Fundamental Rethink of Development Cooperation between Germany and - Online Seminar, 07th May 2021

Edith Otiende-Lawani: Opening Speech

• The organisation „Giving Africa a New Face“ was founded by the African Diaspora as bridge builders. • Both Germany and Africa have continuously expressed the urge for sustainable partnerships built on mutuality and ownership. Some of such reforms and incentives include frameworks like Marshall Plan with Africa, funding modules for private sectors such as AfricaConnect and AfricaGrow, bi-/ multi-lateral Agreements between Germany and individual African countries, for example investment protection treaties with , , , and Angola, dual taxation agreements with Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya and South Africa among others. • Africa plays an important role in tackling global issues. It is therefore inevitable to mention, that Germany directly or indirectly shares in the challenges and opportunities in Africa. • The fact that Africa is rich in resources could mean having a good base for vast economical growth, however, it could also be the main cause of exploitation, mismanagement and corruption. Likewise, the explosive growth of Africa´s population could mean a readily available labour, great innovative minds and economy boosters. But taking into consideration the high rate of unemployment and poor economy of the continent, many young people have no future prospect in Africa, which is also a booster to the high rate of migration within and outside the continent. • To make Africa a strong partner, and place her in a position of independence, there is need for more sustainable instruments. Africa needs African solutions, but Africa equally also needs strong, sustainable partnerships. • COVID pandemic and its lockdowns has shown us, that there is much more to what we can do when equipped with the right technology, skills and mindset. Africa loses its smart brains to countries abroad, and the highly skilled diaspora do not find the way back to their countries of origin, which is a big brain drain to Africa. • I would like to end my speech with an African Ubuntu philosophy “I am, because you are, or I am because we are”, let´s work together towards partnerships for greater goals!

Holger Illi, Head of Division 200 - Africa Policy and Initiatives, German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development: Marshall Plan with Africa – Cornerstones for a new Africa Policy

• Germany’s Africa Policy o Actors in German Africa Policy: Several ministries involved on a federal scale o Bilateral Development Cooperation with Africa

Summaryby: Florian Schleuppner (reporter GAaNF e.V.)

▪ Africa remains the focus continent in Germany’s development policy ▪ BMZ is implementing bilateral development cooperation projects in 25 African partner countries • Marshall Plan with Africa o Challenges on job market due to high growth of population. How can new employment opportunities be created? – economic perspective o ODA (Official development assistance) cannot provide all the answers o Marshall Plan with Africa as Germany’s response to Agenda 2063 of African Union • Development Finance o ODA as a catalyst (public funding), e.g. Reform Partnerships – setting incentives to reform frameworkconditions for inclusive growth o Mobilising domestic ressources, e.g. tax system and administration. o Private Investment, 9 of 10 jobs are created by private investment. • Operations o Government to government: Create a reform partnership. o Government to private sector: Assisting private sector actors to overcome obstacles to sustainable investment. Technology and skill transfer. • Reform partnerships: Which countries are cooperating? o Only a reform agenda which is supported by the local government has a chance for success. o Priority on creating jobs and improving the framework conditions in the partnering countries.

Ulrich Konstantin Rieger, Head of Department Internationalization Department Asia, Africa, Coopertion with Developing Countries: Keynote

• Focus on family owned enterprises ('Mittelstand') cooperating with Africa. • Jobs can only be created by local entepreneurs in Africa. • Bavarian enterprises would like to cooperate with Africa on a base of mutual benefit. • Bavarian enterprises can provide know-how for training young people in Africa. • There are obstacles, e.g. corruption. In corruption has become worse recently. • Finances for developing Africa also should come from Africa (Members of the African elite often invest internationally).

Amb. Dr. Ester Nyambura Mungai, Deputy Chief of Mission, Kenya's Ambassador to Germany, Berlin: The role of Diaspora in development

• Africa is a growing economy. Big changes in economic activity are going to happen. • Kenya has been cooperating with Germany since it's independence in the 1960s. There are projects in health sector, economy, advancement of women, agriculture, etc. Since the 1990s there is a change to a more civil society approach.

Summaryby: Florian Schleuppner (reporter GAaNF e.V.)

• Kenya is cooperating with organisations like GEZ, Oxfam and others. • Many countries in Africa wouldn't like to join programs (like Agenda 2063/Marshall Plan) because these programs are being perceived as a locally uncontrolled promotion of a western agenda. • The Kenyan diaspora achieved a big contribution e.g. in supporting the kenyan currency. The Kenyan government is aware of this, so relations to Diaspora are taken serious and are networked with. This includes business, investment and private/public partnership models. • The Diaspora can be an important driver because of its understanding of both societies, the mebmers of Diaspora belong to two worlds and are essential for the relations of their home countries to their countries of residence. • Socio-economic activities of the Diaspora include private support, business relations, participation in political activities. • Mutual trust by openness.

Dr. (des.) Sarah Bomkapre Koroma, CEO and Founder Moving Women Empowerment Network: Perspectives in cooperation

• Potential of African women in the diaspora as game changers • "We want to bild a Africa beyond help" - Partnership instead of aid. • Diaspora as a bridges to, and for cooperation • Deutsche Welle reported large number of Africans in Germany, 69% from subsaharan Africa, 49% women. • Money sent home by Diaspora is more than what is being received in Development aids. • Many countries are opening contact offices to promote investments by Diaspora. • People from Diaspora under better the contexts of Germany and their countries of origin. • "Africa needs african solutions!" - linking Diaspora networks to institutions like BMZ. - exchange of ideas. • Training mentorship - using the Internet to promote people. • Improvement of economical relations. • African entepreneurs emerging from Diaspora.

Q/A Question to BMZ on criteria of choosing countries for cooperation • Less but more intensive partnerships are being seeked for. • Reliable measure of political will, e.g. Ghana tackling the big issues. • Concentration on the north: no southern African country currently has applied to be a member of the G20 Compact with Africa initiative / shown initiatives on human rights / press freedom etc. • Reform partnership relies on commitment to framework changes to attract investments.

Summaryby: Florian Schleuppner (reporter GAaNF e.V.)

Change in relations by corona-induced focus on the Internet for cooperation/work? Possibilities for closer cooperation of Diaspora with Africa’s youth? • Jobs and economic opportunities are created in the private sector. • How can government improve economic perspective? • How to solve obstacles like infrastructure and corruption problems? • Citizens should hold their goverments accountable for what works and what doesn’t. Role of corruption • For a sum of 50 Billion US-$ to leave the African continent as illicit financial flow, it takes two to tangle, improving transparency in the financial sector is an enormous task for the EU, the G20 etc. to make it harder for illicitly aquired fortunes to be brought out of the country, and not only out but also in Africa. • The challenge in cooporation is how to make it corruption proof, in a way that none of these funds go into channels or pockets where they don’t belong. BMZ is having a very tight regime on this. • Strengthening the institutions that budgets are used in the way they are meant for. • Are we willing to work together with ‚a little less democratic‘ countries, considering potential international conflicts, for example with China?

More questions or information through “[email protected]”

Summaryby: Florian Schleuppner (reporter GAaNF e.V.)