This Discussion Paper is part of IDOS’s research project “Policies for Social Cohesion in  Africa”. Social cohesion – or social solidarity – within societies is a key success factor for  sustainable development in Africa. Social cohesion is particularly under-pressure in most world  regions, including Africa. The inter-disciplinary IDOS team aims to identify patterns of social  cohesion in Africa, analyse factors that influence the degree of social cohesion and identify domestic and international policies that contribute to the creation and consolidation of social  cohesion. The team addresses five issue areas:  • measurement and understanding of patterns of social cohesion in African countries; • inclusive economic development, including urbanisation, financial sector development,  and foreign direct investment with an emphasis on how to maximise opportunities for  sustainable economic development; • social policy, poverty and health, addressing the specific role that different social and  health policies can have in promoting social cohesion; • values, political institutions and resource mobilisation, spanning from the relevance of  value orientations for the functioning of political institutions to tax systems, which affect the  interaction between citizens and the state; and • conflict and societal peace, including the influence of political institutions and regime  transitions on societal peace in post-conflict societies and how international support can  contribute to social cohesion.

This research is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and  Development (BMZ).

We hope that IDOS research will not only help to better understand the drivers and  consequences of social cohesion but will also inform effective policies that contribute to cohesive  societies worldwide.

Bonn, October 2022  Julia Leininger1, Armin von Schiller2 and Francesco Burchi