Freedom, justice and solidarity are the basic principles underlying the work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). As co-founder of the CDU and the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) united Christian-social, conservative and liberal traditions. His name is synonymous with the democratic reconstruction of Germany, the firm alignment of foreign policy with the trans-Atlantic community of values, the vision of a unified Europe and an orientation towards the social market economy. His intellectual heritage continues to serve both as our aim as well as our obligation today.
In our European and international cooperation efforts we work for people to be able to live self-determined lives in freedom and dignity. We make a contribution underpinned by values to helping Germany meet its growing responsibilities throughout the world.
We encourage people to lend a hand in shaping the future along these lines. With more than 110 offices abroad and projects in over 140 countries, we make a unique contribution to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and a social market economy. To foster peace and freedom we encourage a continuous dialog at the national and international levels as well as the exchange between cultures and religions.
Human beings in their distinctive dignity and with their rights and responsibilities are at the heart of our work. We are guided by the conviction that human beings are the starting point in the effort to bring about social justice and democratic freedom while promoting sustainable economic activity. By bringing people together who embrace their responsibilities in society, we develop active networks in the political and economic spheres as well as in society itself. The guidance we provide on the basis of our political know-how and knowledge helps to shape the globalization process along more socially equitable, ecologically sustainable and economically efficient lines.
We cooperate with governmental institutions, political parties, civil society organizations and handpicked elites, building strong partnerships along the way. In particular we seek to intensify political cooperation in the area of development cooperation at the national and international levels on the foundations of our objectives and values. Together with our partners we make a contribution to the creation of an international order that enables every country to develop in freedom and under its own responsibility.
In the Middle-East, KAS is taking part in the political, economical and social stabilization of the region. It intends to provide a sustainable contribution to the establishment and strengthening of democracy, rule of law and civil society. Furthermore it aims at contributing to the development and deepening of social and market based structures, the prevention of violent conflicts, the consolidation of cooperation within the region and with Europe as well as to the constructive dialogue of cultures and religions.
Since 1996, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been present with its office in the Palestinian Territories where it promotes democracy and the rule of law as it does throughout the region and worldwide.
The work of KAS aims at implementing social and market based structures as well as promoting human rights. By offering political education, KAS supports the development of political parties, local self-administration and free and independent media.
With its far-reaching network of political and social elites, KAS contributes to Germany’s and Europe’s foreign policies and to the governmental development cooperation. Thus, it contributes to the consolidation of security and peace throughout the world. All this is based on the foundation of values advocated by the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer.
By conducting dialogue projects, KAS fosters the revitalization of the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. In the Palestinian Territories, the focus lies on assisting the process of nation-building as part of a sustainable and viable “Two-State-Solution”.
Specifically, KAS and its partners pursuit the following objectives:
- Promoting rule of law and the principle of separation of powers
- Extension of local governance, according to the principle of subsidiarity
- Strengthening the civil society’s decision-making role in politics and society
- Encouraging the participation of women and youth in politics
- Supporting economical reforms via the private sector and the basic regulatory concept of social market economy
- Promoting a peaceful and viable “Two-State-Solution” for the Middle-East conflict in the political discourse and striving towards its implementation
On these sites you can learn more about the activities, projects and partners of the office of KAS Ramallah as well as about our evaluation of current affairs.