The potential of entrepreneurial innovation, civil society and territorial dialogue

29 March 2024. Brussels Africa Political Outlook 2024. The Africa Political Outlook is a summit bringing together committed African, European and international experts, diplomats, political and economic decision-makers, with a view to discussing the major governance issues of the African continent.

Panel #1 Autopsy of the Global Gateway: dynamics in relations between the EU and Africa

The European Commission has developed the “Global Gateway”, a new European strategy aiming to mobilize up to 300 billion euros of investments between 2021 and 2027 to finance sustainable and high value-added projects in the digital fields. , energy and transport. This strategy also aims to strengthen health, education and research systems throughout the world.

The first major step in this strategy was the allocation of an Africa-Europe investment envelope of around 150 billion euros, to strengthen cooperation with African partners. As the Commission's mandate comes to an end in a few months, what initial assessment can we draw from the implementation of this strategy?

Junior LODGE, Deputy Secretary General, Secretariat of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States - Initial feedback on the implementation of the Global Gateway
Bertin Mampaka MANKAMBA, Former Vice-President of the Belgian Parliament, Senator and Alderman - A new deal in Africa's European ambition
Salima YENBOU, Member of the European Parliament
Jean de WETTER, Director General, ENABEL (Belgian Cooperation Agency)
Stefano PALMIERI, Vice-President of the “Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion” section of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Member of the ACP-EU monitoring committee
Moderator: Priscilla Wolmer, Editor, Africa 54 States

Panel #2 Resurgence of coups in Africa: rethinking, reinventing and rebuilding democracies

Some countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced several coups in a short period of
time; both states spent a third of their postcolonial history under military rule. How can we explain this democratic slowdown? Does an African-style democracy appear as a new political paradigm? How to design or consolidate strong institutions?

Panel #3 Investing in Africa: the AfCFTA, the diaspora and impact investment as new catalysts for emergence

Africa receives only 3% of global investment, hampering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is estimated that it will take $194 billion per year to close the financing gap by 2030. This session explores: (a) The transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – for a unified market of 1.3 billion people and a GDP of $3.4 trillion. (b) Engage the African diaspora – leveraging their new capital, expertise and “glocal” connections to fuel sustainable development. (c) The rise of impact investing – to attract investments that generate, in addition to financial returns, a positive social and environmental impact.

Cheikh Al-moustapha KOUYATEH Roving Ambassador, Special Envoy of the President of Liberia HE Mr. Joseph Boakai
Paramita DASGUPTA National Advisor and Head of Economics, International Finance Corporation (IFC), representing Makhtar Diop, Managing Director and Executive Vice-President, IFC Pictures
Richard MILLER Former Special Advisor to President Louis Michel Moderator Pictures
Moderator: Viwanou GNASSOUNOU Former Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

Panel #4 Building on our commons: the potential of entrepreneurial innovation, civil society and territorial dialogue

How to connect European and African innovation ecosystems?

Moderator: Samuel VICKO, Co-Founder, BlackNetwork
Professor François GRUSSON, Founder & President of the La Fabrique Group, President of the National Council of Schools of Architecture of France - The future of urbanization in Africa
Alhadji Allie BANGURA, Founder ADAN Impact and ADAN eVS - United Diasporas of Africa: beyond the remittance paradigm
Hon. Lydia Mutyebele NGOI, Deputy Mayor of the City of Brussels
Kalvin Soiresse NJALL, President, Brussels French-speaking Parliament
Peter BenHur NYEKO, CEO & Co-founder, Mandulis Energy

Mandulis Energy took part of the UpLink - World Economic Forum delegation of Top Innovators
attending the World Economic Forum annual meeting WEF2024 in Davos.

Mandulis Energy develops, owns and operates renewable energy projects in Africa. WIt started in Uganda, where it pioneered private sector led deployment of on-grid and off-grid renewable energy infrastructure. Crucially,
Mandulis Energy is committed to creating and deploying new technologies and business models, to address the energy access "trilemma" by reconciling reliability, sustainability and affordability.
Mandulis Energy is member of the Circular Accelerator of Accenture in partnership with UpLink, EcoLab, Anglo American and AWS.

Panel #5 Impact of the 2024 European elections on EU-Africa relations

The election results could lead to changes in key EU policies impacting Africa, including development cooperation, trade, migration and security. A rise of populist or Eurosceptic parties could potentially call into question long-standing commitments and partnerships. New faces at the head of the European Commission and Parliament could bring new perspectives and priorities.

Friday, March 29, 2024