Background to the Series

Africa is the youngest continent in the world. While Europe is aging and already facing drastic labor shortages, the median age in Africa is 19. By 2030, African youth is expected to make up more than 40% of the global young population. It is these young people who are driving the creativity and ingenuity seen on display across Africa, with their embrace of technology-based innovation and an appetite for jobs that will shape a climate-resilient and sustainable future. In addition, this young population means that the world will see a rapid shift of market-based demands towards Africa in the near future.

African countries also have an abundance of the natural resources craved by the world as it seeks to transition from fossil fueled economies to sustainable energy production for a liveable future. These resources undoubtedly give African countries an edge and position them as a viable partner in the next decades. Africa might well become the world’s hotspot for renewable energy production. The conditions are right: Its young population’s eagerness to enter tech industries, the continent’s potential as the manufacturing destination of the world, the abundance of natural resources at hand, and the desire of Africans to move up the minerals value chain. This is a mere glimpse of the place already or soon to be occupied by Africa in the world.

Little wonder, then, that Africa is being courted by different actors for geopolitical and geo-economic reasons - from the United States of America to the European Union, from China to Russia, and from India to Turkey. This begs the question: What does this increased foreign attention mean for African policy-makers and civil society? This is one of the key questions that will be discussed within the framework of a new, APRI, High-Level Roundtable Series titled ‘Africa in the World’.

Each iteration of the series will be convened in partnership with a German federal ministry or other key actors. The series will discuss, debate and underline Africa’s positioning in the world and how stakeholders from the continent are negotiating and managing current and future collaborations with partners around the globe. To that end, events throughout the series will bring together spokespeople from the continent, German policy-makers, civil society and other stakeholders in foreign and development policy.

The Opening Event

The opening event of this series took place on January 24, 2024, in Berlin, in person. In addition to this, and to allow for questions to be taken both offline and online during the Q&A session, the event was live streamed. The panelist discussion was moderated by the Executive Director of APRI, Dr. Olumide Abimbola. After the event, an events note, in the form of a policy brief, will be published, highlighting the key points of discussion at the event.

The Speakers

Svenja Schulze
Keynote Speaker

Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation.

Birgit Pickel
Speaker

Birgit Pickel, Director-General for Africa in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Hon. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo
Speaker

Hon. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, former Cabinet Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Botswana.

Ahunna Eziakonwa
Speaker

Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa.

Henry Alt-Haaker
Speaker

Henry Alt-Haaker, Senior Vice President, Robert Bosch Stiftung.

Moderation

Dr. Olumide Abimbola
Moderator

Dr. Olumide Abimbola, Executive Director, Africa Policy Research Institute.