The blog series on Germany’s Africa Policy Guidelines
Joint Futures was both platform and blog, creating a forum for discourse on how Germany can rethink and reimagine its relations with Africa. To this end, from September 2023 to February 2024 a total of 37 authors from academia, civil society, and the policy community outlined their different perspectives on - and visions for - Germany’s relations with Africa. The contributions intended to provide impulses for policy and concrete recommendations for the German government as new Africa policy guidelines were formulated. The resulting series of 47 publications includes interviews, analyses, and opinion pieces, all addressing the question: “How do Germany and its African partners envisage their joint future?”
Joint Futures was a project of Megatrends Afrika. It was funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. Responsibility for content, opinions expressed and sources used in the articles and interviews lies with the respective authors.
© picture alliance / REUTERS | Tiksa Negeri
On the Joint Futures blog, German, European, and African authors addressed a variety of topics that are relevant to Germany’s Africa policy. Have we made the work on the new guidelines easier or more difficult? Here we take stock.
blog Joint Futures 47, 15.02.2024
© picture alliance / REUTERS | BAZ RATNER
In its economic relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany should redouble its efforts to ensure that companies and private investors respect human rights, writes Gilbert Dhego in this Joint Futures blog.
blog Joint Futures 46, 15.02.2024
© picture alliance / dpa | Ahmed Jallanzo
Women are underrepresented in high-level peace processes. Germany’s new Africa Policy Guidelines should prioritise cooperation with regional and national networks to strengthen women’s mediation capacities and aim for inclusiveness in high-level peace negotiations.
blog Joint Futures 44, 13.02.2024
© NICOLAS MAETERLINCK BELGA MAGBelga via AFP
Youth cooperation has great potential to create a more interconnected world, argue Fidelis Stehle and Nadia Islam Tedoldi. This does not just have symbolic value – it is a strategic investment that recognises the interconnectedness of global challenges and the need to work together.
blog Joint Futures 42, 31.01.2024
© picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler
In our interview, Ambassador Sall discusses public opinion, migration, energy and the future of German-African cooperation. He highlights the positive steps taken by the German government, but urges Berlin to strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit.
blog Joint Futures 39, 23.01.2024
© picture alliance/dpa | Michael Matthey
The ongoing crisis in the Sahel shows that traditional instruments of international involvement are no longer adequate to respond to the challenges in security provision and governance. Policymakers need to rethink their approach to addressing insecurity in the region and in Africa more generally
blog Joint Futures 37, 15.01.2024
© picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Liesa Johannssen
Private sector investments play a pivotal role in the economic transformation of the African continent. Edward K. Brown highlights three key areas for Germany to further catalyze Africa's growth: green industrialization, skills development, and trade facilitation.
blog Joint Futures 36, 09.01.2024
© picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler
Following COP28, Jakob Gomolka, Tendai Kasinganeti and Hector Morales Munoz summarize the findings of their African Climate Security Risk Assessment (ACRA). Policy responses such as financing and environmental peacebuilding provide entry points for Germany’s cooperation with African states.
blog Joint Futures 35, 18.12.2023
© picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com | Boniface Muthoni
Africa is urbanising at an unprecedented pace and scale. Despite all the challenges, urbanisation represents a unique opportunity for the structural transformation and development of the continent – if the right measures are taken and supported in time, writes Michael Roll (IDOS).
blog Joint Futures 33, 08.12.2023
© picture alliance / REUTERS | Afolabi Sotunde
Africa and Europe are facing the same global crises and megatrends. This opens up space for an international feminist debate. But “we do not have to have the same feminist politics,” argues Minna Salami (The New Institute). For a start, European politicians need to overcome persistent Eurocentric views.
blog Joint Futures 32, 06.12.2023
© picture alliance / EPA | OLIVIER HOSLET
The EU’s Global Gateway infrastructure investment programme is a new paradigm for cooperation with Africa. Mark Furness & Annabelle Houdret argue that European and German policymakers need to address the practical and moral dilemmas of investing in infrastructure with authoritarian governments, especially in North Africa.
blog Joint Futures 31, 04.12.2023
© picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler
Germany’s Africa policy must maximize co-benefits by focusing on the migration-development nexus, argues Susan Ekoh (IDOS). The government needs to mainstream climate change needs in migration cooperation due to the present realities and future projections of climate-induced mobilities.
blog Joint Futures 30, 01.12.2023
© picture alliance / EPA | Daniel Irungu
Germany’s future depends on Africa in many ways, including with regard to some burning issues such as migration, energy supply and climate change, which can only be solved in cooperation with African partners. Detlef Müller-Mahn and Eric Kioko ask: How do Africans envision their own futures?
blog Joint Futures 28, 24.11.2023
© picture alliance/dpa | Christophe Gateau
Gender-responsive trade policies are crucial for inclusive development across Africa. As trade union consultant and activist Bashiratu Kamal points out in an interview with Megatrends Afrika, there is more than one issue that the Africa Policy Guidelines need to address.
blog Joint Futures 24, 15.11.2023
© picture alliance / Royal Press Europe | Albert Nieboer
Having received inspiration through its cooperation with Germany, the Dutch government has formulated an Africa Strategy that places equality at the heart of its agenda. This means taking responsibility for its place in the world, as well as acknowledging the historical role that Europe has played on the continent. Dr Melle Leenstra, Strategic Policy Advisor at the Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands, reflects on the challenge that the Netherlands has set itself regarding Africa.
blog Joint Futures 20, 06.11.2023
© picture alliance / ZB/euroluftbild.de | Mario Hagen
David Luke argues that the current trade policy framework between Africa and its partners is failing to deliver economic dynamism and growth. It is time for a major rethink of trade policy towards Africa.
blog Joint Futures 18, 01.11.2023
© picture alliance / EPA / Akintunde Akinleye
In an increasingly divided and multipolar world, African countries are navigating how to relate with outside powers. Expect them to pick and choose their allies based on differing scenarios and with economic concerns to be top of mind at a time of deep discontent with living standards across the continent.
blog Joint Futures 17, 30.10.2023
© picture alliance/ AP Photo | Ben Curtis
Germany is proud of its commitment to conflict mediation and its engagement in peace-building efforts. With a focus on the post-conflict communities in the African Great Lakes and the Balkans, Valérie Rosoux asks: “What if reconciliation is not on the agenda?”
blog Joint Futures 14, 24.10.2023
© picture alliance/EPA-EFE | Olivier Hoslet
The EU’s Global Gateway strategy stands at the heart of Brussel’s cooperation with the neighbouring continent. Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, highlights the Team Europe approach in bringing together resources and expertise for Africa, in Africa and increasingly led by Africa.
blog Joint Futures 11, 18.10.2023
African states increasingly seek a trade, not aid partnership with Germany. Berlin will have to invest more in trade promotion, but also encourage the German private sector to develop market strategies for the continent. This will require a sharper Africa strategy that focuses on promoting Africa's market potential among German companies, in addition to stronger commercial diplomacy by German embassies and chambers of commerce.
blog Joint Futures 08, 10.10.2023
© picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Sophie Garcia
Military coups in Africa are on the rise again. The trend is being driven by acute political crises, traditionally politicized militaries and self-reinforcing regional dynamics. German and European policy should address the root causes, and the West should avoid short-sighted geopolitics and revise its Africa policy. Importantly, instruments should be tailored according to local needs.
blog Joint Futures 05, 28.09.2023
© picture alliance / REUTERS | Seun Sanni
Nigeria’s youth is rapidly growing – a significant promise for the country’s future, but a currently untapped potential due to high unemployment. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, explains how Abuja and Berlin could work together to empower youth.
blog Joint Futures 04, 28.09.2023
© picture alliance / EPA | Daniel Irungu
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a watershed moment for Germany. It announced a “Zeitenwende” that promised a new era for defence spending and military deterrence in its foreign policy. Priyal Singh (ISS Africa) explains why African counterparts had a different reaction.
blog Joint Futures 03, 25.09.2023
© picture alliance / photothek | Florian Gaertner
The Federal Foreign Office (FFO) is developing new Africa Policy Guidelines for the Federal Government. In an interview with Megatrends Afrika, Christoph Retzlaff, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel, explains why this is necessary now.
blog Joint Futures 02, 25.09.2023
© picture alliance / EPA | CLEMENS BILAN
The German government wants to work more closely with African partners. How must it change its policy in order to accomplish this? What does it mean to “rethink” Germany’s Africa policy? In our blog series Joint Futures, we gather ideas from experts and discuss ways forward.
blog Joint Futures 01, 25.09.2023
