Registration open for the 7TH EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF22)
The European Commission and African Union Commission have opened registration for the 7TH EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF22) (Please register here). The Forum is centered on building stronger value chains for sustainable growth and decent jobs and will take place in Brussels physically on 16-17 February 2022 (subject to applicable COVID related restrictions) and online during the whole week of 14 February.
The European Business council for Africa (EBCAM) is a co-organiser and will lead four High-Level Panels representing the European private sector.
Lunch Dialogue – EIB Finance in Africa Report
On Thursday the 9th of December, between 13h00 and 14h30 (CET), the European Investment Bank (EIB) invites you to join their hybrid Lunch Dialogue event on their recently published EIB Finance in Africa Report to discuss green, smart and inclusive private sector development.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the private sector in Africa, posing a threat to many firms, workers and their livelihoods. Like other regions in the world, Africa also faces the dual challenges of climate change and the digital transition. Africa has been at the forefront of the digital finance revolution, leading to many innovations in the digital sphere. In parallel, many African countries are pushing for a green transition of their economies.
The Finance in Africa report examines opportunities for Africa’s financial sector to support the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and contribute to green, smart and inclusive private sector development. It also reviews the role of the EIB in partnering with African financial institutions, supporting them in playing a key role in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and allowing firms to bounce back.
Fourth African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) agriculture ministerial conference
The fourth African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) agricultural ministerial conference will take place on 22 June 2021, co-hosted by the African Union Commission and the European Commission.
The conference, which is taking place under Portugal’s EU Council Presidency, follows previous conferences in 2016 (in Noordwijk, the Netherlands), 2017 and 2019 (both in Rome, Italy). The 2017 conference advanced a number of concrete deliverables that fed into the fifth AU-EU summit of November 2017 (held in in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), while at the 2019 conference, AU and EU member states endorsed a Political Declaration and Action Agenda for the transformation of rural Africa.
CSD on the Sustainable Impact Assessment (SIA) on EU-Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) deepening
The EU and five countries of Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA-5) – Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zimbabwe – are currently negotiating the deepening of the existing EU-ESA Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The negotiations aim at a comprehensive trade agreement, covering trade in goods, services, investment and other trade-related topics, as well as an ambitious chapter on trade and sustainable development. The negotiations were launched on 2 October 2019, and, so far, four negotiation rounds have been held (in January, July, December 2020 and April 2021).
In line with the standard practice, DG Trade has commissioned an independent contractor, LSE Consulting, to undertake a Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA), which will feed into the negotiations. Its purpose is, to provide for a deep assessment of the potential economic, social, human rights and environmental effects of the anticipated new and comprehensive EPA and to undertake an ex-post evaluation of the current agreement. It will be based on a broad consultation of stakeholders and include recommendations for measures.
EDD - European Development Days - 15-16 June (online event)
The 14th edition of the European Development Days on The Green Deal for a Sustainable Future
This year's EDD will take place on 15 - 16 June 2021 and will be fully digital.
Biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental degradation are defining challenges of our generation and require more coordinated and incisive international efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the interlinkages between human health and an healthy planet. The post COVID recovery should be an opportunity to build back greener and more inclusive societies and economies.
In this respect, the European Development Days will provide a decisive moment for analysis and reflection on the road to the CBD COP15 in Kunming in October and the Glasgow COP26 in November 2021.
Promouvoir l'intégration professionnelle des femmes dans la région du Sahel et du lac Tchad - 21 April 2021 (online event)
Le taux d’emploi des femmes en Afrique subsaharienne (59.3 %, OIT en 2017) est le plus élevé au monde (45.8 %). Cependant, la grande majorité des femmes travaille dans l’économie informelle, avec des emplois peu rémunérés. De nombreux pays ont des dispositions légales restreignant la capacité des femmes à obtenir un emploi au même titre qu’un homme ; par exemple, l’accès limité à certaines professions. Des perceptions profondément stéréotypées, des attitudes discriminatoires et pratiques coutumières perdurent.
Parmi les principales stratégies visant à accroître l'autonomisation économique des femmes dans les pays à faible revenu et les pays à revenu intermédiaire, mentionnons l'amélioration de leur accès à l'éducation et à l´enseignement et formation techniques et professionnels et à des emplois à temps complet rémunérés et productifs.
Le programme ARCHIPELAGO adhère aux stratégies mentionnées plus haut.À cet égard chaque projet ARCHIPELAGO doit inclure un minimum de 40% des femmes dans toutes ses activités de formation professionnelle et de formation à l’entrepreneuriat.
Extractives Transparency in a post-COVID World: A perspective from Africa - 13 April 2021 (online event)
The COVID-19 pandemic created major challenges for resource rich countries. Oil and gas producers faced a major downturn in revenues and major mining operations ceased production. Even though commodity prices, especially for strategic minerals, have since bounced back, these trends had an adverse impact on public expenditures at a time that spending needs in response to the health and economic crisis were acute. The EITI, with its focus on maximising the value of a country’s natural resources for all citizens for all 55 members, is seeking to enhance the relevance of reporting by governments and companies to contribute to informed public debate and policy decisions on the use of revenues from these resources. Reconciling energy access with the imperative towards a low carbon energy transition will be a major challenge for EITI implementing countries going forward and this calls for innovative responses in a post-COVID world. Mark Robinson will set out the strategic priorities for the EITI in the post-COVID world, while Mdm. Coll-Seck will share the insights on the value of the EITI to implementing countries in Africa.
Archipelago webinar: Professional integration of women in the Sahel and Lake Chad region - 21 April 2021 (online event)
[FR]
SEMINAIRE EN LIGNE: PROMOUVOIR L'INTEGRATION PROFESSIONNELLE DES FEMMES DANS LA REGION DU SAHEL ET DU LAC TCHAD
Ce séminaire est un événement en ligne organisé par le programme ARCHIPELAGO. L’hébergement du séminaire sur la plateforme Zoom est assurée par EUROCHAMBRES, partenaire au sein du consortium du programme ARCHIPELAGO. En vous inscrivant à cet événement, vous consentez à ce que vos données personnelles, comme indiqué dans le formulaire d'inscription, soient collectées, traitées et stockées conformément à la législation applicable et à la politique de confidentialité. Vous autorisez également l'organisateur à transférer les données vers l'Union européenne en cas d'activités cofinancées.
COVID-19: How can the EU support its partner countries to avoid and resolve debt crises? - 19 March 2021 (online event)
Many developing countries will not find their way out of the COVID-19 crisis on their own, and in addition to the direct public health and economic implications face both immediate and medium-term fiscal challenges. As long-standing providers of concessional finance and direct investment to developing countries, the international community, including also the European Union, has a shared interest to support these countries.
The European Union recognises this responsibility and on 30 November 2020 adopted Council Conclusions in which it committed to furthering international debt restructuring and relief efforts for African countries. The EU has also supported the G20/Paris Club “Debt Service Suspension Initiative” (DSSI), and the G20 and Paris Club “Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI”. In addition, the EU decided to contribute €183 million to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) for debt relief on IMF loans in the 29 poorest and most vulnerable countries. Yet these measures are not sufficient to avoid and resolve debt crises in developing countries.
This event is co-organised in collaboration with the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), which is a network of European independent think tanks working on EU international cooperation for global sustainable development.
Rising Inequalities – What are the implications for policymaking? - 12 March 2021 (online event)
The long-term trend toward rising inequalities or persistently high levels of inequalities in many countries raises major challenges for economic growth, social cohesion and financial stability. Added to this, the short and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic increase the challenge and urgency for policy makers to respond with policies that can counter the trend and ease the shock, especially for developing countries.
This virtual Infopoint Conference will discuss, on the basis of a recent paper by Juergen Zattler, the driving forces of growing inequalities, and their economic, political and social implications, with a special focus on developing countries. It will also discuss how policymakers can fight these trends, and in particular the role that development cooperation policy can play. Click here to read the paper by Juergen Zattler.