The European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) with the support of the Regional Bureau Africa (RBA) of UNDP has undertaken practical analysis on the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on Africa and on the Africa-Europe partnership. This analysis served as an input in a major event that was organised in Brussels on November 30 and on December 1, 2022. Participants included, amongst others, key European and African policy makers, UN agencies and a range of civil society organisations such as leading think tanks and knowledge centres from both Africa and Europe.
EBCAM Chief Operating Officer, Petros Makris-Kourkoulos and Research Assistant, Anna Maria Totokotsi had the opportunity to attend in-person this insightful event and discuss with the participants about crucial issues. We were delighted to learn, among others, how hydrogen energy plans and efficient food supply value chains could become reality and what changes are necessary in African governance and in financial mechanisms in order support these plans.
On November 30 discussions began with an evening high level panel with African and European policy makers followed by a reception. The event took place at the Swedish Permanent Representation and at the same time it was streamed.
On December 1 a full day hybrid event was organized with more in-depth expert discussions aimed to address the implications of the COVID-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine for Africa and Africa-Europe relations and possible ways to deal with these in four different thematic areas:
1.Africa and Europe in the aftermath of COP27: How to deliver results in times of crisis?
2.Growing food insecurity in Africa: How to avoid a new food crisis?
3.Rising authoritarian rule and conflicts: How to turn the tide?
4.Financing sustainability: How to mobilise more and better development finance in times of scarcity?
For your information you can find below the brief papers that summarize the discussed thematic areas:
The implications of global multi-crises for EU-Africa relations. In the food security domain
Implications of COVID-19 and Russia’s war in Ukraine for EU-Africa relations – Development finance