.O.B. 157 1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland
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