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In Memory of Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan 1938 ‐ 2018
Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August 2018, after a short illness.
Building on an extraordinary legacy
In April of 2018, we celebrated a double anniversary: Kofi Annan’s 80th birthday and the 10th anniversary of the founding of his Foundation.
About Us
Our Mission:
The Kofi Annan Foundation mobilises political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights. In most cases, the expertise and evidence needed to solve the world’s most pressing problems such as poverty, armed conflict and poor governance already exist. What holds us back is a lack of leadership or political will to identify and deliver solutions. The Foundation mobilises those who are in a position to influence and bring solutions to those problems.
Activities 2018
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- NigeriaPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Jonah Obajeun advocated for education-based solutions to prevent radicalisation and extremism.
- United KingdomPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together Young Leaders Fatima Zaman and Ilwad Elman each spoke about their experiences preventing and countering violent extremism at several events across the country.
- MalaysiaSupporting Elections and Democracy
The Foundation and local partners presented the report of the Foundation sponsored conference on Democracy in Southeast Asia.
Electoral IntegrityFollowing the victory of the Pakatan Harapan and the first change of the political party in power in Malaysia’s history, the Foundation convened a roundtable on electoral reform with local stakeholders to identify steps necessary to improve the integrity of the Malaysian electoral process.
- IndiaPromoting Youth Leadership
The Foundation and Extremely Together shared their lessons on advocacy for PVE and how young people lead change at the Junior Chamber International’s global congress in Goa.
- United Arab EmiratesPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together Young Leader and Syrian refugee Zaid Al Rayes worked to create economic opportunities for vulnerable youth to show alternatives to violent extremism.
- The PhilippinesPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Arizza Nocum promoted education and interfaith dialogue to prevent violent extremism.
- PakistanPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi focused on the role of civil society to counter extremism through mass mobilisation campaigns, arts and culture.
- ZimbabweSupporting Elections and Democracy
In partnership with the Elders, Mr Annan travelled to Zimbabwe with Mary Robinson and Lakhdar Brahimi to urge all voters and candidates to reject violence at all stages in the electoral process and work together to ensure a free, fair and transparent election.
- BeninPromoting Youth Leadership
The Foundation and Extremely Together ran an awareness raising workshop on violent extremism at the Junior Chamber International Africa and the Middle East Conference in Cotonou.
- South SudanPromoting Youth Leadership
An Extremely Together workshop was held in Juba with young civil society activists, journalists and human rights defenders on CVE in South Sudan, and combatting violent extremism on a regional and global scale.
- MoroccoPromoting Youth Leadership
The Extremely Together team led training to empower young Moroccans, including students, school children, Imams and social entrepreneurs, to prevent violent extremism.
- Democratic Republic of the CongoSupporting Elections and Democracy
At the request of the main opposition political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Foundation invited leading presidential candidates to Geneva and mediated an accord by which they agreed to unite behind one candidate for the presidential election.
- LibyaPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together Young Leader Hajer Sharief worked to engage women and young people in peacebuilding.
- SomaliaPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together Young Leader Ilwad Elman led an Extremely Together training in Mogadishu. The participants have established themselves as a Somalia Chapter to disseminate their PVE knowledge among vulnerable youth living in IDP camps.
- UgandaPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Ndugwa Hassan and Ilwad Elman provided training to young civil society activists in preventing violent extremism in Kampala and set up a Uganda Chapter to continue raising awareness of the threat of violent extremism and of the need to address current youth marginalisation.
- West African RegionWest Africa Commission on Drugs
Together with the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP), the Foundation launched a Model Drug Law to support the design and implementation of evidence-based drug policies and laws across West Africa.
Changing Drug PolicyWith our partners, the Foundation promoted evidence-based drug policy reform in West Africa.
- PortugalPromoting Youth Leadership
The Foundation and Extremely Together participated in the development of policy recommendations on the use of education to prevent violent extremism at the Club de Madrid’s policy dialogue for Shared Societies in Lisbon.
- SwedenElectoral Integrity
Extremely Together’s Ilwad Elman shared best-in-class examples of Somali youth engagement in peace and countering violent extremism (CVE) processes during Almedalen Week – one of the world’s largest democratic forums.
- The NetherlandsPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together trained the One Young World (OYW) Peace Ambassadors in using communication campaigns to prevent violent extremism at the OYW Summit in The Hague.
- BelgiumPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Bjørn Ihler joined the EU Conference on Youth, Peace and Security in Brussels to advocate for the empowerment of young people to prevent violent extremism.
- SwitzerlandPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Mimoun Berrissoun shared his work to prevent youth crime and radicalisation in Germany at the Geneva Peace Week event.
Combatting HungerAt the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr. Annan participated in a discussion on the Africa Agriculture Transformation Scorecard, which was hosted by Bill Gates, the then chairman of the African Union, Paul Kagame and the then Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegn.
Transitions to PeaceThe Foundation launched its report ‘Challenging the Conventional: Making Post-Violence Reconciliation Succeed’ in partnership with Interpeace during Geneva Peace Week.
Combatting HungerMr Annan participated in a high-level session on water hosted by the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva to discuss the links between water, food security and climate.
- GreeceSupporting Elections and Democracy
The Foundation participated in the 2018 Athens Democracy Forum where, in conjunction with the New York Times and Facebook, it held a special memorial for Mr Annan and hosted a discussion on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age.
- DenmarkMediation and Crisis Resolution
In association with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foundation presented a report of the Lessons Learned from the Rakhine Advisory Commission, aimed at assisting and strengthening peacebuilding efforts in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
- GermanySupporting Elections and Democracy
Mr Annan participated in the Munich Security Conference and announced his intention to convene a high-level Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age.
- NorwayPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together’s Bjørn Ihler pursued creative ways to counter extreme right-wing narratives, including the submission of opinion editorials, training sessions and talks, on behalf of Extremely Together.
- FrancePromoting Youth Leadership
The Extremely Together team hosted training sessions at the Youth Platform of the European Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) in Nice.
- MexicoElectoral Integrity
The Foundation’s Electoral Integrity initiative, in association with six partners from Mexico and the region, hosted a conference on Electoral Integrity in Latin America in the run-up to the most significant vote in the country’s history. During the conference, Kofi Annan and Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica, met with political leaders and the Mexican Electoral Commission to discuss how to avoid electoral violence and strengthen the integrity of the elections.
- United StatesPromoting Youth Leadership
Extremely Together partnered with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to organise an event on Youth perspectives on preventing violent extremism during the United Nations General Assembly.
Electoral IntegrityKofi Annan met with leading figures from the technology industry and social media companies in Silicon Valley to discuss the impact of digital technology on electoral integrity.
- RwandaCombatting Hunger
The Foundation and the African Development Bank co-hosted a panel discussion on intra-African food trade and market integration at the 2018 African Economic Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
Make a selection
Select a country and project to view details.
Work Area: Supporting Democracy and Elections with Integrity
Initiative: Electoral Integrity initiative (EII)
As part of its work in support of democracy and elections with integrity, the Foundation’s Electoral Integrity initiative convenes some of the world’s most respected elder statesmen and women, as well as the world’s foremost experts on electoral integrity. With the help of this unique network, the Kofi Annan Foundation works with countries on how to strengthen the integrity and legitimacy of their electoral processes and avoid election-related violence, so that elected officials can govern peaceably in a climate of trust.
Work Area: Mediation and Crisis resolution
Initiative: The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State
The Foundation provides policy support based on thematic and country monitoring and analysis, aided by an informal network of national leaders, multilateral organisations, business leaders, international non-government organisations (NGOs), and civil society activists, including women’s groups and faith organisations.
Work Area: Transitions to Peace
Preventing the recurrence of conflict and making peace last is a paramount challenge of our time. When supporting a country as it transitions out of a war, the international community promotes truth commissions, reconciliation and, or, accountability mechanisms. However, there is little knowledge of what can make these mechanisms succeed and what the traps are to avoid. With this programme, the Foundation seeks out and shares insights from past experiences to make these practices more productive and resilient.
Work Area: Promoting Youth Leadership
Initiative: Extremely Together
Violent extremism is a serious threat to our societies, affecting young people disproportionally, both as perpetrators and victims. However, the critical role youth play in preventing violent extremism is often ignored. Young people can spot early signs of radicalisation and can create safe dialogue spaces for their peers to express their frustrations and feelings of marginalisation.
Work Area: Combatting Hunger
Africa is the world’s most food-insecure region, which has broader implications not just for food security, but also for peace and stability on the continent. The Foundation’s Combatting Hunger programme advocates for the transformation of African agriculture and food systems to improve food and nutrition security and drive socio-economic development. We mobilise leadership and high-level commitment, using our convening power to bring together leaders from across sectors to trigger cooperation that benefits African farmers and their communities.
Work Area: Changing Drug Policy
Drug trafficking and consumption undermines institutions, threatens public health and damages development efforts. The Foundation speaks out on drug policy reform and advocates for an evidence- and health-centred approach, with a particular focus on West Africa.
The Foundation Board • Staff
Kofi Annan, 1938 ‐ 2018
Founder | Ghana
Founder and Chair, Nobel Peace Laureate and Former Secretary General of the United Nations.
Jenö Staehelin
Chair ad Interim since September 2018 | Switzerland
Former Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York (2002-2004); former Permanent Observer of Switzerland to the United Nations (1997-2002).
Nane Annan
Sweden
Nutrition advocate, artist, and former lawyer, Nane Annan is the widow of the late Kofi Annan.
Diego Hidalgo
Spain
Founder and Honorary President of FRIDE, Founder of the Club of Madrid and President of DARA.
Elisabeth Lindenmayer
France
Director of the United Nations Studies Programme at Columbia University’s School of International Public Affairs.
Carlos Lopes
Guinea-Bissau
Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee, Visiting Fellow at the Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice, University of Cape Town, South Africa; former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Thoraya Obaid
Saudi Arabia
Former Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund and former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations (2000-2010); Member of the Saudi Shura.
Oluseye Oduyemi
Nigeria
Former Director of Management, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Alan Doss
PresidentMichaelene Kinnersley
Head of PartnershipsLi Ling Low
Head of Finance and AdministrationGenna Ingold
Communications OfficerBijan Frederic Farnoudi
Head of CommunicationsChiara Caimi
External Relations and Research AssociateStephanie Lewis
Travel and Logistics ManagerTesfai Tecle
Senior Advisor on Food SecuritySébastien Brack
Head of Programme Elections and DemocracySofia Anton
Programme Officer Transitions to Peace and Promoting Youth LeadershipNatalie McDonnell
Project Manager and Annan Legacy initiativesDeclan O’Brien
Programme Coordinator Elections and DemocracyMaud Roure
Head of Programmes Transitions to Peace and Promoting Youth LeadershipFabian Lange
Programme Coordinator Combatting Hunger and Elections and Democracy
Funders • Partners
We are a not-for-profit organisation and depend on grants and philanthropic gifts. The Foundation is grateful to all the individuals, organisations and governments whose financial support in 2018 made its work possible. We thank our funding partners, including those who choose to give anonymously, for their commitment to creating fairer, more peaceful and prosperous communities.
The Foundation works closely with a wide range of partner organisations. Our achievements in 2018 would not have been possible without the technical support provided by the following partners:
Financial Year ended 31 December 2018
2018 Finances
- 30% | CHF 1,141 000Supporting Democracy and Elections with Integrity
- 22% | CHF 812 000Kofi Annan Legacy Events, Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation
- 14% | CHF 522 000Promoting Youth Leadership –
Extremely Together - 13% | CHF 483 000Mediation and Crisis Resolution –
Advisory Commission on Rakhine State - 11% | CHF 412 000Combatting Hunger
- 7% | CHF 273 000 Transitions to Peace
formerly Building Lasting Peace - 3% | CHF 119 000Changing Drug Policy
Total: CHF 3,762 000
Funding our work with your philanthropic gifts and grants
The Kofi Annan Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organisation under Swiss law which is funded by a mix of public and private donors. None of our income is guaranteed and without financial contributions from individuals, foundations, governments and other institutions, we cannot carry out our work.
We actively seek support from individuals and organisations who share our values and aims and who wish to help finance our work.
Do you want to establish a long-term relationship with the Kofi
Annan Foundation?
Do you have a committed interest in a specific issue that the Foundation addresses?
Do you want to support a specific activity of the Foundation?
Do you seek ways to back urgent responses to unforeseen threats to
peace and
security?
Please get in touch.
Kofi Annan Foundation
P.O.B. 157 • 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
T +41 22 919 7520 • F +41 22 919 7529
info@kofiannanfoundation.org • kofiannanfoundation.org