Cooperation with Africa

Cooperation with Africa south of the Sahara is a German development policy focal point. The continent has undergone substantial developments in recent years, during which the economies of sub-Saharan African nations have enjoyed considerable growth. This has been supported in part by the debt relief programmes backed by the industrialised nations. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) initiated by African heads of state has also had a positive effect. The founding of the African Union (AU) in 2002 and the Pan-African Parliament two years later were milestones for sustainable political development towards democracy and the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. These are clear signs of the will and ability of our African partner countries to take their development into their own hands.

And yet: Africa continues to battle poverty, crises and conflicts. Natural catastrophes, poor governance and the HIV/AIDS pandemic limit reform processes in many African nations. A great deal still has to be done if the Millennium Development Goals are to be reached. Those involved in shaping processes of change must have the skills to ensure these measures are designed to best meet each country’s needs. This would release tremendous development potential. Inwent’s capacity building programmes are an important part of this process.

Inwent cooperates with partner countries in Africa – primarily on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – on many issues. The most important of these are: good governance, processes of reform, sustainable economic development, water, peace and security, health and HIV/AIDS, and education. The heads of the G8 states emphasised these focal points at the 2007 summit in Heiligendamm. Inwent’s programmes are designed to be cross-national so that they encourage regional exchange and bi- and multilateral dialogue. Our primary partners are the Southern African Development Community (SADC) the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Agency on Development (IGAD)and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) along with the African Union (AU) with its NEPAD initiative, and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Information about Africa from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)