SPECIAL SUMMIT ISSUE Africa-Europe relations: Time to rebootecdpm.org/wp-content/uploads/GREAT_Vol6_Issue5_EU_Africa_relati… · magazine. Guest editor Geert Laporte, Deputy Director

VOLUME 6 - ISSUE 5 NOV / DEC 2017

SPECIAL SUMMIT ISSUE

Africa-Europe relations: Time to reboot

Ensuring a more effective and beneficial cooperation René N’Guettia Kouassi, Director of Economic Affairs, African Union Commission

From walls to calls: Africa and Europe can shape the future Carlos Lopes, Professor, University of Cape Town

Breaking the silence and the vested interests Geert Laporte, Deputy Director, ECDPM

‘Africa rising’ means taking ownership of its knowledge production Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, Chief Executive, SAIIA

EditorialAt the end of November, African and European Heads of State will meet for their 5th Summit since 2000.

The Europe-Africa relationship has not always been a good news story. The current partnerships, such as the Joint Africa-EU Strategy and the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, are no longer able to generate major interest and excitement. Step by step, the grand ambitions and aspirations seem to be replaced by short-term crisis management and growing indifference. Undigested history, structural dependency and vested interests still play a major role in the troubled relationship. Clearly, the recipes of the past no longer work.

To rebuild mutual trust, both Europe and Africa will have to design new and more effective types of partnerships and shake off past habits and practices. Both continents urgently need to find credible alternatives to the increasingly contested actions of China and a growing group of new partners that take a strong interest in Africa. At least on paper, the potential for strong mutual interests and shared global agendas between Europe and Africa has never been more promising than today. Both continents are ‘condemned’ to step up their cooperation in various domains.

Against this background, ECDPM invited a mix of authors - mainly African - with different areas of expertise to write up their perspectives on the evolving partnership. We are happy to present a variety of contributions, each touching upon one or more key burning issues. They focus on the overall state of the partnership, the shared values that are sometimes applied in an inconsistent manner, the complex peace and security and migration agendas, knowledge production, structural economic transformation and the Economic Partnership Agreements, the increasing use of innovative technologies to empower African societies, and the young generations as committed promoters of change.

The contributions are written by (former) officials, representatives from the private sector, civil society and think tanks, academia, journalists and young innovators. Some of the African authors are particularly critical about the partnership with the EU, while others are more moderate. Beyond the façade of the formal partnership with its multitude of official programmes, institutions and meetings, the various articles help to discover another Africa and another Europe with confident, mostly young generations that are showing their creative and innovative force. All contributors have one thing in common: they want to break with the stereotypes and habits of the past and change the course of action in the Europe-Africa relationship!

We hope that you will enjoy reading these contributions in our newly designed magazine.

Guest editorGeert Laporte, Deputy Director ECDPM

ECDPM’s Great Insights magazine offers a quick and accessible summary of cutting-edge analysis on international cooperation and Europe-Africa relations. It includes an independent overview of analysis and commentary from a wide variety of experts and high-level officials and provides updates on policy debates in Africa and Europe.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of individual authors.

Publisher ECDPMExecutive editor Virginia MucchiGuest editor Geert LaporteEditorial and production assistance Annette Powell, Nina Thijssen, Jacquie Dias, Inna Perova and Sabine MertensWeb editors Jacquie Dias and Jacques van Laar

Cover ECDPM’s multinational staff (from left to right: Karim Karaki, Philomena Apiko, Sophie Desmidt and Noemi Cascone), in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Photo by Yaseena Chiu-van ’t Hoff

Art Direction and design of cover and layout Yaseena Chiu-van ‘t HoffDesign, layout and production Claudia Backes

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Great Insights | November/December 2017 3

2 Editorial

4 Ensuringamoreeffectiveand beneficialcooperation René N’Guettia Kouassi, Director of Economic Affairs, African Union Commission

11 Fromwallstocalls:AfricaandEuropecan shapethefuture Carlos Lopes, Professor, University of Cape Town

13 Breakingthesilenceandthevested interests Geert Laporte, Deputy Director, ECDPM

17 'Africarising'meanstakingownershipof itsknowledgeproduction Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, Chief Executive, South African Institute of International Affairs, SAIIA

20 Adialogueofthedeaf? Uzo Madu, Founder of 'What's in it for Africa'

24 TheracetoclosethegatewaytoEurope Tasnim Abderrahim, Junior Programme Officer, ECDPM

27 Radicalinnovationormuddlingthrough? Stefan Schepers, Secretary General of the independent High Level Group on Innovation Policy Management

30 Sharedvalues?Maybe.Buthoweffective arethey? Léonard Matala-Tala,Associate Professor in Public Law, ISAM-IAE Nancy

33 Theworldischanging:therelationshipneeds changingtoo. Jessica Ilunga, External Affairs Consultant, London School of Economics and Political Science

36 Technologytoempowersociety:The BarefootLawexperience Gerald Abila, Founder of BarefootLaw

39 TheAU-EUpartnershipforpeaceand security Tim Murithi, Head of Programme, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Cape Town

41 HowtorenewtheEU-Africapartnership throughtranscontinentalyouthnetworks Yentyl Williams, President and Founder of the Africa Caribbean and Pacific Young Professionals Network, and Celine Fabrequette, Secretary General of the ACP YPN

43 OurBlogs

Contents

AfricanmarketPhoto:CarmenTorres,ECDPM

NurseslistenduringatrainingprogrammePhoto:DominicChavez/WorldBank

4 | Great Insights | November/December 2017

Ensuring a more effective and beneficial cooperation

AprimaryschoolinKampala,Uganda.Photo:ArneHoel/WorldBank

Europe’s relationship with Africa has been governed by a number of international agreements. In the lead-up to the 5th African Union–European Union Summit in Abidjan at the end of November 2017, many questions arise. Have these agreements delivered the expected results? What should be done to build a mutually beneficial partnership?

ByRenéN’GuettiaKouassi


InparallelthereisalsotheJointAfrica-EUStrategy(JAES)thatwasadoptedin2007attheLisbonSummit.Whatlessonshavewelearnedforthefuture?ThesearejustsomeofthequestionsthatdeserveclearanswerstorestorethecredibilityofthecooperationbetweentheAfricanUnion(AU)andtheEuropeanUnion(EU).

BreakingwithatwoheadedforeignpolicyEuropefacesnumerousinternalchallenges,fromeconomicstosecurityandmigration.Itsexternalactionisalsoconfrontedwithmanychallenges

TodaytheEuropeanUnionhasatwo-headedforeignpolicywhenitcomestoAfrica:atotaloftwenty-eight(soontwenty-sevenwithBrexit)bilateralpoliciesandaCommunitypolicyskilfullyoverseenbytheEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanExternalActionService(EEAS).

Inmostcases,however,thesepoliciesoverlapandevenclash,ratherthanharmoniouslycoexist.Theresultisthatwhereasingleissueisconcerned,Africareceivestwoormoredifferent,andsometimescontradictory,messages.TheEuropeanUnionneedstocoordinateandharmoniseitsmanypoliciesupstream(inEurope)beforepresentingthemdownstream(inAfrica).ThiswillhelppreventtheduplicationsandcontradictionsthathaveunderminedtheimageAfricanpopulationshaveofEurope.

FreeingourselvesfromthestereotypesofthepastEuropecontinuestotreatAfricaasacontinentonthebrinkofmaturity.ThemostrecentexamplewasEurope’sadoptionoftheExternalInvestmentPlan(EIP)forAfricawithoutanypriorseriousdiscussionwithAfricans.EuropebehaveslikeanarchitectwhohasdecidedtodesignahouseforAfrica.Althoughtheinitiativeiscertainlylaudable,Africansthemselveswerenotinformeduntilthearchitect,agoodSamaritanoraphilanthropist,knockedatthedoorwithtoolsandequipmentreadytogettowork.AnAfricanproverbsays'thosewhodon’t

sleepinahousedon’tknowwhereitleakswhenitrains'.Itshouldcomeasnosurprisethen,thatthefruit-to-flowerratioisoftendisappointing.SeeingAfricaasamaturecontinentandburyingthestereotypesofitspastwithEuropemustbeattheveryheartofEurope’snewapproachtoAfrica

StoppingthecycleofreinvestingundisbursedfundingTheEuropeanUnion’sefforttohelpAfricaoutofpovertyandmiseryarerecognisedbyall.ButthisunanimityquicklyevaporateswhenitcomestoperceptionsovertheeffectivenessofEurope’spoliciesvis-à-visAfricaandtheallocationandmanagementoffinancialenvelopes.TheRegionalandNationalIndicativeProgrammes(RIPsandNIPs),amongothers,aredisbursedataslowrateandAfricansfindthisdifficulttounderstand.Asaresult,awholeseriesofunusedenvelopesarepermanently'recycled',givingtheimpressionofacontinuouslyrenewedEuropeancommitmenttoAfrica.TheextremesluggishnessandcomplexityofdisbursementsfuelbeliefthatEurope’saidisdeliberatelyinefficientforonesimplereason:tocontrolAfrica’sdevelopmentlikeonemightcontrolthegrowthofayoungplant(usingprecisedosagesofwaterandfertilisation),topreventthebirthofaneconomicandpoliticalentitywhichtomorrowcouldbecomeaformidablecompetitororadversary.

AdaptingcooperationgovernancetoAfricanrealitiesThefirstAU-EUSummitinCairoin2000rejuvenatedrelationsbetweentheAfricanUnionandtheEuropeanUnionthroughtheadoptionofnewattitudesandtheestablishmentofanappropriategovernanceframework.Consequently,SeniorOfficials’MeetingsandMinisterialmeetingswereorganisedinbetweensummits.Theseframeworksallowedtheparticipantsofbothcontinentstobreathenewlifeintotheircooperationefforts.Today,inbetweentwosummits,nootherjointhavemet.

TheJointTaskForcewhichwasestablishedafterthe2007LisbonSummitisinpoorshape.TheCommission-to-Commissionmeeting,whichwassupposedtokeeptheflameofcooperationalive,isalsonotdoingverywell.TheEconomicForumsupposedlyreplacingtheTaskForcehasyettoholditsfirstmeeting.Inshort,unilateralchangesinthegovernancestructuresimposedbytheEUtoreflectthedevelopmentofitsowninternalinstitutionalapparatus,withoutpriorconsultationwithAfricancounterparts,havelefttheAU-EUcooperationlookingtiredandoutdated.

TorevitalisetheEurope-Africacooperationthereisaneedforamutuallyagreedgovernancestructure,onewhichmeetsthe

An African proverb says 'those who

don’t sleep in a house don’t know

where it leaks when it rains'.


demandsofthemodernworld.SuchagovernancestructureshouldboostAU–EUrelationsbyorganisingamoreregularhigh-levelpoliticaldialoguebetweenbothparties.

IncreasingEuropeaninvestmentinproductiveAfricansectorsTobridgethegrowingdividebetweenAfricaandEurope,Africaneedstostructurallytransformitseconomies.Inthisprocess,theEUcouldencourageEuropeansmallandmediumsizeenterprises(SMEs)toinvestinAfrica,beitthroughdirectinvestment,portfolioinvestment,capitalinvestmentorothertypesofinnovativefinancialinjections.TheseSMEscouldhaveaclearandmeasurableimpactonthelivingstandardsofAfricanandEuropeanpopulations.ItishightimethatEuropeanandothereconomicoperatorsstopseeingAfricaasahigh-riskcontinenttoinvestin.Africashouldnolongerbeseenmerelyasacontinentforshort-terminvestmentandfloatingcapitalsthatcanbeeasilyrepatriatedattheslightestindicationofinstability.SupportfortheimplementationofAfrica’sintegrationinitiativesshouldalsobeattheveryheartofanewtypeofEuropeancooperationwithAfrica.InvestinginAfrica’sdevelopmentmeanshelpingAfricanpopulationsoutofpovertyandmisery,therebyshieldingthemfromtribalandethnocentricinclinations,whichcanpotentiallyresultinallkindsofinstability.TherecentGermanMarshallPlanforAfricaisastepintherightdirection.Toensuregreaterimpact,itshouldalsobesupportedbyGermanSMEs.

TodayEuroperemainscloselyconnectedwithAfricaduetoculturalandlinguisticaffinities,nottomentionthegeographicalproximitybetweenthetwocontinents( just12kilometresseparatesthem).ThosewiththelargestamountsofresourcesineveryrespecthaveamoralobligationtosupportAfricaasittransformsitselfeconomicallyandpolitically.EuropeanattemptstohelpAfricaachievewealthwillalsogeneratesolutionstotheacuteeconomicandsocialcrisisthatEuropenowfaces.InvestingheavilyinprojectswithhighaddedvalueshouldtodaybetheforemostaxeofEuropeancooperation.Thiswillultimatelycontributetoawin-winsituationforthepeopleofbothcontinents.

ClarifyingcoexistingAU–EUandACP–EUpoliciesAU–EUinteractionsinvolvethewholeofAfrica,whileACP–EUinteractionsconcernonlysub-SaharanAfricawithouttheMaghrebregion.TheEUisconnectedtoSouthAfricaandtheMaghreb,throughspecificcooperationframeworks.Inreality,thisfragmentedEuropeanapproachhasbeendetrimentaltotheeffectivenessandharmonyoftheJAES.Atthesametime,implementationoftheACP-EUCotonouAgreementhasbeenstructurallyhamperedforadiversityofreasons.Whatshouldbedone?ShouldtheJAESandCotonouinstrumentsbestreamlinedbyabolishingoneinfavouroftheother?TheJointStrategyisbuiltonthecardinalprincipleoftreatingAfricaasasingleentity.IsthisprinciplenotaninvitationtosacrificeACP–EUonthealtarinfavourofjustonecooperationframeworkwithAfricaasawhole?WhatpricewouldAfricahavetopayifthishappened?IsthecostofthedivorcebetweenCotonouandJAESthatisthedeterrent?Shouldwestayinabadmarriagesimplytoavoidpayingthisprice?Inanyevent,thisisamajorconcernthatwillhavetobeaddressedintheongoingnegotiationsonthefutureoftheCotonouAgreementafter2020.Asingleinstrument,nottwo,wouldhavetheadvantageofbringinggreaterharmony,efficiency,visibilityandmomentumtoAU–EUcooperation,enablingittocapitaliseonitsmassivepotential.

Africa:acontinentstrugglingtotransformitself?Today,arecurrentthemeinthediscourseofmostAfricanpoliticalleadersandeveneconomicdecisionmakersatthenational,regionalandcontinentallevelistheissueof'structuraltransformationofAfrica'withallthechallengesanddifficultiesinvolved.

First,thereisawidespreadconsensusthatagricultureinAfricahasfailed.Insomepartsofthecontinent,agriculturestillcannotperformitsprimaryfunction,whichistoprovidetheAfricanpopulationwithanadequatesupplyoffood,therebyshieldingitfrommalnutritionandstructuralandendemicfamine.Today,Africaimportsmassiveamountsoffoodtomeetitsdietaryneeds.Thisnotonlyputsastrainonitsbalanceofpaymentsbutalsoincreasesitsfooddependence. Second,itshouldbenotedthatindustrialisationinAfricaappearstobeatastandstilldespitetheadoptionofmanyindustrialpoliciesandstrategiessincethe1960s.Whilethestructuraltransformationisunderway,itisbypassingthesecondarysectoroftheeconomy.Africanpopulationsareabandoningruralareas,despitetheunderdevelopmentofagriculture,tomoveintothetertiarysector.Cutbacksinstatestructuresandtheirpersonnel,undertheaegisoftheBrettonWoodsinstitutions,havebeenattheexpenseofindustry.Formeremployeesofthestate-controlledcompaniesandfromthepublicadministration,maderedundantasaresultofdrasticbudgetcuts,havebloatedtheformalandinformaltertiary

To revitalise the Europe-Africa

cooperation there is a need for

a mutually agreed governance

structure, one which meets the

demands of the modern world.


sectors.TheindustrialsectorinAfricahasbeenneglectedasaconsequence. Third,Africastilllackseconomicandpoliticalintegration.Multipleinitiativeshavebeentakentofindwaystomakeitwork.Yet,thevolumeofintra-Africantraderemainsnegligible.Thecontinentisdevelopingitstraderelationswiththerestoftheworld.Likewise,Africansstilldonothavetherightoffreemovementwithintheirowncontinent.CreationofasingleAfricancurrencyisaseeminglyimpossibletask,despiteitbeingenshrinedinArticle19oftheConstitutiveActoftheAfricanUnion.Thecontinentisstillstrugglingtostandardiseitsstatisticalresources.Nationalfigurescannotbecomparedacrosscountriesduetoalackofcapacityandproblemsemanatingfrompoorinfrastructureandadearthofadequate,sustainablefundingforstatisticalorganisations.Africaalsosuffersfromalackofintegrationofitsinfrastructures.Whileitaboundsinenergysourcesofeverykind,over70percentofitspopulationlanguishesinthedark.PowercutsareeverydayoccurrencesinnearlyeverycountryinAfrica.Theseareastructuralbarriertothedevelopmentofbusinessandtoemergingindustriesandstart-ups.Althoughcapableofprovidingsufficientsustainableenergytoalargenumberofcountries,theGrandIngahydropowerprojecthasyettobecompletedforexample. Fourth,Africaisgettingnowherefastintermsofgovernanceinthebroadestsenseoftheterm.IthasratifiedtheAfricanCharteronDemocracy,ElectionsandGovernance,whichenteredintoforceon15February2012.Leadershipchangesareoftenpainfulandsometimesbloody,andtheoldhabitofamendingstates’constitutionsdieshard.Goodeconomicgovernanceatboththemicro(household)andthemacro(government)levelisprovingdifficulttoestablish. Fifth, itisnoexaggerationtosaythatAfricanschoolshavemissedtheirmark.Afterseveraldecadesofautonomyineducationandtraining,schoolshavebecomefactoriesforproducingunemployedjob-seekers.ThescientificandtechnologicalgapbetweenAfricaandthedevelopedworldisgrowingatanalarmingrate.Consequently,Africaisshortonskillstosupportcorporategrowth,whileatthesametimethereismassunemploymentamongyoungpeopleleavinguniversitiesandschools. Sixth,Africaisboggeddowninamultiplicityofpartnershipswithoutanoptimalstrategyforcapitalisingonanyofthese.Thevariouspartnershipsarequitesimilarinformandcontent,coveringsimilarareasofjointinterests.Therathersmalldifferencesmainlyrelatetofundingandimplementationmechanisms.Ultimately,however,noneofthesepartnershipshavehadmuchimpact.Muchadoaboutveryfew,ifnoresultsatall.

Itisaself-evidenttruththattheEUremainsAfrica’sleadingeconomicpartnerdespiteAfrica’sstrengthenedrelationshipwithChina.HowcanAfricamakethemostofitscooperationwithEurope?Severalavenuescouldbeexploredtoanswerthisimportantquestion.

Thedynamicsofintegration,alifelineforAfrica’spartnershipwithEuropeAfricamustspeakwithonevoicewhennegotiatingwithEurope.Theattitudeofeachactorseekingtogetthebestdealisoutdated.Indeed,eachcountryhasassesseditsrelationswiththeEUthroughitsownideologicallensandonthebasisofitsowncomparative,andeventechnological,advantages.Themostpowerfulcountrieshavealwaystakenituponthemselvestosteercooperationinthedirectionoftheirownideologicalviewsandtheneedsoftheireconomies.ThissituationhasunderminedacoherentcontinentalcooperationbetweenAfricaandEurope.Toreversethiscounterproductivetrend,itisimperativethatallAfricanactorscoordinateandharmoniseupstream(inAfrica)theirvisions,programmesandapproachesinaspiritofAfricanunityandsolidarity.Consequently,theindividualAfricancountries,theRegionalEconomicCommunities(RECs),theAUandallAUbodies,theAfricanDevelopmentBankandtheUnitedNationsEconomicCommissionforAfrica(UNECA)havetoformacommonfrontinnegotiationswithEuropeanpartners.ThisisvitalifAfricawantsitsvoicetobeheardandrespected.

BreakingfromitspastwithEuropewithdignityandresponsibilityAlthoughAfricahassufferedthedoubleblowofslaveryandcolonisation,itmustbreakwiththispainfulhistoryandfocusonitseconomicemancipation.Inotherwords,thepastshouldnolongerbeamillstonearoundtheAfricanneck.Otherregionsintheworldhaveovercomeasimilarpainfulpastandseizedtheopportunitiesforgrowthanddevelopment.WhyshouldAfricanotdothesame?Africamustmoderniseitspoliticaldiscourse,drawingonthevirtuesofthemodernage.IthastolookatEuropeasacrediblepartnerthatcansupportAfricainitsdevelopmentprocess.Towinthebattleofeconomicand

It is imperative that all African actors

coordinate and harmonise upstream

(in Africa) their visions, programmes

and approaches in a spirit of African

unity and solidarity


socialemancipation,Africamustmoderniseitspoliticaldiscourseandengageitsyouthinathirdindustrialrevolutionpoweredbynewinformationandcommunicationtechnologies.LookingatEuropedifferentlycouldhelptoestablishanewrelationshipoftrustthatcouldstrengthencooperationandmakeitmutuallybeneficial.

SteppinguppoliticalintegrationPromotingstatesovereigntyhasnotcontributedtotheriseofanAfricamarchingtothesametune.Instead,thecacophonythathasemergedhasincreaseddivisions,isolationismandnationalism.InnegotiationswithEuropeanpartners,eachAfricancountryorregionhasbeenseekingtodefendonlyitsownnationalorregionalinterests.

ThisindividualistictendencyexplainsinparttheinefficiencyofcooperationwithEurope,asithaskeptAfricafrompresentingacommonfrontandunderminedAfrica’sclout.Furthermore,ithasmadeithardforAfricatobuildrespect,tocompelEuropetofulfilitsobligationsandtosteerthedialoguewithEuropeinAfrica’sfavour.ThefacethatAfricahasshowntoEuropeisoneofacontinentthatcanbeeasilymanipulated;ofanAfricain

whichcountriescaneasilybeplayedoffagainstoneanother;ofanAfricainwhichdivisionistheruleandunitytheexception.InresponsetothemanyappealstotreatAfricaasasingleentity,notaoneinitiativehasbeentakenontheAfricansidetocallforaharmonisationoftheEuropeancooperationinstruments.Onthecontrary,eachinstitutionhasdefendedjealouslytheexistingstructuresattheexpenseofAfricanintegrationandofthecoherenceofEurope’sexternalaction.

ThePermanentRepresentativesCommittee(PRC)andtheGroupofACPAmbassadorsinBrussels:clarifyingrelationshipstoboostAU–EUcooperationThePermanentRepresentativesCommittee(PRC)isoneoftheconstituentbodiesoftheAU.Inalmostallcases,thediplomatsappointedtoitareaccreditedtotheAUCommission,UNECAandtheFederalRepublicofEthiopia.TheAfricanAmbassadorsinBrusselsareaccreditedtotheACPGroup,theEUCommissionandtheKingdomofBelgium.ThePRCandtheACPCommitteeofAmbassadorshavetwodifferentmandates.AsanAUbody,thePRCreportstotheAUExecutiveCouncilwhich,inturn,answerstotheAssemblyofHeadsofStateandGovernment,whichistheAU’shighestauthority.Thisclarificationoffunctionsisimportant

Africa must modernise

its political discourse

and engage its youth

in a third industrial

revolution powered

by new information

and communication

technologies

KwesiQuartey,theAUdeputyChairperson(left)andGeertLaporte,ECDPM'sDeputyDirector(right)withtheauthor.atameetinginBrussels,Belgium.Photo:ECDPM


ifwearetobetterunderstandtheroleofthesetwoentitiesinthegovernanceofAU–EUrelations.Intheexecutionofitsmandate,thePRCoverseesandcoordinatesontheAUExecutiveBoard’sbehalfthemanagementofallthepartnershipsofAfricawiththerestoftheworld,including,ofcourse,itscooperationwiththeEU.Ontheotherhand,theGroupofACPAmbassadorsinBrussels,owingtoitsgeographicallocationintheheartoftheEU,believesthatithasanaturalrighttooverseethegovernanceofAU–EUrelations,aswellasACP–EUcooperation.

Asaresult,theBrussels-basedACPinstitutionsbelievetheyhaveasayon,andevenarightofscrutinywithrespectto,anyundertakingsthatAddisAbabamightinitiatewiththeEU.ThisconfusionisexacerbatedbythefactthatEUbodies(theEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanExternalActionService)seeminclinedtofavourtheACPCommitteeofAmbassadorsinBrusselswhenitcomestonegotiatingwithAfricaonissuesrelatedtothefutureofbothcontinents.TheongoingnegotiationsonthefutureoftheCotonouagreementsisacaseinpoint.Thereiseveryreasontobelievethatthedebateonthesubjectisbeing“heldhostage”inBrusselswhiletheAUinstitutions,includingthePRCandtheAUCommissioninparticularareexcludedfromthenegotiations.

TheACPSecretariatinBrusselsisnotaccountabletoanypoliticalauthorityinAfrica.AlltheAfricancountriesparticipatingintheCotonouAgreementaremembersoftheAU,whichshouldrequirethemtoreceivetheirmandatesfromthegoverningbodiesoftheAU.Instead,quitetheoppositeishappening.

ThisproblemneedstobesolvedtokeeptheBrusselsACPgroupfromunilaterallyadoptingpoliciesthatmaybeatoddswithAfrica’saspirationsassetoutinsuchkeyinitiativesastheAbujaTreatyandtheAgenda2063.TheACPSecretariatshouldofcourse,receiveitsmandatefromandbedulyaccountableto,thedecision-makingbodiesoftheAU.TheseexamplescallforaclarificationoftheworkingrelationsbetweenBrusselsandAddisAbaba.Thisisan

essentialconditiontostopsendingconfusingmessagesandtofurtherboostAU–EUcooperation.

Conclusion:weneedtoensurethatcooperationcontributestoasharedfutureprosperityTheprinciplesofmutualrespect,jointresponsibilityandasharedvisionwithregardtothegovernanceofinternationalpublicgoodsmustalwaysguidethecooperationbetweenAfricaandEurope.NosubjectcanbetaboointhecontextofAU–EUrelations.Allissuesmustbedealtwithfrankly,intotaltransparencyandwithoutulteriormotives.Asthesayinggoes,'friendshipthrivesontruth'.

Yesterday,EuropeknewwhatitwasdoinginAfrica.Today,itknowswhatitisdoinginAfrica.AnditalreadyknowswhatitwillbedoinginAfricatomorrow.Africa,however,isdividedanditisstillmiredinendlessquestionsaboutthetypeofpartnershipitwouldliketohavewithEurope.Thethemeofthe5thAU-EUSummitisoneofmajorimportancetobothcontinents:investinginyoungpeopletoaccelerateinclusivegrowthandsustainabledevelopment.Solutionstothisseriousproblemarecrucialforbothparties,asthevastmajorityofyoungpeopleinAfricaandalargenumberinEuropearecaughtinatrapofmassunemploymentforwhichtheconsequencesareindescribable.TheAUandtheEUcanbecomepartofadynamicsharedfuturebyofferingtheiryouthauniquemodelofsharedvaluessuchaspeace,respectforhumanrightsandfreedomofexpression.ThesummitinAbidjanmustplanttheseedsofthisnewtypeofpartnership.

ThelongerversionofthistexthasalsobeenpublishedinFrenchandisavailableat:www.ecdpm.org/bn96fr

AbouttheauthorDrRenéN’GuettiaKouassiisDirectorofEconomicAffairsattheAfricanUnionCommission.

There is every reason to believe that

the debate on the subject is being

'held hostage'...


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ECDPM’sWeeklyCompassisarichsourceofinformationforbusypolicymakers,analysts,activistsandtheprivatesector.

EveryTuesday,ournewsletterbringsyouthelatestupdatesonEU-Africarelationsandinternationalcooperation.YouwillalsobekeptuptodatewithECPDM’slatestpublicationsandeventsandreadbehind-the-scenesanalysisfromourexpertsonmigration,peaceandsecurity,Europeanexternalaffairs,Africaninstitutions,foodsecurity,trade,financeandinvestment,regionalintegration,theprivatesectorandmigration.

On Friday 24 November, the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), will organise a side event in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in the margins of the 5th Africa-EU Summit of 29 and 30 November. The aim of this event is:• TomakeastateofaffairsoftheJointAfrica-EU

Strategy(JAES);• To identify challenges and future perspectives

for the Africa-Europe partnership also in the light of the upcoming negotiations for a Post CotonouACP-EUAgreementin2020;

• To facilitate a reciprocal political dialogue and to foster a deeper understanding of European and African perspectives on the key issues of strategicinterestinthepartnership;

• To establish links between the Europe-Africa partnership with the global agendas and cooperation frameworks, including Agenda 2030 with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The seminar will bring together representatives from the African Union Commission, the European Union, Governments, international and regional organizations, the diplomatic community as well as international, regional and national scholars and think-thanks, business leaders, private sector representatives, civil society, media and journalists.

The Africa-EU cooperation:

Achievements, challenges and future perspectives24 November 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire


Walls make a lot of headlines these days. So do sea crossings. Walls signify a desire to exercise sovereign control at a time when we are experiencing an erosion of borders and enhanced human mobility. Sea crossings are a revisit of desperation routes used by those who have nothing to lose but believe they have a lot to gain. In both cases there is drama, emotions and fear.

FROM WALLS TO CALLS: AFRICA AND EUROPE CAN

Severalpoliticalactorsattempttoputonabravefaceanddefendtheindefensible.Rationalexplanationsvaguelyassociatedwithrealfactsservetostiffenpositionsonnationalthreats,securityconcernsandeconomicvulnerability.PoliticaldebatesinEuropeareincreasinglyfocusingonthestrengthofpopulistproposalsandtheappealoffakenewsbasedonfear.

Africa,alreadyseenfromanegativelens,isbroadlyperceivedasanissue,evenbythemostprogressiveandwell-intendedminds.ItisasifthecontinentnexttoEurope-andsointrinsicallylinkedtoitshistory-wassuddenlyseenfromadifferentlens,thedemographicbulgelens,sooverwhelmingandcatastrophic.Populistsfearmigration;othersfearthelackofgoodgovernanceorrespectforhumanrightsandruleoflaw,pre-conditionsformodernity.TheyfeelinsecurewithoutitbeingthereinAfrica,andhidethesamefearunderpatronisingattitudes.

OnesolutionforaddressingthiscomplexitycouldbetofinallyensureAfrica’sgrowthanddevelopment.Manyblueprintsaredrafted,refreshingthedevelopmentindustrypreferences,

withthebestofintentions.Newjargonisintroducedandanewuniversalframeworkisnowavailable.Ifaccepteditcouldfloodtheneedycountrieswithnewinvestmentsandopportunities;whichinturnwillgoalongwaytoarrestthefloodsofincreasinglyyoungmigrantslookingforLampedusa.

Thisnarrativeissodated.But,theproblemwithdatednarrativesisthattheyarepartlytrue.

LeadersfromEuropeandAfricawillmeetinAbidjanforanotherSummitbetweenthetwocontinentalneighbours.Thehigh-levelrepresentationfromEuropewillbelessthantheattainedinthepreviousSummitinBrussels,in2015.ThistimesomeAfricanleaders,uninvitedinBrussels,mayfindaslotfortheirjetsatFelixHouphouëtBoignyAirport.Themediamaycapturethesegimmicksasthenewsworthypartofthegathering.Thedatednarrativewillcontenttherest.Thatwouldbeapity.,astheAbidjanSummitshouldbeaboutsomethingelse.

WhenJean-JacquesRousseauwrotethesocialcontract255yearsago,hecalledforintergenerationalsolidarity.Hiscallwas

ByCarlosLopes

WoodenRefugeeBoat.Photo:[email protected]

SHAPE THE FUTURE


fornothinglessthanapoliticaltreaty,precededbyastudyon...inequality!Weallunderstandintergenerationalsolidarityfromparentstochildrenor,atcommunitylevel,definedbyRousseauasfromoldertotheyoungerpeople.AfterallthebasisofthesustainabledevelopmentconceptwascoinedbytheBrundtlandCommissionin1987asthe'developmentthatmeetstheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds.'

Wefastforwardto2017andobservethatmostofEuropeisageingandAfricaistheyouthrepositoryoftheworld.Itspopulationwillbearoundtwobillionby2050withanaverageagebelow20.Somemaythinkitisinsane.But,let’spause.Neverinhumanhistoryhavewewitnessedthiskindofdemographicbulgewhentherestoftheworldpopulationages.Howarewegoingtointerpretintergenerationalsolidarity,sayinEurope,whenthenewgenerationisinadifferentcontinent,perceivedbysomeasfarawayandunrelated?

ThedebatesonhumanmobilityarejustthetipoftheKilimanjaro.Ifthisissueisnotproperlycontextualisedanddiscussed,itwillinsulatetheAbidjanSummitfromtherealquestions:

Answeringthesequestionscouldopenincredibleopportunitiesforcooperation,and…changethenarrative.

AproperfightagainstterroristgroupsisnotpossiblewithoutaddressingthecriticalenvironmentalthreatstheSaharaSahelianbandfacesfromcoasttocoast.Pastoralismcouldbeanimmenseresourcetoaccelerateinclusionanddevelopregionsthatrequirelittletoadvancetheirpeople’slivelihoods.Improvingagriculturalproductivitycanexpandtheofferforprocessedfoodingreatdemandbymiddle-classconsumersandurbandwellers.Africa’sagriculturalpromiseisimmense,non-usedormisusedarablelandplentifulandgrowthpotentialunmatchedanywhereintheworld.

Despitethehypeabouttechnologicaldisruptionsonproductivityandmanufacturing,Africa’slowbaseandhugeinternalmarkets(onceintegrated)offeralargewindowforindustrialisation,partlythroughcommoditiesvalueaddition.SometechnologicaldevelopmentsincreaseAfrica’sleapfrogging

potential,likereducedcostofrenewablesandfrugalinnovationacceleratinggreenindustrialisation.

Newpartnershipsaretappingintotheseopportunities.Paradoxically,thosearrivinglatearetheonesestablishingacommandingleadinthenewAfrica.ChinaForeignDirectInvestment(FDI)inthecontinentonlyranked6thfiveyearsago,whenitwasalreadybyfarthenumberonetradingpartner.Thisyearithasjumpedtothetopposition.NewcomersareovertakingEuropeanpartnersthathavealonghistoryofeconomicpresenceinthecontinent.ThediscussionswiththeEuropeanUnionmustcentreonthefuture,economictransformationandindustrialisationincluded.ThismaybeincompatiblewiththepushfortheratificationofthecurrentEconomicPartnershipAgreements(EPAs).

ThereisahighdegreeofcynicismabouttheEPAs.ItisnotacoincidencethatAfrica’sprivatesectoristhemostvocalagainstit.TheEuropeanCommissioncannotdenythelackoftransparency,andevenimposedsecrecy,inthewaytheEPAswerenegotiated.OneofthecasualtiesoftheEPAsisthefragmentationofAfricatradenegotiationsinblocksandcountriestowhomdifferentclauseswereofferedattheverymomenttheContinentalFreeTradeAgreementwassupposedtooccupyminds.Anotheristhepossiblelostopportunityforarealeconomicpartnershipbasedonthefuture.

Wheretostart?Thebestwaytobeginrespondingtothepopulistsistorecastthedemographicdiscussion.Nooneshouldassumeitiseasy.Yet,largeEuropeanmigrantpopulationsacrosstheglobeknowthatwithtime,successisdesirableandachievable.Rousseauwouldalsoagree.

AbouttheauthorCarlosLopesisProfessorattheGraduateSchoolofDevelopmentPolicyandPractice,UniversityofCapeTownandVisitingFellowatOxfordMartinSchool,OxfordUniversity.

How are we going to interpret

intergenerational solidarity,

say in Europe, when the new

generation is in a different

continent, perceived by some as

far away and unrelated?

• Why are Africa’s most environmentally-stressed areas the producers of terrorist groups?

• Why are pastoralists having a tough time adjusting to modernity? • Why are Indians, Chinese, Turkish or Emiratis ready

to invest where others hesitate? • Why is Europe making it hard for Africa to create

its own single market?

Great Insights | November/December 2017 13 MechanicalshovelbeingassembledonsiteattheRossingUraniummine.Photo:WorldBank,Flickr

Beauty(left)andHopewhoparticipateinaYouthtoYoutheducationprogramme,Zambia.Photo:JessicaLea/DFIDUK

EU-AFRICA: BREAKING THE SILENCE AND THE VESTED INTERESTS The upcoming Summit, the next months and years should provide unique opportunities forEurope and Africa to move into a different type of partnership. Will the EU and the AU seize this momentum or will the success of the Summit in Abidjan be measured by the number of participating Heads of State?

ByGeertLaporte

Weurgentlyneedtorealisethatthecontextofourcooperationhaschangeddramaticallyandthatourpartnership

withAfricaisoutdated. (…)Weneedtobeawareoftheurgencyandtheneedtoreviewthispartnershipfromscratch(…).EuropeneedstoconstructwithAfricathemostimportantofallitsexternalpartnerships(…).WestronglyquestionthepertinenceoftheACPGroup…'(Le Monde, 29 September 2017)

Justafewweeksbeforethe5thsummitofEuropeanandAfricanHeadsofStateinAbidjanon29and30November,thelargestFrenchprivatesectorassociationMEDEFgaveanurgentwake-upcallforanewandambitiousEurope-Africapartnership.ThiscomesatamomentwhenEuropeanandAfricaninstitutionsshouldbefinalisingtheagendaoftheSummitafteralong'sleepwalk'sincethelast2014BrusselsSummit.

InthepastthreeyearsalothashappenedinEurope,Africaandbeyond.TheEuropeanprojecthasbeenunderincreasingpressurebecauseofBrexit,themigrationandrefugeecrisis,terrorismandrisingnationalismandpopulism.InAfrica,the'boomingcontinent'discourseseemstobemetwithgrowingscepticism.ManyAfricancountriesarecopingwithmultiplechallengesrelatingtodemography,economictransformation,


security,governanceandclimatechange.TheTrumpPresidencyhasalsoputpressureonthecurrentinternationalliberalorderandChinaisincreasinglyofferinganalternativecooperationmodelfuelledbylargefinancialsupporttoauthoritarianAfricanregimeswithoutstringentconditions.

TheAbidjanSummittakesplaceatamomentwhenAfricafeaturesprominentlyintheEuropeanpolicydiscourseonmigrationandsecurityandinactionswiththeEmergencyTrustFundandtheExternalInvestmentPlan.ItalsohappenstobeatamomentwhentheJointAfrica-EUStrategy(JAES)celebratesits10thanniversaryandtheEUandtheACPGroup(largelycomposedbysub-SaharanaswellasCaribbeanandPacificcountries)arepreparingforalengthyrenegotiationprocessoftheCotonouACP-EUpartnershipthatshouldbeconcludedbyearly2020.

Againstthisbackground,onewouldexpectplentyofstrategicagendaitemsforHeadsofStatetochewonduringaSummit,thattakesplaceonceinthreeyears.Butthisurgencydoesnotseemtotrickledowntothehigh-levelpolicymakersandtheiradministrationsinbothcontinents.Inthesametraditionofthepast,bothsidesstressinloftywordingstheir'greatattachmenttothisimportantpartnershipamongstequalpartners'.Atthesametimetheyavoiddiscussingopenlytheimportant,butpotentiallycontroversial,issuesthatriskspoilingtheparty.Onceagain,itlooksasifthesuccessoftheSummitinAbidjanwillbemeasuredbythenumberofparticipatingHeadsofStateandnotbythequalityofthedialogueortheconcreteoutcomes.

Youthasthecentralthemeinarisk-aversepartnershipInthiscontextitisnotsurprisingthatbothpartiesselectedasthethemefortheirsummit“investing in youth for a sustainable future”.Whiletheissue

ofyouthisofgreatconcerntobothcontinents,itisalsoasafetopicthatmostprobablywillgeneratefairlygeneralstatementsandpolicydeclarationsexpressing'theneedtocreatejobsandtackletherootcausesofmigration'.Itlooksasiftheunderlyingfrustrationsanddiscontentaboutthecurrentstateofthepartnershipwillbekeptunderwraps.Thiswouldbeapityandamissedopportunity,notatleastfortheEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanExternalActionServicewhohaveexpressedthewish'toliftthepoliticalpartnershiptoahigherpoliticalstage'intheirMay2017Communication.

StructuralimbalancesinthepartnershipThequestionswhichshouldberaisedare:whyisitsodifficulttoopenlyaddressissuesofdisagreementbetweenbothcontinents?Whyistherestilladeep-rootedmistrustamongtheleadersofbothcontinents?WhyisitsodifficulttobuildthenecessarypoliticaltractionintheEurope-Africarelationship?TheEUtransfersaidmoneytoAfrica,viaitsstatebureaucraciesandelites,andinreturnexpectsloyaltytotheEuropeanagendas.Thistypeofrelationshiplacksreciprocityandithasgivenrisetothe

generalisedperceptioninAfricathat "the EU sets the agenda and hardly makes concessions on issues that really matter to Africa".

Inspiteofallthejargonaboutanequal'contractual'partnership,jointdecision-makinginstitutionsandco-management,thepartnershiphasneverbeenoneof

The4thafrica-EuropeYouthSummitPhoto:Africa-EUPartnership.org

Successive Lomé Conventions and the Cotonou Partnership Agreement may have been quite innovative in the previous century. But they also perpetuated a North-South relationship of dependency, based on unilateral aid transfers and a heavy bureaucratic system with strong vested interests.

Great Insights | November/December 2017 15 MechanicalshovelbeingassembledonsiteattheRossingUraniummine.Photo:WorldBank,Flickr

equals.Overaperiodofseveraldecades,considerablefinancialenvelopesoftheEuropeanDevelopmentFundhavecreatedstrongvestedinterestsinbothEurope,AfricaandtheACP-EUinstitutions.Supportedbythissubstantialaid,theEUcouldpresentitselfasthe“do-gooder”inAfricainaratherpatronisingandpaternalisticway.AidconditionalitiessoughttoputpressureonAfricangovernmentstoundertakethenecessarygovernancereformsandtoaccepttheEU’stermsfornewtradeagreements(EPAs).Butinthecurrentrapidlychangingenvironment,therecipesofthepastnolongerwork.Africahasbecomeanattractivebrideandcanselectitspartnersoutofamuchbroadergroupofcandidates.AgrowingnumberofassertiveAfricanleadersopenlyquestionwhetherforeignaidshouldstillinterfereintheinternalmattersoftheircountries.Inthemeantime,wehavealsolearntthatEUaidconditionalitieshavelittleornoimpactonchangingthecourseofundemocraticregimesinAfrica.

SlowlytheEUseemstounderstandthesenewrealitiesandinvariouspolicydeclarationsonAfricatheEUnowstronglyadvocatesa'newandmorestrategicinterestdriventypeofpartnershipbeyondaid'oraforeignpolicythatisbasedon'principledpragmatism'.Butthisisonlypartofthestory.Whilesomepoliticalleadersinbothcontinentsseemtoadvocateanewtypeofpoliticalpartnership,alargepartoftheEuropeanandAfrican'aidbureaucrats'seemtohavethegreatestdifficultiestodoawaywiththefamiliardonor-recipient'clientelistic'systems.ThishelpstoexplainwhymanyactorsonbothsideswouldratherkeepanoutlivedandasymmetricACP-EUcooperationsystemalivethanreallytransformEU-Africarelations.Keepingthestatusquoandthecontroloversubstantialaidresourcesisthekeyincentivefortheseconservativeforces.AtamomentwhentheEUandACPinstitutionsaremorerisk-aversethanever,itisseenasinappropriateandeven

dangeroustochangeoldhabits.ThisisthereasonwhyEUandACPinstitutionshavebuiltanalliancetoprotectwhatexistsandtocontinuewithmoreofthesame.ItalsoexplainswhytheimportantPost-CotonouissueisnotontheagendaoftheAbidjanSummit.

ItisdifficulttounderstandwhythemostimportanthighlevelencounterbetweenEuropeanandAfricanleadershasnointentionwhatsoevertodiscussthefutureof'theoldestandmostcomprehensivecooperationagreement'atamomentthatthisagreementisupforrenegotiation.AvoidinganydiscussiononthismatterbeforeandduringtheSummitmaybeaconvenientapproachintheshorttermbutitisamajorstrategicerrorinthelongrun.ItisaparticularlypuzzlingdecisionbytheAfricanUnionandtheAfricanRegionalEconomicCommunities(RECs).Reflectingtheemergingbutstillfragileregionaldynamics,theyshouldtakealeadingroleindesigninganewandmoderntypeofpartnershipwiththeEUthatisfitforthe21stcentury.Butbecauseofalackofstrategicvision,andproblems

ofinternalcohesionandcapacity,theAfricanregionalbodiesseemto'submit'themselvestoanACP-EU'umbrella'inapartnershipofthepastthatlackslegitimacy,credibilityandeffectiveness.

FundamentalshifttowardsastrongerpoliticalpartnershipSo, whatshouldbedonetoreversethisdeadlock?Whatshouldbedonetobuildamorepoliticalandstrategicpartnershipbetweenbothcontinents?OntheEuropeanside,theEUinstitutionsandtheMemberStatescoulddobetterinstrengtheningthecoherenceof

Chrysocolla&Malachite,KipushiMine,Kipushi,Lubumbashi,Shaba,Congo(Zaire)Photo:TJflex/flickr

Africa has become an attractive bride and can select its partners out of a much broader group of candidates.


theforeignpolicyframeworksandinstrumentsdealingwithAfrica.Thecacophonyofsometimescompetinginitiativesandadhocagendasandinitiatives(forexample,individualMemberStatesresponsestothemigrationcrisis)donotcontributetothedesirable,morecoherentEuropeanforeignpolicyasspelledoutinthe2016EUGlobalStrategy.CompetingsilosandinterestswithintheEUinstitutionsandtheMemberStatesfurtherweakentheEuropeanpositionandunderminethecoherenceofaction.ThenegotiationsonthenextMultiannualFinancialFrameworkandtheiralignmentwiththeEUGlobalStrategyandEUConsensusonDevelopmentshouldbeafirststepinthedirectionofpromotingamoremodernglobalapproach.

TheEUwouldgainmoretrustandrespectontheothersideoftheMediterraneanifitwereclearaboutitsinterestsratherthanstressingoverandoveragainthatitisAfrica’slargest'altruisticdonor'.Avoidanceofdoublestandardswouldalsohelptorebuild

trust.Playingthemoralhighgroundisgoodifconsistencyinexternalactioncanbeguaranteed,butthisisincreasinglybecomingaproblem.ThelucrativedealswithtotalitarianregimessuchasSudantocurbmigrationandtoreturnrefugeesareacaseinpoint.Theystrengthentherepressiveapparatusinthesecountries,whichinthelongerrunwillincreasetheflowsofrefugeestoEurope.ForEuropeanandAfricancitizensandtheyoungergenerationsinparticular,this'horsetrading'isunderminingthecredibilityoftheEUthatalwaysreiterateditsfullestsupporttothedecisionoftheInternationalCriminalCourttoissueanarrestwarranttopresidentOmarAl-Bashirforcrimesagainsthumanity.

ThereisalsohomeworktobedoneontheAfricanside.AstrongerandmorecoherentAUleadershipandmoreassertiveandself-sufficientinstitutionsareabsoluteprerequisitestomakeAfricaandthepartnershipwiththeEUwork.TheAUandsomeoftheRECsinAfricahavethepotentialtobecomerepresentativeinstitutions,butthegapwiththeEuropeanInstitutionsintermsofpowers,capacitiesandresourcesisstillbig.The2016KaberukaPlanhascreatedexpectationsregardingthesustainablefinancingoftheAUthroughalevyof0.2%onimportsenteringtheAfricancontinent.Thiswouldgeneratearevenueofmorethan1billionEurosayeartofundtheAU’soperationalprogrammeandpeaceandsecuritybudgets.StructuralsystemstoensurefinancialautonomyareessentialforthecredibilityofAfricaninstitutions.However,thisisnotonlyaboutfinancialresourcesbutalsoaboutstrategicleadershipandpriorities.TheAUandRECsshouldre-assesstheirstrategicinterests.InaPost-CotonoucontexttheyshouldmakeclearchoicesandavoidthattheEUdividesthecontinentandweakenstheAfricanleverage.

Inconclusion,theupcomingSummit,themonthsandyearsahead,shouldprovideuniqueopportunitiesforEuropeandAfricatomoveintoadifferenttypeofpartnership.WilltheEUandtheAUseizethismomentum?EuropeandAfricaare‘condemned’toworktogetherbecauseoftheirstronginterdependence.ThegoodnewsisthatAfricahasreturnedtothetoptableofpoliticaldecision-makinginEurope,albeitforsecurityandmigrationreasons.AfricaandEuropeurgentlyneedtofindcommonsolutionstothedemographicexplosion,thegrowingdiscontentoftheyoungergenerations,thecatastrophicimpactofclimatechange,thethreatsofterrorism,migrationandgovernanceissuesaffectingbothcontinents.Onpaper,thepotentialforstrongmutualinterestsandsharedglobalagendashasneverbeensopromising.Thereisnoshortageofstrategiesandpolicyframeworksforcooperation.Yet,aforumofgenuineandregularpoliticaldialogueoutsideoftheSummitsisneeded,forexample,atthelevelofMinistersofForeignAffairs.Butevenwiththesenewlevelsofpoliticaldialogue,itremainstobeseenwhetherbothpartieswillbeabletoshakeoffpasthabits,breakwiththevestedinterestsofthepastandfundamentallychangethecourseofaction.MoreofthesamewillserveneitherAfrica’snorEurope’sinterests.

AbouttheauthorGeertLaporteisDeputyDirectoratECDPM.

A stronger and more coherent AU leadership and more assertive and self-sufficient institutions are absolute prerequisites to make Africa and the partnership with the EU work.


African think tanks must move more proactively into the Africa-EU policy analysis and advice realm by exploiting the potential to collaborate with existing EU-Africa research networks. At the same time, African governments should also contribute to ‘growing their own’ by recognising the role that African think tanks can play in evidence-based research around this importantstrategic partnership.

HeraldedasapartnershipofequalswhentheEU-Africapartnershipwaslaunchedin2007,theaspirationdidnotmaskthemanyasymmetriesintherelationship-fromactualhumanandfinancialresourcestothechallengesofcoordinationbetweenapartiallysupra-nationalentity(theEuropeanUnion-EU)andapurelyintergovernmentalone(theAfricanUnion-AU).Nevertheless,Europeremainsasignificantexternalpartner.TheEuropeanUnionafterallisthe

continent’sbiggestpartnerindevelopment(EU-28andbilateral),andasignificanttraderandinvestor.EquallyimportantisitscontributiontoAfrica’speaceandsecurityarchitecture.

WhilesomeoftheEU’smembershavecolonialbaggage,theEUisamuchmorecomplexinstitutionthatdefieslabellingasanimperialistorcolonialpower.It’sanimportantglobalsoftpowerwitha

significantmultilateralrole.AndwhileAfricansandEuropeansdon’talwaysagree,bothareconvincedoftheimperativeofmultilateralismastheroutetoarules-basedsystemratherthanonedeterminedpurelybythepowerofthestrongest.AfricaandEuropearealsoneighbours,andthemigrationcrisishasbroughthome,perhapsinthestarkestpossibleterms,thatindustrialisedEuropecannotbeanislandofprosperityina(southern)seaofpoverty

ByElizabethSidiropoulos

‘AFRICA RISING’ MEANS TAKING OWNERSHIP OF ITS KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION

Photo:ChristianWeidinger/Flickr


IronoreloadedtrainsattheSaldanhaterminal,SouthAfrica.Photo:Jbdodane/Flickr

FROM AFRICA TO COUNTRY MINING VISIONS

andinstability.NorcanitsMemberStatesactwithimpunityinLibya(andelsewhere),andexpectnopoliticalandeconomicconsequencesfortheirownterritory.Therearebothvalueandinterest-basedreasonsforAfricanthinktankstospendmoretimeonin-depthpolicyresearchandengagementonAfrica-Europethemes.

ChangingwhodeterminesthedebateEuropehasasizeableresearch‘industry’thatfocusesonAfricanissuesandtherelationshipbetweenthetwocontinent.Historically,muchofthishasbeendrivenbythedevelopmentdimensionoftheengagement,butmorerecently,theunderlyingdriverhasbecomesecurity(counteringviolentextremism)andmigration.ThesearenegativedriversofinterestinAfrica,andforcetheEurope-AfricadebateintoanarrowsilothatregardsAfricaasathreatandsourceofinstability–it’saboutprotectingthe‘empire’fromthe‘Huns’,amplifiedbythepopulistandxenophobicsurgeinEurope.ItalsostandsinmarkedcontrasttothemannerinwhichChinacontinuestoarticulateitsengagementwithAfricaandtheopportunitiesthecontinentpresents.WhileChinaisthenextglobalsuperpowerandAfricanstatescannotandshouldnotignoreit,theEU’srules-basedapproachtoglobalissuesanditssoftpowermakeitanimportantpotentialallyandpartneronmanyterrains.

Foracombinationofreasons,Africanthinktanksarenotdoingasmuchresearchorpolicyengagementastheyshouldonaregionthatisbothcloseanddiplomaticallyandpoliticallysignificant.

TheycannotrivalinresourcesthoseoftheircounterpartsinEurope.Moreimportantly,theyarenotoftenacknowledgedenoughbytheirowngovernmentsaspotentialknowledgebanks.Theybattleforlimitedfinancialresourcesandwherethesecomefromexternalparties,thinktanksmaybecastigatedforbeingagentsofimperialismorotherforcesconspiringagainstthestate.Thesefactorsreinforceeachother

inamutuallyviciouscycle,resultinginAfricanthinktanksplayingamuchmorelimitedroleinthepolicydebatesonthisandotherissues.Ironically,whiletherearemanydebatesandconferencesonAfrica-EUinEurope,therearefarfewerinAfricawhereAfricansthemselveshaveinitiatedandfundedtheconversation.

AstheEU-Africapartnershipentersitsseconddecade,Africans(governments,businesses,civilsocietyandacademics)needtoscaleupthetoolsavailabletoengageinapartnershipofequals.Forallthetalkaboutapost-truthworld,independentknowledgeandanalysisremainimperativesforeffectivedecision-makingandpolicymakinginAfrica.Infact,theyaremoreimportantnowthanever.Thecontinentboastsmanycredibleandqualitythinktanks.Overtheyearstheyhavegrowninnumberandqualityandarecultivatingnetworksacrossthecontinent.Someoftheseactivitieshavebeenspurredbysupportfromexternaldonors,andyettheyhavedevelopedamomentumoftheirown.

AfricanthinktanksmustbecometheknowledgeproducersforAfricanstatesandtheAUasthesenavigateglobaluncertainty–fromBrexitandCotonouto

theEconomicPartnershipAgreementsinaworldwhereWTOisbeingundermined,andmigrationbecomesthefixationoftheage.

Bolsteringimpact:independenceandevidence-basedresearchSohowdowestrengthenAfricanthinktanksintheareaofEU-Africaresearchandpolicyengagement?

Overthelastfewyears,Africanthinktankshavesoughttocooperateandexchangeviewsnotonlyonthemajorissuesoftheday,butalsoonthebusinessofthinktanks.Bothareimportantifthecontinent’sthinktanksaretostrengthentheirinputintopolicyatthecontinentalandgloballevel,astheresearchparadigmshouldnotbethatwhenEuropeandAfricameettheyshouldtalkaboutdevelopmentandwaronthecontinent.WhathappenselsewhereintheworldmaybeequallyimpactfulforAfrica-EUrelations.

Thus,moreeffectivelinkagesbetweenAfricanthinktanksandtheAfrica-EUpolicyworldwouldrequireanumberofelements.Firstandforemost,Africanthinktanksneedtoberecognisedasresourcesby

The Africa Portal provides a digital platform for think tank leaders across the continent and beyond to share their informed perspectives on matters related to African development, economics and politics. In a world moving along at breathless speed, accuracy matters. We aim to take you above the noise and bring you information you can trust.

The Africa Portal also curates a comprehensive collection of research material. Our library holds over 5 000 research reports, occasional papers and policy briefs. The entire repository is open access, equipped with a sophisticated search function and available for free, full-text download. The material in the library has been provided by Content Partners of the Africa Portal who benefit from wider dissemination of their research to a global community.


theirowngovernmentsandsocialactors.Thismeansrecognisingtheimportanceofanalyticalindependenceandprovidinginstrumentstoallocatefinancialresourcesto‘growingourown’,ratherthanrelyingonexternalconsultantsandanalysts.Itcannotbeachievedovernightanditrequiresthinktankstoconstantlyseekengagement;regulardialoguechangesperceptions.Second,thinktankleadersneedtoplacemoreemphasisonrelationssuchastheEU-Africaone,whichplayssuchanimportantroleinthecontinent’saffairs.ThisshouldincludeallocatingresourcestoconsideringandunderstandingbetterthedynamicsatplayintheEuropeanCommissionandtheCouncil,inthesamewaythatEuropeanthinktanksanalyseanddelveintotheinstitutionsoftheAU.AfricanthinktanksshouldalsoplaceamuchhigherpremiumonbetterglobalunderstandingratherthanonlyonengagingattheAfricanlevel.TheongoingchallengeishavingdiscretionaryfundsforsuchworkevenintheabsenceofsupportfromAfricangovernmentsandinstitutions.

Asthinktankleaders,weareoftencaughtupinavortexofproposalwriting,projectexecutionandfinancialconstraints,butwecannotabandonourroletothinkaboutcriticaldimensionsofAfrica’sdevelopmentandstability,undertakeevidence-basedresearchandengagewithAfricanandEuropeanpolicymakersonourwork.

ThereismuchqualitypolicyworkonthecontinentandAfricanthinktanksmustworktogetherincreatingplatformsthatbetterprofiletheirworkinglobalmedia.Poolingcommunicationsresourcescanhelptooptimiselimiteddisseminationinstruments,althoughthe‘democratisation’ofthesocialmediaspacehascreatedmanyopportunitiesevenforsmallthinktankstobringtheirworktotheworld.Here,initiativessuchastheAfricaPortalinitiativeoftheSouthAfricanInstituteofInternationalAffairs

(SAIIA)andtheCentreforInternationalGovernanceInnovation(CIGI)–aone-stopshopforAfricanproducedresearch–areworthleveragingintheEU-Africadebate.Furthermore,tomaximisetheimpact,Africanthinktanksshouldexplorewaystocooperateamongthemselvesonpolicyresearchwellinadvanceofmajorpolicywindows,suchastheAfrica-EUsummit.

Inthisregard,existingresearchnetworkscanalsobeleveragedmorestrategically.TheannualAfricanThinkTankSummitcouldbecomearegularplatformfordebatingandcommunicatingpolicyinsightsonAfrica’skeychallengesaswellasimportantexternalrelationships.Inaddition,suchgatheringsshouldalsobeseenastheopportunitiestoreflectnotonlyonAfricanthemes,butbroaderglobalchallenges.EarlyintheEU-Africapartnership,theEurope-AfricaResearchNetwork(EARN)wasestablishedwiththeaimofbringingtogetherthinktanksfrombothcontinentstoundertakeworkonthisveryimportantrelationship.Yet,itfailedtobuildadeepnetworkofcollaboration.In-depthresearchrequiresfinancialresourcesandAfricanthinktanksinparticularwerehamstrunginthetypeofcommitmentstheycouldmakewithintheexistingmeans.Thiscompoundedtheasymmetrythatcharacterisedmanydimensionsof

thepartnership.Nevertheless,initiativessuchasEARNarevitalinbuildingupeffectivepolicyengagementbyAfricanthinktanks.Asthestrategicpartnershipentersthenextdecade,Africanthinktanksshouldexplorethewaystoovercomeconstraintstomakethisareality.

AbouttheauthorElizabethSidiropoulosistheChiefExecutiveoftheSouthAfricanInstituteofInternationalAffairs,(SAAIA)Johannesburg.

African think tanks and the Africa-EU policy world

would require a number of elements. First and

foremost, African think tanks need to be recognised as

resources by their own governments and social actors.

This means recognising the importance of analytical

independence and providing instruments to allocate

financial resources to ‘growing our own’, rather than

relying on external consultants and analysts.

http://africaportal.org

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A DIALOGUE OF THE DEAF? The European Union (EU) and Africa continue to engage in a dialogue of the deaf, in which both parties are seemingly unresponsive to what the other has to say. A 'Normative Europe' narrative in which the EU is the global guardian of norms and values, exporting them in its external relations, puts the EU-Africa relationship on an uneven keel. Meanwhile media bias and an Africa which engages with the EU in several different configurations means the dialogue of the deaf may well continue.

ByUzoMadu

Thebasisofanyhealthyrelationshipiscommunication,yettheEuropeanUnion(EU)andAfricacontinuetoengageinadialogueofthedeaf-inwhichbothpartiesareseeminglyunresponsivetowhattheotherhastosay.WhilsttheEUspendsitsvastresourcesattemptingtoshapenormsandvaluesinAfrica,ithasapaternalisticapproachtotherelationship,speakingatAfricaratherthanwithAfrica,andcommunicating,attimes,forthesakeofglobalagendasettingandpositioningratherthanhavingacredibleexchange.The

EU-AfricarelationshipisproblematicbydefinitionasAfricaisinteractingwiththeEuropeanUnioninamyriadofdifferentconfigurations,notonlyasaninstitutionalwhole-theAfricanUnion(AU)-butalsoattheregionalandcountrylevel.Thiscreatesspaceforamuddledconversation,onethatlacksclearandconsistententrypointsforcommunication.Outsidethestrictlimitsofinstitutionalcommunication,thereisalsothecancerousmediabiastowardsAfricafrommainstreamoutlets,whicharelargelyhousedintheWestandoccupythelaptops,

PeopleworkoncomputersattheBusyInternetcomputercenterinAccraPhoto:JonathanErnst/WorldBank

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233953367_Africa_and_Europe_Ending_a_Dialogue_of_the_Deaf


mobilephonesandTVscreensofalargepartoftheworld.Thereductionoftheentirecontinentduetotheissuesofdeath,despair,waranddiseaseisreproducedandreinforcedbymanyWesternmedia.

NormativePowerEuropeNormativepowerisaspecificformofpower-poweroveropinionorideologicalpower.AccordingtoacademicsSchiepers&Sicurelli,itenablesitspossessortoshapeglobalconceptsof‘normal’whilesimultaneously"depicting other actors as inferior, thereby disempowering them rhetorically".Theterm‘NormativePowerEurope’wascoinedbyIanManners.HesuggeststhattheEUnotonlyactstochangenormsintheinternationalsystembutthatitalsoshouldacttoextenditsnormsintheinternationalsystem.Thispoliticalbackdropmuddiesthediscoursebetweenthetwocontinents,creatingandsupportingacontextwithinwhichtheEUisviewedastheglobalnormandvaluewatchdog,whilstAfricaisseenasthelaggard,notobeyingitsmaster'sorders.Theconditionalityattachedtoaidfunding,albeitrarelyimplemented,underthecontroversialArticle97oftheCotonouAgreement,isanindicationofsuchanapproach.Thiscontextalmostbecomesamatteroffact.EurActiv,anonlinenewsoutlet,recentlyranastorywiththeheadline‘EUcapacitytopromotevaluesindevelopingworlddeclining’,pointingtothis"NormativeEurope"undertone,whilstarecentFriendsofEuropeanalysisabout‘TheperceptionsoftheEUandChinainAfrica’startsitsopeningparagraphwith"In Africa, the European Union is perceived both as the home of former

colonial masters and as the greatest promoter of free trade and liberal democracy". Theseexamplessuggestthe"NormativePowerEurope"narrativeisaliveandkicking.Thus,thecontextualdiscoursetendstoframetheEU-Africarelationshipincharitableterms,nottoodissimilarfromthe"civilisingmission"narrativeusedduringthecolonialperiod.NormativePowerEuropehasaroletoplayinreinforcingEuropeannormativityinEU-Africarelations.ThisnarrativeinformsandshapesglobaldecisionsonAfricaninterestsandcloudsthejudgementofthoseinpositionsofpowerandinfluence.Arecentstatementpointingtoa"civilisation"probleminAfricaandFrenchPresidentEmmanuelMacron'sreferencetoComoriansasgoodsnotpeople,reflectsaccuratelytheaudacityofNormativePowerEurope.WhatPresidentMacronsaysmatters,becauseheisandwillcontinuetoshapetheEuropeantone,especiallywhenitcomestoitsrelationswithAfrica.

OneshouldalsobeparticularlymindfulofthefactthatinAfricathenormsandvaluesdiffersignificantly.Forexample,acrossdifferentAfricanculturestherearesimilaritiesinthewayclosekinshiprelationsarevalued.AccordingtoGabrielE.Idang,SeniorLecturerattheUniversityofUyoinNigeria "The synergetic nature of the society that allows people to build houses and work on farms together is directly opposite to the Western individualistic model".

Lookwho’stalkingAfricaisinteractingwithEuropeinamyriadofdifferentconfigurations,notonlyasaninstitutionalwhole-astheAfricanUnion(AU),butalsoattheregionallevel.ThemainlegalframeworkforAfrica’sinteractionwithEuropeistheCotonouAgreement,anagreementthatalsoincludestheCaribbeanandPacificcountriesandthatis,toalargeextent,aEuropeaninvention.Ontopofthis,therearetheAfricanRegionalEconomicCommunities(RECs)whicharealreadyaspaghettibowlofoverlappingorganisations-onlysixcountriesretainexclusivemembershipofoneREC,plustheAfricanUnionitselfonlyrecogniseseightoftheexistingfourteen.Then,therearethecountrylevel

PresidentJunckersigningEU'sEmergencyTrustFundPhoto:EuropeanCommission

I have yet to meet many consultants [who] actually understand how African elections work. - Nicholas Cheeseman of the University of Birmingham

https://books.google.de/books?id=Taa_nTkK-pUC&pg=PT62&lpg=PT62&dq=conditionality+in+eu+africa&source=bl&ots=HgaeX0XwYq&sig=nw-3RX5_SUwvJUJLCPH0fToX0Lw&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs7t3GqcrWAhXIHxoKHaMKBGg4ChDoAQhYMAY#v=onepage&q=conditionality%20in%20eu%20africa&f=false

http://www.friendsofeurope.org/security-europe/perceptions-european-union-china-africa

http://www.friendsofeurope.org/security-europe/perceptions-european-union-china-africa

http://www.france24.com/en/20170830-france-macron-presidential-council-africa-foreign-policy


interactionsbetweentheEUandcertaincountries.SouthAfricaforexampleistheonlycountryonthecontinentthathasastrategicpartnershipwiththeEU,alongwiththeEuropeanParliamentaryDelegation.Thesecomplexlayersofinteractionsareafertilebreedinggroundforconfusionandmiscommunication,butbeyondthat,italsomakescreatinganAfricannarrativetowardstheEUextremelydifficult.ThisiswhytheAfricanUnionhascalledforallinteractionsbetweentheEUandAfricatohappenattheAUinstitutionallevel.Thankfully,the2017SummithasbeenrenamedintotheAU-EUSummitaddressingsomeoftheseconcerns,howeveritremainstobeseenwhetherthiswillbeimplementedinpractice.

TheEUisresponsibleforthebulkofcommunicationsactivityontherelationship,specifically51.8%more.AfterconductingasearchofkeytermsofboththeAUandEUwebsites,IfoundthattheAfricanUnionmentions‘support’initscommunicationsmaterialsreferringtoEurope35%ofthetime,whiletheEUusesit73%ofthetime.Whereasasearchoftheterm"partnership"incommunicationsmaterials,inthosesamewebsites,showedthattheEUusesit43%ofthetimeandtheAfricanUnion47%ofthetime.Thisindicatesthemismatchinnarratives.TheAfricanUnionisframingitscommunicationinreferencetoEuropemainlyintermsofa"partnership"whereastheEUseesitselfmoreinasupportiverole.

WeshouldalsoconsiderthattheEUhasvastcommunicationresourcestodrawfrom.Notonlydoesithavedifferentcommunicationsdepartmentsforeachofitsthreemaininstitutions,theEuropeanCommissionalonehasadedicatedDirectorate-GeneralforCommunicationwithapproximately300staffmembersandin2016itreportedlyputoutabidforatwo-yearcontractworth130millionforcorporatecommunicationevents.Incomparison,theAUCommission'sthirdstrategicplan(2014-2017)allocates 13.8million($4.5million)tocommunicatingandengagingwiththeMemberStates/stakeholdersindefiningandimplementingtheAfricanagenda.TheEUalsobenefitsfromtheweightandcredibilityofworld-leadingPRandcommunicationsfirmshousedintheircapitals.TheAfricanUnionhasacentralisedcommunications

unit.Furthermore,inbilateralrelationsitisthetaskoftheindividualAfricancountriestoreportonandcommunicatetheactivitiestakingplacebetweenthemselvesandtheEU.ThisiswhydeliveringontheimprovementofAfrica’sglobalrepresentationandvoiceisgoingtobekeytocounterthisimbalanceandtoensurethatAfricaspeakswithonevoiceontheglobalstage.

ImportingAfricannarrativesThepropensityfortheAfricanrulingclasstoselectPRandcommunicationsagenciesfromandbasedinWesterncapitalslikeWashington,LondonandParistoreshapetheirimageabroad,carriestheriskofAfricannarrativesbeingcontrolledandshapedbythoseoutsidethecontinentandthosewithlessvestedinterestsinitslong-termprosperity.Forexample,stirringupracialtensioninSouthAfricaisaremoteproblemforaLondon-basedfirm.ItisnotthatWesternfirmspersecannotandshouldnotrepresentAfricangovernmentsorbrands;ratheritisuptothoseAfricangovernmentsandbrandstochoosethosewithavestedinterestinthelong-termdevelopmentofthecountryorregion,ratherthanmereshort-termprofits.Letmegiveyouanotherexample.Itwouldbegoodtochooseagenciesthathaveseniorstaffontheground,asopposedtoflyingtalentinandoutofEuropeorAmericaforthedurationoftheproject.ItiscrucialtobepresentinlocalmarketsanditisevenmoreimportantinAfricabecauseofitsfragmentation,withthousandsoflanguagesandcultures.Itisvitalhavingpeoplewhospeakthemother-tongueandknowhowtonavigatetheculturesandpoliticalprocesses.

UsingthediasporawithinthesePRandcommunicationsagenciescanalsobeawayofbridgingthecommunicationgapbetweenAfricaandtheWest–theAUitselfhascreatedasixthAfricanregionforthediasporatoincreasetheparticipationofactorslocatedoutsideofthecontinent.TheAfricanrulingclassneedstotakeadvantageofitsownassetswhenshapingthenarrativesforglobalconsumptioninsteadofrelyingexcessivelyonwesternconstructednarratives.

Western media reporting (especially in the United States) is a reflection of the western institutions, politics and public policy towards Africa. - Ms. Tinga, Blogger

Since political risk is ranked as one of the most important factors when investing in Africa, clearly investors’ perceptions of African politics will have an impact on foreign direct investment. - Victoria Schorr, Afrinnovation

http://ec.europa.eu/budget/mff/introduction/index_en.cfm

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-to-spend-e30-million-to-sell-itself-communication/

https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/32028-file-the_au_commission_strategic_plan_2014-2017.pdf

https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/32028-file-the_au_commission_strategic_plan_2014-2017.pdf


MediabiasBinyavangaWainainapointstotheinferioritynarrative,reflectiveofNormativeEuropeinaction,whenEuropeans(andAmericans)talkaboutAfricainhisseminalessay,‘HowtowriteaboutAfrica’.Therealityisthatthemainstreammedialandscape,whichislargelyWestern(readEuropean),developsandperpetuatescaricaturesofAfricancountriesandtheirpeople.

Thelackofnuancebetweenthe "Dark Continent"andthe "Africa Rising'" narrativemeanstheelaborate,diverseandtexturednatureofthis55-countrycontinenthousingover1.2billionpeople,isoftenlostinamonolithicshorthand.ThereismuchlesscontentoccupyingthevastspacebetweentheSavannah'sandSafarilandscapesofplaceslikeKenya,TanzaniaorSouthAfricaandontheothersidethepoverty,corruption,diseaseandwarwhichislazilyassignedto‘Africa’asifitwereacountry.M.NeelikaJayawardanepointstothissuperiorityofEuropeanvaluesinthecontextofphotojournalism.InarecentAlJazeeraarticletitled,‘TheproblemwithphotojournalismandAfrica’sheexplainsthat“unless international news agencies based in North America and Europe such as the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse pick your work, you are a nobody.” Africa’struthsandstoriesarethereforeasubjecttotheEuropean,ormorewidelyWestern,credibilitycheckbeforebeingdeemedacceptableforconsumption.

Whattodo?AnanswertotheseeminglyobligatoryprescriptionthatEuropeisthegatekeeperofvalues,specificallyinitsrelationswithAfrica,accordingtoUeliStaeger,PhDcandidateattheGraduateInstituteGeneva,ispan-Africandecolonisation.Inthemediacontextthiswouldmeananincreasinglynetworkedmedia,onewhichis“co-creating and collaborating with the audience on news, so their voices are becoming part of the story, and the journalist is no longer some sort of patrician commentator.” accordingtoAnjaKröll,HeadofInternational

NewsattheSalzburgerNachrichten.Thiscouldplayapartinthedevelopmentofthecontinent.Politicaldecisionsareprecededbypublicdiscussions,whichlargelyplayoutinthemainstreammedia.Decisionscanthereforebebettermadewhenbasedon“valuesofrationality,impartiality,intellectualhonestyandequalityamongparticipants.”Manymainstream(European)mediaoutletshaveexpandedandcontinuetoexpandtheirAfricanofferings,fromthelikesofFrance24,TV5MondeAfrique,BBC,mostnotablywiththelaunchofBBCPidginandthelaunchofAfricanewsbyEuronews;buttherealneedisforAfricatofinditsownunifiedmouthpiece-itsownAlJazeerathatspeakstotruth,contextandmostofalldeliversnewsstoriesbyAfricans,fortheconsumptionofAfricansbecausefortoolong,asProfessorEricAseka,VCattheInternationalLeadershipUniversityputsit,“African media, has failed to aggressively market an African identity and authenticity to challenge the one imposed by the West.” AnAfricanAlJazeerabecomesincreasinglypossiblewheninvestmentsinmoldinganAfricannarrativecometofruition,notleastbecauseofcommunicationinvestmentsbykeyinstitutions,liketheAU,butalsoitsfinancialindependence,whichwillunlockthecontinent'sabilitytoshapeitsownpolicyremitandconversations,notonlywiththeEUbuttheentireworld.

AbouttheauthorUzoMaduisthefounderof‘What’sinitforAfrica’,anonlineplatformdedicatedtoEU-Africacurrentaffairs.

Photo:existentist/Flickr

African media, has failed to aggressively market an African identity and authenticity to challenge the one imposed by the West.- Eric Aseka, International leadership University

https://granta.com/how-to-write-about-africa/

https://granta.com/how-to-write-about-africa/

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/problem-photojournalism-africa-170118085814572.html

http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/role-journalism-digital-age

http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/role-journalism-digital-age


THE RACE TO CLOSETHE GATEWAY TO EUROPE

ArefugeeinGreecemakingacallhome.Photo:SpirosVathis/Flickr

As irregular migration to European countries continues, both the EU and its Member States have stepped up their efforts to reach a solution through the transit points in North Africa.

ByTasnimAbderrahim

Sincethebeginningof2017,nearly100,000migrantshavearrivedinItalybyboatwhileanother2,410havediedwhilstmakingthetreacherousjourney.Mostofthesearrivals,themajoritycomingfromSub-Saharancountries,departfromthekeytransitpointinNorthAfrica,Libya.Assuch,Libyaremainsunderthespotlight.Proposalsonaddressingthecrisisinthe

centralMediterraneanhavemultipliedsinceMarch2016,whentheEUsucceededinsealingadealwithTurkeytocurbtheflowsthroughtheEasternMediterranean.TheEUhasstrivedtoreachagreementswithsourcecountries,butwithlimitedsuccess.ItthenfounditselfcompelledtoturntotransitcountriesinNorthAfricaasalastresorttocounterthechallenge.


ArefugeeinGreecemakingacallhome.Photo:SpirosVathis/Flickr

Libya,thegatewaytoEuropeInlate2016,someEuropeanofficialsproposedtointerceptmigrantsatseaandplacetheminrefugeecampsinTunisiaorEgyptwheretheycanapplyforasylumbeforeenteringtheEU.SomeevensuggestedimposingtradesanctionsforcountriesnotwillingtocooperatewiththeEUonthisissue.Theseproposals,whilenotendorsedattheEUlevel,wererejectedbytheconcernedcountries,whoarguedthattheywerenotmainexportersofmigrantsandthattheywerealreadyrespectingagreementsonbordermanagementwiththeEU.ArangeofinitiativeshaveensuedtofindasolutionthroughLibya,acountrytornbyinternalconflictsincemid-2014.DuringtheMaltaSummitheldinFebruary2017,EuropeanleadersadoptedthejointcommunicationaddressingmigrationintheMediterranean.TheplanseekstodevelopthecapacitiesoftheLibyancoastguard,disruptthesmugglers’businessmodel,andsupporttheUN-recognisedGovernmentofNationalAccord(GNA)inmanagingitssouthernborders.TheplanalsostipulatesincreasedcoordinationwithLibyanlocalauthorities,internationalorganisations,andLibya’sneighbours.

AccordingtotheMaltadeclaration,EUleaderswouldcontinuetosupportMemberStates’initiativesseekingtoengagewithLibya.TheythuswelcomedtheMemorandumofUnderstandingsignedbetweenItalyandLibyainFebruary2017,accordingtowhichItalywouldprovidetheGNAwithmoney,trainingandequipmenttosupportbordermanagementandenhancethecapacitiesoftheLibyancoastguard.Inafollow-uptotheMaltaSummit,theEUTrustFundforAfricaadopteda€90millionprogrammeonprotectionofmigrantsandimprovedmigrationmanagementinLibya.AccordingtofiguresreleasedbytheEuropeanCommission,theInternationalOrganizationforMigrationhasfacilitatedthevoluntaryreturnof7,084migrantsbetweenJanuaryandSeptember2017,incomparisonto2,775inallof2016.PresidentTuskannouncedthattheEUhassofarsucceededin“thetrainingofLibyanNavyCoastguards,thearrestsofmorethan100smugglersandtheneutralisationofmorethan400oftheirvessels”.Yet,commitmenttothisworkplanseemstodifferamongMemberStates.IntheEuropeanCouncilMeetingoflastJune,PresidentTusknotedthatsomeMemberStatesarenothonouringtheirfinancialcommitmentsandthattheyneedtodomore.

Italy’smigrationpolicyshiftItalyhasrepeatedlyaskedforEUsupportasitfounditselfturningintoahotspotformigrants.IncreasedbordercontrolsbyAustriaandFranceresultedinmigrantssettlinginItaly.FeelingleftalonebyotherEuropeancountries,ItalysteppedupitscooperationwiththeGNA.InearlyJuly2017,theEUCommissionadoptedanactionplantosupportItalianefforts.Afewmonthslater,Italy‘spolicyshiftstartedtobearresults,whileinAugust2016,21,294arrivalswereregisteredinItaly,this

numberdecreasedto3,914inAugust2017.Untilveryrecently,Europe-boundmigrantsusedtoberescuedbyEuropeanships;nowhowevertheyaremostlystoppedinLibya.Thisnewpolicyispredicatedonseveralelements,includingsealingdealswitharmedgroupswhocontrolsmugglinghotspotsalongtheLibyannorth-westcoast,tohalttheboatsfromleavingtowardsEurope;sendingItalianshipsintoLibyanwatersandassistingLibyainestablishingitsownsearchandrescuezone;anewNGOcodeofconductlimitingsearchandrescueoperations;negotiationswithtribesinsouthernLibyatocontroltheborders;andincreaseddiscussionswithChadandNigeronmigration.WhileItalydeniesreachingagreementswithsmugglers,manyreportsnotethattheItaliangovernmentispayingmilitiasusuallyinvolvedinsmugglingtoassumetheroleofpushback.TheItaliangovernmentreportedlynegotiatestheseagreementsandmakespaymentstothesegroupsthroughinterlocutorssuchasleadersoflocalcommunities.Italy’splantodeployamissionofnavyshipsinLibyanterritorialwaters,alongwiththepossibilityofusingplanes,drones,andhelicopters,triggeredheateddiscussionswithinLibya.WhileItalystressedthatsendingitsmilitarymissionwasuponarequestfromtheGNA,Fayezal-Sarraj,HeadoftheGNA,initiallydeniedsubmittingsucharequest,insistingthathisgovernmentonlyaskedfortrainingandarms.Politically,Sarraj’srapprochementwithItalydidnotpleasehisrivalineasternLibya,GeneralKhalifaHaftar,supportedbytheFrench,whoeventhreatenedtotargetItalianshipsdockinginLibyanports.TheproponentsofItaly’smovearguethatmigrationisasharedconcernbetweenbothcountriesandthatasolutionisneededtoprotectLibya’sborders.

Demonstration:StillstrugglingforalegalrighttostayfortheLampedusaRefugeesPhoto:RasandeTyskar/Flickr

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/01/03-malta-declaration/

https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/20170906_fifth_progress_report_on_the_partnership_framework_with_third_countries_under_the_eam_en_0.pdf

https://www.wired.com/beyond-the-beyond/2017/06/meanwhile-hq-european-union/

https://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/event/european-council-june-2017-day-2-17337/press-conference-part-2-17a48#/event-media

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1882_en.htm

https://twitter.com/xchange_org/status/912671891114127361

https://twitter.com/xchange_org/status/912671891114127361

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/19/italy-temporary-humanitarian-visas-libyan-migrants-austria-brenner-pass?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.aspeninstitute.it/aspenia-online/article/italy%E2%80%99s-new-policy-migration-libya-will-it-last

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/09/25/italy-claims-its-found-a-solution-to-europes-migrant-problem-heres-why-italys-wrong/?utm_term=.1b8ac0bf8e8b

https://www.thelocal.it/20170727/italy-moving-quickly-on-plan-to-deploy-ships-to-libya


FrancestepsinInlateJuly,FrancedecidedtotaketheinitiativeandinvitethetworivalsSarrajandHaftarforameetinginParis,undertheauspicesoftheUN-andwithoutinformingItaly.Themeetingheldon25July2017resultedinajointdeclaration,includinganagreementonceasefireandelectionsforearly2018.Afterthemeeting,theFrenchPresidentMacronstatedthathewantedtoestablishhotspotsinLibyawherethemigrants’asylumapplicationscanbeprocessed.Thatsameday,Macronsaidthathotspotsarenotactuallybeingconsideredandthatinstead,FrancewillhelptocreatemissionsoftheOfficefortheProtectionofRefugeesandStatelessPersonson'Africansoil,insafecountries',withoutspecifyinganytimeframe.TheFrenchinitiative,deemedasa"diplomaticsuccess",wasnotverywelcomedbyItaly,whoperceivedthatFranceshouldnotrepeatpastmistakesinLibya.ThedayafterthemeetinginParis,SarrajmetwiththeItalianPremierPaoloGentiloniinRome,inamovethatemphasisestheGNA’sneedforItaly’ssupport.Sarraj’smovecouldalsohavebeenmotivatedbyconcernsabouttheFrenchsupportforHaftar,theself-proclaimedleaderwhohasenjoyedFrench’sendorsementinrecentyears.

Lightattheendofthetunnel?WhileItalyhaspromoteditsrecenteffortsasacontributionto"Libya’spathtowardsstabilisation",someperceivethatitsapproachcouldleadtomaintainingorexacerbatinginstability,asitincreasestheleverageofmilitiasandcouldpotentiallyresultinconflictsbetweenarmedgroupsovercontrollingtheflows.TheGNA,whileendorsedbytheUN,isnotastrongpartnerandthearmedmilitiasarenotreliable.BesidesthefocusonreducingmigrationthroughtheMediterranean,discussionsinEuropearealsoshiftingtowardshowtodealwiththethousandsofmigrantstrappedinLibya.EstablishingorimprovingreceptionconditionsformigrantsinLibyaincooperationwithinternationalorganisationshasbeenrepeatedlysuggested.Itisnotclearhowever,ifinvolvingthemilitiasinmanagingLibya’sdetentioncentersisarealisticplan.Atthesametime,thecurrentdecreaseinarrivalsinEuropecouldofferawindowfordiscussingmorelong-termalternativesthatcouldbeintheinterestofbothEuropeandAfrica.

TowardsamutuallybeneficialcooperationonmigrationMigrationcurrentlydominatesEU-AfricarelationsanditrankshighontheagendafortheupcomingSummit.Thechallengestoamutuallybeneficialpartnershiponmigrationarenumerous.Despitetheexistenceofvariousframeworksfordialogueonmigrationbetweenbothcontinents,divergentnarrativesstillimpedeafruitfulcooperation.WhiletheEUisgenerallyperceivedasprioritisingreturnandreadmission,Africanstatesviewmigrationasanopportunityandemphasizeinter-Africanfacilitationoflabourmobilityandthe

creationofmorepathsforlegalmigration.ThisrunscountertotheEuropeanemphasisonbordermanagementandreadmission.ThereareconcernsthatfundingundertheEUEmergencyTrustFundforAfrica(EUTF),designedtoaddressrootcausesofirregularmigration,isbeingdirectedtowardssecurityissuesratherthandevelopment.

Thepushforbordermanagementwithinthecontinentcanultimatelythreatenintra-Africanmobility.BecausemigrationissuchapolarisingissueintheEU,ithasbecomeincreasinglydifficulttodiscusslong-termdemographicshiftsinEuropeandlegalmigrationfromAfrica.Thisposesthechallengeofreconcilingshort-termwithlong-termobjectivesandusingdifferenttoolsformanagingmigration.DifficultsecurityandeconomicconditionsintheAfricancontinentarelikelytopersist.Currentmigrationtrendswillcontinue,especiallywithsuchalargeyouthpopulation.ThisrequiresAfricancountriestoinvestseriouslyintheirhumancapital.TheAU’sMigrationPolicyFrameworkforAfricaadoptedin2006,identifiesprioritiesandprovidesrecommendationsforMemberStatesandtheRegionalEconomicCommunities(RECs)ondifferentmigrationissues.WhilethisframeworkpromotesthefreemovementofpeoplewithinAfricaandtheprotectionofrightsofrefugeesandmigrants,itlacksthenecessarymechanismstomonitor,enforceandguideMemberStatesindevelopingtheirownmigrationpolicies.WhatcouldbeneededbytheAUandtheEUisanintensifieddialogueonthemigration,developmentandregionalintegrationnexusthatcanpotentiallyreconcileconflictingagendas.MigrationwillcontinuetobeacriticaldimensionofEU-Africarelationsforalongtime,butthisfocusonmigrationshouldnotoverrideotherissuesofcriticalimportance.

AbouttheauthorTasnimAbderrahimisaJuniorProgrammeOfficeratECDPM.

Despite the existence of various frameworks for dialogue on migration between both continents, divergent narratives still impede a fruitful cooperation.

http://www.france24.com/en/20170728-hotspots-libya-french-president-macron-announcement-migrant-crisis-refugees



https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/09/25/italy-claims-its-found-a-solution-to-europes-migrant-problem-heres-why-italys-wrong/?utm_term=.1b8ac0bf8e8b

http://www.friendsofeurope.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/2017/05/Friends-of-Europe-EU-Africa-report-FINAL.pdf

http://www.obsmigration.org/fr/2017/02/processus-de-la-valette-round-2/

http://www.friendsofeurope.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/2017/05/Friends-of-Europe-EU-Africa-report-FINAL.pdf

http://www.unhcr.org/protection/migration/4d5258ab9/african-union-migration-policy-framework-africa.html

http://www.unhcr.org/protection/migration/4d5258ab9/african-union-migration-policy-framework-africa.html

http://www.accord.org.za/publication/the-african-union-migration-and-regional-integration-framework/

http://www.accord.org.za/publication/the-african-union-migration-and-regional-integration-framework/


InaTrap?Africancountriesfindthemselvesinthemiddle-incometraporlow-incometrap,frustratingthehopesoftheirfastgrowingpopulationforabettertomorrow.Insteadofreform,governmentsseemtofavourthestatusquoandpathdependency.AccordingtotheWorldBank,themiddle-incometraphasmanycauses,differingfromcountrytocountry,butprimarilyitresultsfromalackofinvestmentinscienceandtechnology,educationandindevelopmentoftheirowninnovationecosystems(WorldBank,2011).Thelowandmiddle-incometrapsarelargelyhomemade.

Ofcourse,therearecontextualconditionswhicharenecessaryforgrowthandinnovationtosucceed.Theyareinthefirstplacetheruleoflawandtheabsenceofcorruption,necessaryconditionsfortrustofcitizensandinvestorsinthegovernment

andforaneconomicallyefficientallocationofpublicresources.Equallyimportantareopennessandcollaborationwithavarietyofstakeholderstoensurecreativityandserendipityinthepublicdebate.Socialinclusionhasrecentlybeenrecognisedwidelyasakeyingredientofsuccessfuleconomictransformation;withoutastrongandlargemiddleclass,whowillbuymanyofthenewproductsandservices?Inparticular,smallandmedium-sizedcompaniesneedasolidhomebasetoo.Thelowandmiddle-incometrapismostlytheresultofinnovationfailures:strengthsandopportunitiesavailableorachievableareunderusedornotdevelopedbecauseofafailureofsystemicinnovation.Thisrequiresnewconceptsandmethodsofgovernanceinthepublicandprivatesectorsalike(SeferSener&StefanSchepersed.,Innovation,GovernanceandEntrepreneurship,2017).Unfortunately,thereisnoAfricancountryamongthebestperformingcountriesintermsofeconomicinnovation

RADICAL INNOVATION OR MUDDLING THROUGH?The European Partnership Agreements, under conclusion or negotiation with the European Union, will help to stimulate inclusive growth, but only if governments, business and centres of learning put in place the right framework conditions.

ByStefanSchepers

ZanakiPrimarySchoolreceivedaSchoolImprovementGrantin2016financedbytheWorldBankforitssubstantiallyimprovedstudentperformanceonthenationalPrimarySchoolleavingexamination.Photo:SarahFarhat/WorldBank


capabilitiesandglobalcompetitiveness.IntheWorldEconomicForumranking,Africancountriesarenearthebottomofthelist,withMauritiusplacedhighestin45thplace,followedbySouthAfricain53rdplace.TheinnovationrankingofINSEAD,CornellUniversityandtheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganisation(WIPO)explainswhythecompetitivenessrankingissolow.TheAfricancountryfirsttoappearisagainMauritiusin53rdplace,followed,again,bySouthAfricain58thplace.WhydoesnoAfricancountrycomenearthetop30ofcompetitiveandinnovativecountries?

Africa’sgrowthisstilllargelydrivenbytheglobalcommoditiestrade,withsomeagriculturalandevenlessmanufacturingtradeinaddition.Itsregionalmarketintegrationisstillhighlyinsufficient,deprivingitfromoneimportantsourceofinternaltradeanddevelopment.Itisimportingtechnology,ratherthanfocussingonimprovingitseducationsystemswhichwouldallowittodevelopitsowntechnology.Becauseofthisandforotherreasons,itisveryvulnerabletodevelopmentselsewhere.

Butcanoneexpectcountries,whicharestillcopingwithamultitudeofstructuralproblems,toinvestininnovationpolicywhentherearesomanyotherpressingdemandsonpublicbudgets,notleastpovertyalleviation?Yes.Cancountrieswithlimitedgovernmentcapabilitiesandasmallresearchinfrastructuredoit?Yes.Andcanacomprehensiveinnovationpolicyfacilitatesolvingthecomplexstructuralproblems?Yes.Therearetwoseriousmisunderstandingsaboutinnovationpolicy:itisnotamatterofhighpublicspendingonresearch,butofcreatingtherightframeworkconditionsforpeopleandcompanies,smallandlarge,toinnovateinthemarket;anditdoesnotconcernonlyhigh-technologysectors,butallsectorsoftheeconomy,includingthemosttraditionaloneswhichtendtoofferthegreatestscopeforinnovation.

Thekeyobjectiveofaninnovationpolicyistocreatevalueforsocietybyenhancingthequalityoflifeofitscitizensandthe(global)competitivenessofitsenterprises.Thishappensthroughintelligentinteractionbetweenavarietyofstakeholders,principallyeconomicactors(companiesandotherentities),publicgovernancesystems(AfricanUnion,regionalmarketstructures,national,provincialandevencitygovernments),universitiesandothercentresofknowledgeandoftenalsocivicsocietyandconsumerorganisations.Itrequiresleadershipandanopen,collaborativemindsetfromgovernments,notahierarchical,authoritarian,bureaucraticapproach.Africa’ssurvivingcommunaltraditions,itsproclaimedUbuntu,couldhelptoinnovategovernancetomakeitappropriateforthe21stcentury.

Valuecreationimpliestostartfrombroad,inclusiveconceptsofdemand.Itrequirespermanentstrategicagility,scanningtheglobalcontext,scoutingforopportunitiesandattentionto

economicandtechnologicalcontinuitiesordiscontinuities.Theemergenceofnovelconcepts,processes,productsorservices,isoftentheresultofout-of-the-boxthinking,improvisation,repeatedtrialanderrorandtheemergenceofnewtacitandexplicitknowledgeuntilsomeformofconsolidationtakesplace.Toachieveaninnovativeeconomicandsocialcontext,akindofecosystemmustemergethroughcarefulnurturingandreforms.Anecosystemofinnovationaimstoemulatenatureinitsorganisationalcomplexityandtocreatethedynamics,interactionsandfeedbackthatproducedesiredoutcomes,spin-offsandcumulativeeffects.Paradoxically,itrequiresaparalleleffortofconstructionanddeconstructionandofcreationoftherightframeworkconditions,whichcanonlybedonethroughconsistentholisticsteering.(KlausGretschmann&StefanSchepers,ed.,RevolutionisingEUInnovationPolicy,2016).

Orlikeanantelopeforward?Africaisnotlackingsomuchincapacities,butitdoeshaveaseriousproblemofcoherenceofvisionandpurpose,ofcreatingcumulativeeffects,andofpoliticalculture,duetoorganisationalfragmentation,persistenceofmultiplebarriersinmarketsandtheabsenceofasystemapproach.Itdoesnothavetherightcultureandgovernancetoolstodevelopanecosystemofinnovationappropriateforthepresentchallenges,becauseitcontinuestoomuchonthegovernmenttrajectoriesinheritedfromthecolonialage(MoeletsiMbeki,Thearchitectsofpoverty,2009).

Itistimeforanewapproach:developinginnovationecosystemsinAfrica,respondingtoitsownneedsandopportunitiesandtakingtheglobalmarketcontextintoaccount.Clearandconsistentleadershipfromthetopwillbeneededtocreatetheframeworkconditionstofacilitateotheractors,primarilycompaniesandcentresofknowledgeandtodevelopandmanagethedynamicinteractionswhichleadtomeasurableinnovationandaddedvaluecreation.Itcanbedoneonacountrybycountrybasis,withoutignoringtheopportunitiesfromcooperationacrossbordersandsectorsandcross-fertilisation,andinvolvingbusinessleaders,centresorresearchandcivilsocietyorganisations.Correctlyassessingcontextualchangeisadifficulttaskbecauseofatendencytocomparetothepast.Itisthereforeessentialtodeveloparealisticcognitivemap,basedonanassessmentoftheinteractingdevelopments,withHorizon2030andonthebasisofforesightstudies.

TheresultingscanofinnovationchallengesandopportunitiesforAfricashouldbeformulatedsolutionneutral.Thiswillenabletheemergenceofcreativeideas,whicharetheembryonicsolutionswhosepotentialimpactcanthenbefurtheranalysed.Itwillalsoavoidthatfutureinnovationeffortsaredeterminedbytacticalconsiderations.Thepersistentgapwiththemostdynamiceconomiesmustbeovercomebyleapfroggingandbytrendmutation.Itisnotjustthecasetocatchupinsectorsofhigh


innovationandrapidproductivitygrowth,whereAfricacontinuestoseriouslylagbehind,butalsointraditionalsectors,wherethereofteniscompetitiveadvantage,andinpublicgovernance,whosepoliciesandaccumulationofrulesarethemaincauseofthislackofcompetitiveness.Itrequiresradicalthinking,‘outside-the-box’.

Toachieveahigherdegreeofinnovativeness,newmethodsofgovernancemustbeconsideredandimplemented.Thefocusininnovativeeconomiesisoncollaborativegovernanceandonpublic-privatepartnershipsandalearningmindset,movingbeyondacultureofregulationandcontrolandtowardsacultureofappropriatestewardship.

Coherenceisakeyingredienttobringcumulativeeffectsinaninnovationecosystem.Itdemandsanoverallperspective,basedonthelong-termforesightandinparticular,intheearlystageofinnovationdevelopmentwheninertiaandstatusquoapproachesrisktounderminetheneedforradicalnewdepartures.Toproperlyalignthevariousagendas,itisessentialtoinvolvealltheeconomicactors,becausetheyoftenpossessanunderstandingofmarketneedssecondtonone.Thisdemandstodevelopthecultureandthetoolswhichgobeyondmechanisticconsultationprocedures,tobringasharedvision,engagementandcooperationduringimplementation.Researchandcenturiesofexperienceshowthatthereisapositivecorrelationbetweenasociety’sdegreeofopennessandtolerancefortheindependent,creativeandentrepreneurial-mindedanditseconomicsuccess

Finally,regularpeerreview,scrutinyofprocessandevaluationofachievements,orthelackthereof,byindependentmulti-stakeholdergroupsofexperts,isessentialtoensurefirmnessofpurposeandagilityofmethodologies.Experimentingwithfundamentallynewmethodsandabandoningormodifyingprogrammeswhentheyappearnottomovefastenoughtowardstangibleresultsmustbeafullpartofaninnovationecosystem.Allthiswillbearadicaldeparturefromexistingbureaucraticcultureandrequiresstrongleadershipsupport,transparencyandcommunicationwithstakeholders.

Evaluationispartofconstantlearningundercircumstancesofuncertainty.Learningcapacitiesandriskacceptancearemajorcharacteristicsofaninnovationecosystem.Theyprovidethebasisforadjustmentsandoftenleadtoadditionalinnovativeness,tobettervaluecreationandcompetitiveadvantage.Anexplorationofinnovationecosystemdevelopmentwillhelptomovetheeconomiesforward,butitshouldneverbeforgottenthatthesolepurposeistoimprovethelivingconditionsofallpeople.

AbouttheauthorStefanSchepersisSecretaryGeneraloftheindependentHighlevelGrouponInnovationPolicyManagement,ChairmanofEPPA,visitingProfessorEuropeanStudiesatHenleyBusinessSchoolandChairmanofMazungumzo.

Constructionworkersonsite.Photo:ArneHoel/WorldBank


SHARED VALUES? MAYBE. BUT HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY?

LawmakersmeetduringasessionofParliamentinAccraPhoto:JonathanErnst/WorldBank

Since 2007, the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) have pursued the joint Africa-EU strategy (JAES), which “reflects the Euro-African consensus on values, joint interests and common strategic objectives”. At a time when both partners are working to replace the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) in 2020 and on the eve of the 5th Africa-EU Summit, it is a good moment to reflect on the effectiveness of shared values.

ByLéonardMatala-Tala

ThegrowingnumberofcrisesintheEU,inAfricaandtheworldleaveEuropeandAfricalittlechoice:eithertheydefendtheirinterestsatallcosts,usingeventhosemeanswhichareincompatiblewiththeirvaluesortheymakethesevaluesessentialelementsoftheirpartnership.

AsolemndeclarationofvaluesAtthe4thEU–Africasummitin2014,allpartiesagreedonaroadmapforfivepriorityareasfrom2014to

2017:peaceandsecurity;democracy,goodgovernanceandhumanrights;humandevelopment;sustainable,inclusivedevelopmentandgrowth,andcontinentalintegration;andglobalandemergingissues.AsthefirstparagraphoftheJAESstates,“AfricaandEuropeareboundtogetherbyhistory,culture,geography,acommon

future,aswellasbyacommunityofvalues:therespectforhumanrights,freedom,equality,solidarity,justice,the

ruleoflawanddemocracyasenshrinedintherelevantinternationalagreementsandintheconstitutivetextsofourrespectiveUnions.”

BoththeEUandtheAUshareatleastthefollowingninevalues:peace,humandignity,humanrights,genderequality,freedom,democracy,theruleoflaw,justiceandsolidarity.Thevaluesunderlinedabovewillbehighlightedaspointsofcomparison.Althoughsolidarityisnotliterallyspecifiedinany


AUdocument,itismentionedhereasasharedJAESvaluebecausesolidarityhastraditionallybeensuchacommonrecurrentthemeinmanyAUspeeches.

Thesevaluesareuniversal.Theyapplytoallhumanbeingsandhavebeenadoptedbyanumberofstatesandorganisationsaroundtheworld.Thisuniversalitycanbeseeninthegradualstrengtheningoftheindividual’splaceinsocietyandinthelegalandpoliticalframeworkscreatedtoprotecttheindividual’sautonomyvisàvispower.Thesetwofactorspromotetheestablishmentoftheruleoflaw,anessentialbasisfortheexpressionofvalues.Assharedvalues,theyformtheveryfoundationsoftheedificeonwhichthisAfrica–EUpartnershipisbuilt.

Howeffectivearethesevalues?Valuesmatteronlyiftheyareprotectedandrespected.Onthefaceofit,onemightthinkthatthereisagreatdisparitybetweentheAUandtheEUinthepracticalapplicationofthesevalues–theEUbeingthemodelpupilincontrasttoafalteringAfrica.Inreality,althoughEurope’strackrecordwouldappearmoresolid,bothcontinentsarefacingmajorchallengesonanunprecedentedscale,allofwhichconstitutepitfallstheycanneitheravoidnormanagewithoutcompromise.WithintheEU,memberstateshaveintegratedthesesharedvaluesinto

theirworkingmethods.Theircitizenshaverightsenforceableagainstthepublicauthoritiesandguaranteedbytwointernationalcourts–theCourtofJusticeoftheEuropeanUnion(CJEU)inLuxembourgandtheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights(ECHR,CouncilofEurope)inStrasbourg,inadditiontothenationalcourts.WhilepeaceisnowestablishedonEUsoil,thecurrentcrisesaretestingsuchvaluesastheruleoflaw,solidarityandrespectforhumandignity–particularlyinAustria,Hungary,Poland,BulgariaandRomania.

Theelectoratevotesforpopulistpartieswhoclaimtohavebettersolutionstokeyproblems(asseeninAustria,France,Hungary,Italy,theNetherlands,PolandandtheUK).TheEUfindsitselftornbetweendefendingsharedvaluesandrespectingthenationalidentitiesofitsMemberStates.WhilethePresidentoftheCommissionrecognisedinhisStateoftheUnionAddresson13September2017theurgentneedtoimprovetheinhumaneconditionsinwhichmigrantsarelivingindetentionandreceptioncentresinLibya,theVisegrádGroup(i.e.Hungary,Poland,SlovakiaandtheCzechRepublic)refusestoimplementthedecision(OJ2015,l248,p.80)takenbytheCouncilofMinisterstorelocaterefugeestohelpItalyandGreece,whicharecurrentlyoverwhelmedbytheinfluxofmigrants.

On27July2017,theEuropeanCommissionlaunchedthereasonedopinionprocedurewhich,shouldthesestatesfailtoact,willopenthewayforajudicialreviewbytheCJEU.On6September2017,thatsameCJEUrejected(C-643/15andC-647/15)theappealbroughtbyHungaryandSlovakiawithPolishsupportagainstthe2015decision.Moreover,thereformsintroducedinHungaryandPoland(involvingthejudiciaryandthemedia,forexample)callintofurtherquestionthevalueoftheruleoflaw.ThesecrisesdemonstratethelimitsoftheguaranteesputinplacetoprotectthesevalueswithintheEU.Whatwillhappennowthattheselimitshavebeenexceeded,withHungaryhavingdecidednottocomplywiththeCJEUdecisionof6September2017?Withagrowingdistrustfortherulingclassandgiventoday’spoliticalratingsculture,eventhelawisunderpressure.DemocracyitselfissufferingfromthedisengagementofEUcitizens.

InAfrica,peacestillstrugglestotakerootineverydaylifefollowingchronicpoliticalinstability.Theregularitywithwhichconstitutionalchangesaremadetokeeptheleadingpresidentandgovernmentinpower,thelackoffreeelectionsandthefailuretorespectpluralismareahindrancetotheimplementationoftheruleoflaw,evenwhenseveralAUvaluesemanatedirectlyfromit:therejection

VALUES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION SHARED AU-EU VALUES VALUES OF THE AFRICAN UNION

PEACEHUMAN DIGNITYFREEDOMDEMOCRACYEQUALITYRULE OF LAWHUMAN RIGHTSPLURALISMNON-DISCRIMINATIONTOLERANCEJUSTICESOLIDARITYGENDER EQUALITY

PEACEHUMAN DIGNITYFREEDOMDEMOCRACYRULE OF LAWHUMAN RIGHTSPLURALISMNON-DISCRIMINATIONJUSTICESOLIDARITY

PEACEGENDER EQUALITY HUMAN RIGHTS DEMOCRACYRULE OF LAWGOOD GOVERNANCESOCIAL JUSTICE REJECTION OF IMPUNITYREJECTION OF POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONHUMAN DIGNITYREJECTION OF TERRORISM


ofimpunity,politicalassassinationandunconstitutionalchangesofgovernment.In2008,theAUmergedtheAfricanCourtofHumanRightsandtheAUCourtofJusticetosetupanewAfricanCourtofJusticeandHumanRights.Theaimwastoestablishaneffectiveregionalcourtwiththenecessaryresourcestodefendtheruleoflaw,humandignityandhumanrights.Butwillthiscourtreallyhavethemeanstofulfilitsaims?Willitsucceedwheretheothertwohavefailed?Respectforhumandignityisimplementedinavarietyofways.WhileAfricanconstitutionaltexts(e.g.theMaputoProtocolandtheconstitutionsofBurkinaFaso,Benin,IvoryCoast,Madagascar,MaliandNigeria)guaranteetheprotectionofwomen,mutilationandslaverystilloccurinsomeregions.Finally,solidarity,oftenheldupasanAfricanvalue,haslittleinfluenceontheground.MalnutritioninSouthSudanandtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo,terroristconflictsandattacksincertaincountries(suchastheCentralAfricanRepublic,MaliandNiger)donotsparkstrongmobilisationbyneighbouringstates,orevenbytheAUitself.Indeed,helphascomeprimarilyintheformofforeignaid.

WithintheAU–EUpartnership,sharedvaluesareproclaimedloudandclear.Butaretheyadequatelyprotectedorevenrespected?Dowetrampleonvaluesabroadwhichweconsidersacredathome?TheagreementstheEUhassignedwiththearmedgroupsinLibyaandAlBashir’sSudanontheTurkishmodelformigrationcontrol,theshrinkingspacelefttotheoppositionandcivilsocietyinmanyAfricanstates,andthelackofsolidarityonthepartofstateswhicharebecominginwardlooking,arejustsomeexamplesofthefragilityofthesesharedvalues.

Certaincrises,includingmigration,aremerelythevisibleeffectsofvalueswhichhavelongbeenignored.,Wecanreversethistrendonlybyputtingtherespectofvaluesbackatthecentreoftheagenda.EuropeansmustencouragereformsinAfricawhichhelptoestablishlastingpeaceandtheruleoflaw,ratherthansupportingregimeswhichdonotrespectthesevalues.TheircredibilityandthesuccessoftheJAESareatstake.Jean-ClaudeJuncker’sappealinthisyear’sStateoftheUnionAddressbearsrepeating:“Europeisandmustremainthecontinent

ofsolidaritywherethosefleeingpersecutioncanfindrefuge.”Africansmustworktogethertomakethesevalueseffective,startingwiththeruleoflawandhumandignity.ThisisthepricetopayifAfricanyoutharetohaveenoughfaithintheircontinenttostaythereandinvestinit.ThevaluessharedbytheEUandtheAUneedtoguidedecisionsandactionstoguaranteethesolidityandsustainabilityofthepartnershiptheywanttobuild.

AbouttheauthorLéonardMatala-TalaisassociateProfessorinPublicLawatISAM-IAE,UniversitédeLorraine,Nancy.

AyoungSomaligirlrunsinfrontofanAfricanUnionMissioninSomali.Photo:StuartPrice/UNPhoto


THE WORLD IS CHANGING: THE RELATIONSHIP NEEDS CHANGING TOOIf European countries want to safeguard their relations with Africa, they must treat the continent as an equal and valuable partner in practice and not just in rhetoric.

ByJessicaIlunga

DaresSalaamPort,Tanzania.Photo:RobBeechey/WorldBank


RapidandsignificantchangesintheglobalarenaarereshapingAfrica’srelationswiththerestoftheworld.AsemergingglobalplayersareexpandingtheirfootprintinAfrica,Europeancountriescannotrelyontheirsharedhistorywiththecontinenttoguaranteetheirplaceunderthesun.Farfrombeinganasset,Europe’scolonialpastisinfactitsgreatestliabilityasitsmembersseemunabletomoveawayfromtheirtraditionalneo-colonialandpatronisingattitudetowardsAfricadespiteEUleaders’benevolentrhetoric.Inthisnewera,whatAfricaneedsistobetreatedasanequalandvaluablepartnerinpracticeandnotjustinrhetoric.Asweapproach2020whichmarkstheendoftheCotonouAgreement,theEUhastheopportunitytoredefinethefoundationsofitspartnershipwithAfrica,whichisessentialifitwantstokeepadecentshareofthefruitfulAfricanpie.

AdaptingtodisruptiveglobalforcesTheworldisrapidlychangingandatleastthreemajortrendshavethepotentialtoreshapeAfrica’srelationswiththerestoftheworld.Thefirstimportanttrendistheriseofemergingeconomiesasmajorinternationalplayers.Overthelastfewyears,countrieslikeChina,RussiaandIndiahavetakenamoreprominentroleontheinternationalscene.Notonlyhastheirvoicebecomemuchstrongeronglobalissueslikeclimatechange,buttheyhavealsoincreasedtheireconomicfootprintinAfricathroughtradeandinvestment,threateningthelong-standingpositionofEuropeancountries.Forinstance,injusttwodecades,ChinahasbecomeAfrica’slargesttradepartnerandAfrica-Chinatradehasbeengrowingatabout20percentperyearsince2000,reaching$188billionin2015.ThisismorethantriplethatofIndia,Africa’ssecondbiggesttradepartner.LinkedtothisfirsttrendisthestrongerdesiretobreakawayfromWesterndominanceacrossAfrica,especiallyamongitsyouth.Thegrowinganti-CFAfrancmovementinFrancophoneWestAfricaandthecontinuousattacksagainsttheInternationalCriminalCourtarejustafewindicatorsofthechangingattitudeoftheAfricanpopulationtowardstheperceivedWesterndominanceandintrusionintoAfricandomesticaffairs.Astoday’syouthwillbetomorrow’srulingeliteofthecontinent,buildingagoodrelationshipwiththisyouthisessential.

Lastly,astrongercommitmenttowardsregionalintegrationisincitingAfricancountriestofocusinwardforgrowthandpovertyreduction.Afterthedramaticfailuresoftherapidliberalisationpoliciesimposedbyinternationalpartners,theprioritiesonAfrica’sstructuraltransformationagendaarenowthedeepeningofregionalintegrationandtheincreaseofintra-Africantrade.ItcanbeexpectedthatasAfricancountriesarebecomingeconomicallystrongerandmoreunited,therewillbe

moreresistancetotradeandcooperationagreementsthatarebeingperceivedasdetrimentaltoAfrica’sintegrationefforts.

France’sdecliningpositioninAfricaFrancehaslongbeencriticisedforitsneo-colonialattitudetowardsAfrica.Thedebatearoundthecountry’scolonialpastresurfacedduringthelastpresidentialelection.Asayoungandseeminglyprogressivepresident,Macron’selectionraisedthehopethathewouldbreakawayfromhispredecessors’neo-colonialapproachtowardsAfrica.HiselectionrhetoricsoundedindeedpromisingandsuggestedadesiretoloosenFrance’sgripoveritsformercolonies.

However,afterhiselection,hemadeafewPRblundersthathavecosthimhisprogressivereputationinAfricancircles.Freshlyelected,MacronfirstcameunderfirelastJuneafterbeingcaughtcasuallyjokingaboutComorianmigrants’boats,whicharealsodubbedthe“boatsofdeath”becausesomanymigrantshavesunktryingtosailfromtheComoresislandtotheFrenchislandofMayotte.Justamonthlater,hesparkedanotherrowwhenheexplainedthatAfrica’sproblemswerecivilisationalduringapressconferenceattheG20summitinHamburg.

WiththecreationofthePresidentialCouncilforAfrica,Macronistryingtogiveayounger,andmoreacceptablefacetoFrance-Africarelations.Officially,theroleofthecouncilistoadvisehimonAfricanmattersandpreparehistripstothecontinent,especiallybyhelpinghimdraftkeyspeechesrelatingtoAfrica.Thisisaninterestinginitiative,howeveritishighlyunlikelythatthiscouncilwillcontributetoafundamentaltransformationofFrance’sAfricapolicy.

TheCouncilforAfricaagainsttheFrançafriqueGoliathWithoutquestioningtheindividualqualitiesofthecouncilmembers,itisprettyclearthattheydonothavethepowertocounterbalancetheinfluentialFrenchinstitutionsandfigureswhoarethecornerstonesoftheFrançafriquesystemthathasbeenaccusedofbeingthesourceofpovertyandpoliticalinstabilityinformerFrenchcolonies.

TheeconomicarmofFrançafriquetakestheformofpost-colonialagreementsthroughwhichFrancehascheapandeasyaccesstothenaturalresourcesthatitneedsforitsindustries.ThishasbeenaverylucrativebusinessforFranceanditslargestcompaniesstillholdaquasi-monopolyoverstrategicsectorsofFrancophoneAfricaneconomies,includingelectricity,telecommunications,infrastructure,airportsandharbours.Forinstance,Bolloré,whichistheregion'slargestlogisticsgroupbyturnover,isactiveinmorethan40Africancountries.Itoperates


17portsinAfrica,includingthoseofAbidjaninCôted'Ivoire,DoualainCameroon,LibrevilleOwendoinGabonandPointe-NoireinCongo.

Beyondtheeconomicaspect,thereisalsoaculturalresistanceintheFrenchpopulationtomoveawayfromitstraditionalpolicyinAfrica.AddressingthewoundsofthepastistheprerequisitetodevelopingamoreequalandtrustingrelationshipbetweenFranceanditsAfricanpartners.However,Frenchnationalidentityisintrinsicallylinkedtothecountry’scolonialpast,whichisseenasasourceofnationalprideandglory.AndanycriticismofFrance’scoloniallegacyisseenasanunpatrioticattackagainstthecountry’shistoricachievements,eveniftheFrenchempirederiveditspowerfromtheexploitationofpeopleacrosstheglobe.ThenecessarytransformationoftheFrenchpublicopinionisclearlyoutsidetheboundariesofthemandateofthecouncil.

ThecolonialundertoneofEUdevelopmentpolicyTheEU’sdevelopmentpolicyfindsitsoriginsinthelegacyoftheFrenchimperialruleinAfrica.Itisthereforeunsurprisingthat,inspiteofanapparentevolution,thereremainsastrongcolonialundertoneinthesuccessivecooperationandtradeagreementsbetweentheEUandAfricancountries.

Signedin2002,theCotonouAgreementistheEU’smostcomprehensivedevelopmentcooperationpartnershipwithanyregionintheworld.ItscoreobjectivesarepovertyandthegradualintegrationofAfrican,CaribbeanandPacific(ACP)countriesintotheworldeconomy.Whileintheorytheagreementisbasedontheprincipleofequalpartnership,therelationshipbetweentheEUanddevelopingcountriescontinuestobedeeplyunequalwithAfricancountriesbeingplacedinasubordinateposition.

ThisinequalityappearsmoststronglyintheapplicationofpoliticalconditionalityandthenegotiationprocessoftheEuropeanPartnershipAgreements(EPAs).TheAgreementstressesthatbothpartnersmustpromotedemocracy,humanrights,ruleoflawandgoodgovernance.However,incaseofviolationofoneoftheseessentialelements,onlytheEUhasthepowertocontrolACPcountriesbyrestrictingtradeoraid.

Furthermore,theEUdidnothesitatetouseitssuperiorpositiontoforceACPcountriesintotheEPAs.SeveralAfricancountries,supportedbylocalcivilsocietygroups,openlyopposedtheEPAsbecausetheycontaindetrimentalpoliciesfortheirlocalmarketsandindustries.However,tospeeduptheprocess,theEUthreatenedtonotonlywithdrawforeignaid,butalsoendthepreferentialaccesstoEuropeanmarketsforexistingexport

productsfromreluctantstates.Therefore,eventhoughtheEUlikestobranditselfasavalue-driveninstitutionthatpromotespeace,security,democracy,andhumanrightsaroundtheworld,inpracticeittendstobehavelikeanauthoritarianbullywhentryingtosecureitseconomicinterestsinAfrica.

AnewapproachforaneweraInthisneweraandgiventherecentglobaldynamics,Europeancountriesshouldstopwiththeirpatronisingdevelopmentdiscourseandoutdatedtradeandpartnershipmodels.Ultimately,Africa’stransformationwillcomefrominternalpolicyclarity.ThemostpressingchallengeforAfricancountriestodayisthustoclearlydefinethetypeofdevelopmenttheywantbasedontheirownvisionandpriorityforthefuture.

Politically,Africanstatesdonotneedexternalincentivestopromotedemocracy,humanrightsandgoodgovernance.Theyalreadyknowthattheseuniversalvaluesareessential.Whattheyneedistobeabletointernallydecidehowtheseuniversalvaluescanbeappliedtotheirownreality.Economically,theydonotneedhelptointegratetheworldeconomy.Whattheyneedistostayawayfromskewedinternationaltradeagreementsthatkeepthemdependentonrawmaterialsexport.Theirpriorityshouldbedeepeningregionalintegrationandboostingintra-Africantradebeforeopeningdomesticmarketstothepressureofmoredevelopedcompetitors.

TreatingAfricaasanequalandvaluablepartnerandrespectingitspolicyspacearetheonlywayforwardforcountriesthatwanttopreservetheirrelationswiththecontinentinthefuture.Amutuallybeneficialpartnershipmightseemscaryforcountrieswhichhavebenefitedfromsuchanunfairandunequalrelationshipforsolong.However,inthelongrun,thisisthebestoptionforeveryone.Afterall,aneconomicallystrongandpoliticallystableAfricaisnotonlygoodforAfrica.Itisgoodfortheworld.Notonlywillitsolvesecurityandmigrationthreats,whicharethemainconcernsofEuropeancountriesatthemoment,butitwillalsogiveotherregionsacredibletradepartnerwithanever-growingconsumermarket.

AbouttheauthorJessicaIlungaisanExternalaffairsconsultantcurrentlyworkingfortheDemocraticRepublicofCongo.


BarefootlawattheUN.Photo:Barefootlaw

TECHNOLOGY TO EMPOWER SOCIETY: THE BAREFOOTLAW EXPERIENCE

A new generation of young African entrepreneurs are taking on the major challenges in their society, using technology and innovative thinking applied to their local context. They are providing a potential blueprint for solving other problems across the continent. In this regard the Partnership between the African Union and the European Union could play an important role if the available instruments were more flexible to reach out to these younger generations.

ByGeraldAbila

InnovationinaglobalcontextInmostcases,thewordinnovationorindeedthewords‘innovation’and‘technology’,immediatelyevokeanimageofcuttingedgedevices,systemsorapplications,developedfromthefast-pacedSiliconValleyintheUS,orothertechnologyleadingspacesacrosstheglobe.Itcouldbethelatestbreakthroughinaugmentedrealitytechnologyhelpingnearlyhalfabillionpeopletoplayagame,suchasNintendo’sPokemonGo!,ortherapidmainstreaming

ofmarket-changingapplicationsthatareturningtraditionalbusinessesontheirheads,suchasUberorAirBnB,wherefromhavingtostandoutonthestreettohailataxi,oneisnowabletoorderarideandsplitthebill,whilestillatthedinnertablewithfriends.Inthiscontext,innovationoftenchallengesamarketthatisalreadywellstructuredwherethenewutilityisanimprovementonanalreadyexistingone.Infact,manyoftheseinnovationsarebasedonthebestandlatesttechnologyavailable.

Mostimportantly,whentheseinnovationsoccur,theyalmostalwaysneedtobecomeglobalsuccessestobeconsideredtruly‘worldchanging’.ItisonlywhenyouuseUberbothinNewYorkandinKampala,thatyougraspthelevelofimpact.

Therealityisthatthiscontextrepresentsafairlyaccuratedepictionofwhatinnovationisgloballytoday.Innovationisbig,itisbold,itiscuttingedgeanditisleadingfromthefront.


InnovationintheAfricanspaceHoweverthisisnotthefullpicture.ThisisonlywhatIwouldcalla‘mainstream’contextofinnovationasopposedtoa‘global’context.Takeforexample,thefinancialtechnology(FinTech)space.GreatbigleapsonFinTechhavecomeoutofAfrica,mostnotably,theemergenceandrapidgrowthoftheuseofmobilemoneyservices.

InKenya,Safaricom’sM-Pesamobilemoneyservice,whichenablesthetelecomnetwork’ssubscribertotransfermoney,payforservicesandeventakemicroloans,hasrapidlychangedthewaythemoneyandfinanceisaccessedinKenya.ThesameappliesinotherAfricancountrieswheremobilemoneyisused.Withlittlemorethana15EurofeaturephoneandaGSMconnection,usersareaccessingandusingmoneyinpreviouslyunthought-ofways.

Fromaninitialbasicservicethatallowedtwopeopletotransferaslittleas0.4euro(50Kenyashillings)viatheirmobilephones,M-Pesahasnowmorethan26millionuserswithover55.9meuroworthoftransactionsin2017.TheM-Pesa

revolutionhassetinmotionseveralotherinnovations,providingservicevendorsanavenuetocollectrevenueandaplatformonwhichotherserviceappscanbebuilttoservethepublic.Manyoftheseotherinnovationsarerunbyyouthful,energeticAfricanswhoaretakingtheopportunitytodevelopsolutionsfortheircommunities.

Whatthisdemonstratesisthatinnovationcancomefromanywhere,andstillbe‘worldchanging’;itcanprovideanewandbetterexperienceforpeople,whetheritisanewgamingexperienceorabreakthroughinmicrofinancethatupliftssmallscalefarmersinruralcommunitieswithsmallloans.Innovationandtechnology,theBarefootLawstoryThisiswheretheBarefootLawstorycomesin.BarefootLawwasestablishedin2013inUgandaasanorganisationworkinginthelegalsectoronimprovingaccesstojustice.

Itallstartedfromaverymodestidea.WhenIwasastudentinlawschool,Istartednoticingthehugegapinthe

knowledgeofthelawandhowthisgapaffectedpeople’sdailylives.Itmightbeapersonbeingheldinpolicecustodywithoutknowledgeofhisorherrights,orpeopletakingjusticeintheirownhandsbecauseoflackoftrustinthejudicialprocess.Itbecameclearthattherewasaneedtoprovidethisinformationtothepublic,toempowerpeopletomakebetterdecisionsand,ultimately,applytruejusticeandtheruleoflaw.

BarefootLawstartedwithaused3GiPhone,byprovidinglegalinformationtothepubliconaFacebookpage(www.facebook.com/barefootlaw).Initially,onlyafewpeoplecheckedit,inquiringondifferentsectionsofthelaw(tobehonest,mostofthemwerelawstudentsatmylawschoolandfriends).Thiswashardlyaninnovationatthetime.Facebookhadalreadybecomeaglobalphenomenon,andpageswerebeingusedforeverythingfromnewsandentertainmenttosellingproducts.

However,thedemandforthisservicegrewincrediblyfastanditwasnotbeforelongthatpeoplestartedaskingforlegalsupportonhowtoundertake

Barefootlawinaction.Photo:suppiedbyauthor


courtproceduresastheyhadnomoneyforalawyer.Indeed,withinashortperiodoftime,wewerealsofacedwithachallengetoprovidethisservicetothosewithbasicfeaturephones.WehadtoexpandourworktoprovidethisinformationonotherplatformslikeSMS(shortmessagingservices),websites,andevenusingtraditionalmethodsoflegalaidsuchasgoingoutintocommunities.

ThiswasdrivenbytherealisationthatformostofAfrica,technologydoesnotoperateinavacuum,andservicesbasedonnewtechnologysuchasmobilephonesweremerelycomplementingalreadyexistingsystemsandservices,simplymakingthemmoreefficient.Itseemsthatourrapidgrowthwastheresultofabiggapinaccesstolegalservicesinthecountry.BarefootLawquicklyrealisedthatwithsuchagreatneedforlegalsupport,therewasaneedtoinnovatetobringtheseservicestomorepeople.

Fiveyearson,BarefootLawprovidesfreelegalsupporttomorethan450,000peopleeverymonthacrossallourplatforms.Inthenearfutureweexpecttoimprovethetechnologiesweusetobecomeevenmoreefficientinprovidingthisserviceandtoexpandacrossborders.

Innovationcanalsocomefromunusuallocations,usingsimpletechnologies.Couplethiswithyouthfulenergyandbeliefs,criticalinsightonproblemsandlocalcontexts,thenyouwillseeemergingveryusefulideaswiththepotentialofbeingreplicatedacrosscountriesandregions.BarefootLawisonesuchexample.

MorethanjustaoneoffWeareonlyoneofseveralexamplesofyouthfulinnovationstacklingrealandpresentproblemsintheirsocietieswithinnovativeideasandmakinguseof

technologyforgreaterimpact.InKenya,Kytabuareprovidinganenrichedlearningexperiencebymakingcurriculumcontentavailableonmobiledevices,creatingopportunitiesforstudentsandteachersalike.InGhana,Farmerlineusesmobiletechnologytoprovidemarket-drivensolutionstoover200,000farmerstoimprovetheiraccesstomarkets,inputsandinformation.Andthesearejustafewexamples.

Whiletheimpactofourorganisation(andmanyothersacrossthecontinent)mightnotyetbedescribedas‘worldchanging’,thenumbersindicatethatwearehavingarealimpactonindividualsandcommunitiesand,moreimportantly,wearedoingsoinauniqueway.

Theseinnovativeinitiativesarefillingagapthatshouldbefilledbyproperworkinggovernanceormarketsystems.Notonlytheyhelptosolvespecificsocialneeds;theyalsoallowustolearnalessononidentificationofthemarketandonusageandcontextofresources.

WhatmorecanbedoneandwhocantakepartAndyet,thisisonlythebeginning.AtBarefootLawforexample,weareexploringautomationandmachinelearningforsomeofourservices.Thereisalottolearn,andthisiswherethecuttingedge/leadingedgetechnologyspacesworldwideshouldworktogethertocreateusefulknowledgeexchanges.Formanyothers,attractingtherightkindof

capitaltosupporttheirgrowthiscrucial.Whileventurecapitalhasincreasedacrossthecontinent,thereisstillabigneedforlongtermcapital,asthespacewithinwhichmanyoftheseentitiesoperateisnotyetwelldefined,andalotoflearningneedstohappen.

Thereisalsoaneedtopartnerwithdifferententitiesandinstitutions-suchastheEuropeanUnion-withaglobalfootprinttohelpjumpstartthescalingacrossborders.Therefore,moreinternationalorganisationswithinterestinbringingsocio-economicchangeoughttolookintohowtopartnerwithinnovationonthecontinentandthewaystheirworkcanbeextended.

ThereisaneedforthegovernmentsinAfricatosetprioritiesandcreateenablingenvironmentsforinnovationstoprosper.Thiscouldbethroughtheestablishmentofyouthinnovationgrants,ortheprovisionofsubsidiestoyouthinnovatorsonthecontinent.IftheinnovationthatishappeninginAfricacanbefostered-throughpartnershipandsupport,itwouldempowerandencourageyoungentrepreneurstochallengethecurrentstatusoftheircommunitiesandbringchangethroughentrepreneurshipandinnovation.

ThisiswhyinnovationandtechnologyinAfricawillplayabigroleinachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)andindoingso,contributingtobuildingaprosperouscontinentforgenerationstocome.

AbouttheauthorGeraldAbilaisthefounderofBarefootLaw.

BarefootLaw provides

free legal support to

more than 450,000

people every month

across all our platforms.


THE AU-EU PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE AND SECURITY

The European Union (EU) has been a long-standing partner for peace since the African Union (AU) came into existence. As the AU marks its 15th year, it is useful to reflect on what the partnership between the two continents and organisations has achieved and to identify specific initiatives for the future in terms of ongoing cooperation.

ByTimMurithi

MakingtheAUFitforPurposeInJanuary2017,tomarkthe15thyearsincetheorganisationwasformallylaunched,theAUAssemblyofHeadsofStateandGovernmentadoptedareporttitledThe Imperative to Strengthen Our Union,containingrecommendationsforinstitutionalreformoftheAfricanUnion.ThisreportwascompiledbyPresidentPaulKagameofRwandawiththecollaborationofapanelofseniorAfricanleaders.Thereportidentifiesclimatechange,violentextremistideologies,diseasepandemics,andmassmigrationasbeingamongstthekeyissuesthaturgentlyneedtobeaddressedby“focusedand

effectiveregionalorganisations”.TheKagamePanelreportlaments:“theunfortunatetruthisthatAfricatodayisill-preparedtoadequatelyrespondtocurrentevents,becausethe African Union still has to be made fit for purpose.ThisisaforthrightandhonestappraisalofthestateoftheAfricanUnion15yearsafteritwaslaunchedwithmuchfanfareandgreatexpectationsin2002inDurban,SouthAfrica.The15thyearoftheAfricanUnion’sexistencealsomarkedthearrivalofanewleadershipteamwhen,inMarch2017,MoussaFakiMahamat,theformerChadianforeignminister,becamethechairpersonoftheAUCommissionandKwesiQuartey,

ScenesfromIfo2RefugeeCampinDadaab,Kenya,Photo:UNPhoto/EvanSchneider


thedistinguishedGhanaiandiplomat,becamehisdeputy.ItispromisingthatMoussaFakiandhisteamofCommissionersareapproachingtheirmissionattheAUwithadegreeofpragmatismabouttheconstraintsandpossibilitiestheyface.Specifically,on14March2017,duringhisfirstpublicaddressastheAUCommissionchairperson,MoussaFakioutlinedsixpriorities,includingtheneed“toreformthestructures”oftheorganisationtomakeit“atoolcapableoftranslatingintorealitythevisionofourleadersandaspirationsofourpeoples”.Inaddition,MoussaFakiemphasisedtheneedtoaddressthecontinent’sconflictsandenhancetheparticipationofwomenandyoungpeopleinpromotingpeace,developmentandtherevivalofthecontinent.MoussaFakialsoidentifiedthepromotionofeconomicintegrationwithaspecificfocuson“increasinginter-AfricantradeandfreemovementofpeoplesothatAfricanscanfinallyceasetobeforeignersintheirowncontinent”.HearguedfortherevitalisationofAfrica’sprivatesectortoenhancewealthandjobcreation,andforstrengtheningAfrica’sengagementininternationalrelations.TheseareallimportantentrypointsfortheEUtorevitalizeitsengagementwiththeAUandadvancethestrategicpartnership.

AperennialconstraintintheAfricanUnion’sabilitytoassertitselfontheinternationalstageisitsrelianceanddependencyondonorstopaysalariesandfinanceitsoperationsandprogrammes,includinginthesphereofpeaceandsecurity.TheEUhasbeenakeypartnerinthisregard.However,therehavebeenincreasinglevelsofcriticism,fromobserversandpoliticalleaders,abouttheAU’sinabilitytoowntheirpeaceandsecurityinitiatives.Specifically,thisremainsachallengefortheAfricanPeaceandSecurityArchitecture(APSA)andtheAfricanGovernanceArchitecture(AGA),andhasraisedquestionsaboutthetrue“ownership”ofAfrica’sinstitutions.Consequently,inJuly2016,theAUAssemblyofHeadsofStateandGovernmentadoptedadecisiononfinancingoftheUniontoinstitutea0.2%levyoneligibleimports.Theimportanceofthisdecisionwas

reiteratedinthereport‘Securing Predictable and Sustainable Funding for Peace in Africa’byDonaldKaberuka,theAUHighRepresentativeforthePeaceFund.ThisisthefirstgenuineattempttoweantheUnionanditsinstitutionsoffitsdonors,particularlyinthesphereofpromotingpeaceandsecurity.OverthenextdecadeoftheEU-AUstrategicpartnership,bothinstitutionsshouldsupportthislevyinitiative,toavoidinsinuationsthattheAUisnot“owned”byAfrica.Concretely,theEUcanfurtherassisttheAUinpolicyreflectionontheuseofleviestofinancinginternationalorganisations.Theprospectiveincomestreamgeneratedbyself-fundingwillenabletheAUtounderwriteitsowninitiativesandprovideabasisfortheorganisationtoengagemoreeffectivelywithAfricancitizensacrossthecontinent.

ConsolidatingPeaceandAccountabilityTheUN'sSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)andinparticularGoal16,callsfortheconsolidationofpeace,securityandaccesstojustice.Thismeansthatoverthenextdecadeofthestrategicengagement,boththeEUandtheAUwillneedtofocustheirenergiesonnationalandregionalreconciliationprocessesacrossthecontinentthroughthepromotionofaccountability,redress,andrestitution.Africa'sexperienceindealingwiththepastandmanagingsocietaltensionsmeansthat‘dialogueplatformsondiversity’couldhelpEuropeancommunitiestolearnfromtheirAfricancounterparts,giventherisingtideofidentitypoliticsandproblematicposturetowardsimmigrantsinsomecountries.ThiswouldalsochallengetheperceivedtrendinknowledgeandskillstransferfromAfricatoEurope,whichhashistoricallybeenunacknowledgedandunder-emphasized.

ThenextdecadeofthestrategicpartnershipbetweenEuropeandAfricawillwitnessareconfigurationofthenatureoftherelationshipastheAfricancontinentbeginstoassertitselfmoreontheglobalstage.ThisishowevernotareasonforEuropetobecomeconcernedorinward-lookingbecausesucharemakingofglobalorderwillensurethatprosperitywillincreaseonbothsidesoftheMediterraneansea,whichwillultimatelybebeneficialforthepeopleofbothcontinents.

AbouttheauthorProfessorTimMurithiisHeadofProgrammeattheInstituteforJusticeandReconciliation,CapeTown,andExtraordinaryProfessorofAfricanStudies,UniversityoftheFreeState,Bloemfontein,SouthAfrica.HeiseditoroftheRoutledgeHandbookofAfrica’sInternationalRelations.

The next decade of the strategic

partnership between Europe and

Africa will witness a reconfiguration

of the nature of the relationship

as the African continent begins to

assert itself more on the global

stage.

http://twitter.com/@tmurithi12


HOW TO RENEW THE EU-AFRICA PARTNERSHIP THROUGH TRANSCONTINENTAL YOUTH NETWORKS

ACPYPNinaction.Photo:ACPypn.com

The African Union (AU) declared 2017 the ‘year of harnessing the demographic dividend through Investments in Youth’ and the European Union (EU) renewed its Youth Strategy; this is timely given the focus of the upcoming AU-EU Summit on ‘youth’.

ByYentylWilliamsandCelineFabrequette

TheupcomingSummiton‘youth’isauniqueopportunitytoplaceyouthintegrationandinclusioninpolicyanddecision-makingprocessesattheheartofrelationsbetweentheAfricanandEuropeancontinents.Yet,the new strategy must be innovative, visionary and dedicated. First,therenewedpartnershipmustbeinnovativethroughthedevelopmentofjointobjectivestoensureyoungpeopleplayanactiveroleinthedecision-makingandtheimplementationofthepartnership.Second,itmustbevisionarybygoingbeyondmerestrengtheningofrelationsonanation-to-nationorregion-to-regionbasis,butalsothroughhorizontalandverticalcooperationwithyouthcivilsocietytosupportthereframingofsocial,economicandpoliticalvalues.Third, itshouldbededicatedtoharnessthealreadyinnovativeinitiativesthatyoungpeopleareimplementingtoempower

theirpeers–beitonentrepreneurship,educationandpoliticalengagement–tobringatransformativechangetooursocieties,whichcanadequatelyprepareusfortheglobalandcommonconcernsofourgenerations.So,strongpartnershipwithyouthorganisations,includingyouthcivilsocietyandyouthdiasporaorganisations,willbekeyfortherevitalisationoftheEU-Africapartnership.Acaseinpointistheinnovationandthevisiondemonstratedbytheyouth-ledandyouth-ownedtrans-continentalnetworkACPYPN,theAfrican,CaribbeanandPacificYoungProfessionalsNetworkinBrussels(EU).

Innovation-horizontal&verticalyouthcooperationTheAfrican,CaribbeanandPacificYoungProfessionalsNetwork(ACPYPN)providesaplatformforyoungpeopletohaveanactiveroleinpolicy-makingprocessesatthenational,regionalandinternationallevels.Theplatformwasinspired

https://www.africa-youth.org/new-release-policy-brief-demographic-dividend-africa-relies-investments-reproductive-health-rights-adolescents-youth/

https://www.africa-youth.org/new-release-policy-brief-demographic-dividend-africa-relies-investments-reproductive-health-rights-adolescents-youth/

https://ec.europa.eu/youth/policy/youth-strategy_en


bythelegallybindingcommitmentsthattheEUandtheACPgroupofstatestookonyouthcooperation(Article26CotonouPartnershipAgreement).Theteamusednewtechnologytobuilditstrans-continental“YouthExpertDatabase”foryoungpeopletorealisetheirpotentialandtostimulatetheuseofthisambitiouscommitmentoncooperation.

AllofACPYPN’sactivitiesandadvocacycontributetoensuring‘responsive,inclusive,participatoryandrepresentativedecision-makingatalllevels’(target16.7)toprovidesolutionsforyouthandinstitutionsglobally(inlinewiththeSustainableDevelopmentGoal,SDG16).Inparticular,withtheforthcomingrevisionoftheEU-ACPpartnership,ACPYPNestablishedhorizontalandverticalcooperationtoensuretheinclusionofyouthintheconsultationprocesslaunchedbytheEU.Thenetworkwastheonlyyouth-ownedorganisationtosubmitaresponsetotheEuropeanCommission’sconsultationonthefutureofACP–EUPartnership.

ACPYPNcarefullyanalysedwhereyouthhadbeenleftoutofthepartnership,formorethanfortyyears,andcreatedtheACP-EUJointParliamentaryAssemblyYouthForum.TheForumestablishedaformalspaceforyoungpeopletomeetwith100+EUandACPparliamentariansforthefirsttimesinceparliamentarymeetingsbeganin1963andwasrecognisedasanofficialparliamentbytheJPAin2016.TheNetworkhasalsobecomememberoftheEU-CaribbeanForumJointConsultativeCommitteethatmonitorstheEconomicPartnershipAgreements.TheorganisationhadbeenalreadymonitoringtradeagreementsintheEuropeanParliamentforthepastthreeyears.

Vision–Co-developingayouth-centeredpartnershipInnovationcannotlastwithoutavision.Horizontalandverticalcooperationshowsthateffectiveyouthparticipationispossiblebutitmustbeaccompaniedbyvisionaryinstitutionalpartnerships.Inthiscase,effortscannotcomeonlyfromyoungpeoplebutalsofromtheinstitutions.TheAUisalreadyengagingwithyouthfromthediaspora,alsoknownasthe6thregion.ACPYPNisamemberoftheAUYouthAdvisoryBoard(YAB)attheAfricanUnionHeadquartersandamemberoftheAUYouthDiasporaTaskForceoftheAUmissiontotheEU.Thenetwork,interalia,collaborateswiththeAUYouthDivisiontodevelopandimplementactivitiesandpilotinitiativeswithotherAfricananddiasporayouthorganisationstofosteryouthemployment.ThenetworkisadirectinterlocutortotheAUinstitutionsandtheiryouthprogrammes.IntherunuptotheAU-EUSummit,ACPYPNhasbeenactivelyharnessingtheinteresttheInstitutionshaveinyouthpartnerships–throughitsactiveparticipationintheEU-Africa

CivilSocietyOrganisationForum,orinitsco-hostingoftheS&DAfricaweek’sYouthWorkshopattheEuropeanParliament–toensurethatinnovationisalwayscoupledwithvision.ItisthereforenotsurprisingthatACPYPNwastheco-organiseroftheAfrica-EUYouthsummitanditactivelyparticipatedinavarietyofdifferentinitiativespromotingyoungpeople'sissues.TheseincludethePanAfricanYouthUnion(PYU),TheAfricanDiasporaYouthNetworkinEurope(ADYNE),theEuropeanYouthForum,theNetworkofInternationalYouthorganisationinAfrica(NIYOAH)andtheAfricanDiasporaYouthForuminEurope(ADYFE).

Dedication–lookingtothefuturetogetherWhatweneedtoseenow,isdedication.Transcontinentalyouth-ledandyouth-ownedorganisationlikeACPYPNcanoffermuchfoodforthought.Itiskeytokeeponlearningfromthelessonsandexistingbestpractice:thisistheonlywaytogeneratetheinnovationandvisionthatisneededinarenewedEU-Africapartnershipdedicatedtobewithyouth.

AbouttheauthorsYentylWilliams(left),isthePresidentandfounderoftheACPYPNandCelineFabrequetteistheSecretaryGeneraloftheACPYPN.

Innovation cannot last without

a vision. Horizontal and vertical

cooperation shows that effective

youth participation is possible but

it must be accompanied by visionary

institutional partnerships. In this case,

efforts cannot come only from young

people but also from the institutions.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/03_01/pdf/mn3012634_en.pdf

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/acp/03_01/pdf/mn3012634_en.pdf

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1JNvlTqtSrJQWV1TUxBcnlVTzA/view



http://www.acpypn.com/2017/08/09/3576/

http://www.acpypn.com/2017/08/09/3576/

http://www.acpypn.com/2017/07/25/acp-ypn-at-the-permanent-mission-of-the-african-union-in-brussels-on-the-diaspora-youth-engagement-on-open-house-platform/

http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/documents/declaration_tunis_cso_forum_0.pdf

http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/documents/declaration_tunis_cso_forum_0.pdf

http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/en/newsroom/all-news/launching-4th-africa-europe-youth-summit

Great Insights |November/December 2017 | 43

Read our latest blogs

Trade and food security in West AfricaBruce Byiers, 30 October 2017

‘The West African economy is an informal economy. So trade facilitation is about working with informal trade’. So stated Laurent Bossard, Director of the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign of Affairs recently. Bossard’s comment came during the presentation of SWAC’s work on cross-border cooperation and policy networks in West Africa and on West African food markets.

A message to African and European leaders: ‘More of the same is not good enough’Geert Laporte, 23 October 2017

In a few weeks’ time, African and European leaders will gather in Abidjan for the fifth AU-EU Summit. There are plenty of important issues for them to chew on and yet, the agenda once again stays clear of the potentially controversial topics that divide both continents.

What the Dutch iron lady has in store for Europe and AfricaEwald Wermuth and Jeske van Seters, 30 October 2017

Sigrid Kaag has been appointed as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands. The media referred to her as the Dutch iron lady in her role as head of the international mission overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons. What can Europe and Africa expect from her in this new position?

Finding the middle ground: Is the EU changing its engagement with middle-income countries?Mariella Di Ciommo, 6 November 2017

In one of his humorous talks, the Swedish statistician Hans Rosling shows us a beautifully designed data story on the emergence of ‘the middle’: people out of extreme poverty who however still live below acceptable standards. Across two centuries, we progressed from a poverty-ridden world to one with a big gap between the rich West and the rest.

Our blogs aim to deepen the dialogue on policy issues and get to the heart of the matter in an honest and concise way

OUR NEXT ISSUE OF GREAT INSIGHTS WILL BE ON MIGRATION, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018, VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 1

To subscribe to Great Insights please go to www.ecdpm.org/subscribeTo read previous issues of Great Insights, go to www.ecdpm.org/great

http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/trade-food-security-west-africa/










http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/message-african-european-leaders-more-same-not-good-enough/

http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/dutch-iron-lady-in-store-for-europe-africa/

http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/middle-ground-eu-changing-engagement-middle-income-countries/


http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/message-african-european-leaders-more-same-not-good-enough/

http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/dutch-iron-lady-in-store-for-europe-africa/

http://ecdpm.org/talking-points/middle-ground-eu-changing-engagement-middle-income-countries/

africa-europe relations

On 29 and 30 November, African and European leaders will gather in Abidjan

for the 5th AU-EU Summit. Their goal: to strengthen political and economic ties

between the two continents, discuss the future of the Africa-Europe partnership

and talk about issues of common concern.

Which issues will European and African leaders discuss exactly? Which topics

will they stay clear of and why? What is the current status of the relationship and

how can it be strengthened? Will both parties be able to shake off past habits,

break with the vested interest of the past and fundamentally change the course

of action? How can we make sure to link up discussions on the Africa-Europe

partnership with negotiations on the future partnership between the EU and

African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States?

Ahead and after the Summit, ECDPM will try to answer these questions. This

dossier collects our analysis, blogs and events linked to the Summit. In the weeks to

come, you can expect many new blogs, articles and publications – so stay tuned.

Go to: www.ecdpm.org/africaeurope

Documents

SPECIAL SUMMIT ISSUE Africa-Europe relations: Time to rebootecdpm.org/wp-content/uploads/GREAT_Vol6_Issue5_EU_Africa_relati… · magazine. Guest editor Geert Laporte, Deputy Director