JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL for a renewed impetus of the Africa-EU Partnership
Date: 2017-05-04
Institutions: European Commission, European External Action Service
Subjects: Africa, democratisation, education, energy policy, farming sector, investment, job creation, migration, peaceful co-existence, political cooperation

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 4.5.2017  JOIN(2017) 17 final   JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL for a renewed impetus of the Africa-EU Partnership {SWD(2017) 150 final} {SWD(2017) 151 final}  
 
 
Contents 

1. 

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 3 

2.  A CHANGING LANDSCAPE IN AFRICA .............................................................. 3 

3.  EU STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ 5 

4.  A STRONGER POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP ......................................................... 6 

5.  TURNING STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES INTO ACTIONS ....................................... 6 

A. 
B. 
C. 

5.1.  More resilient States and societies .................................................................... 6 
Prevent conflicts, address crises and peacebuilding ............................ 7 
Strengthen governance systems ........................................................... 8 
Manage migration and mobility ........................................................ 12 
5.2.  More and better jobs, especially for youth ...................................................... 15 
Attract responsible and sustainable investments ............................... 15 
Energise Africa .................................................................................. 17 
Transform  African  agriculture  and  agro-businesses,  and  its 
blue economy, including fisheries ..................................................... 19 
Advance knowledge and skills .......................................................... 21 

A. 
B. 
C. 

D. 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

2017  is  a  defining  year  for  the  partnership  between  Europe  and  Africa.  In  a  rapidly 
changing  global  landscape,  Africa  is  experiencing  profound  economic,  political  and 
societal changes, and its importance to the internal and external dimensions of Europe's 
security and prosperity is becoming ever more obvious. Europe and Africa have much to 
gain from increased political and economic ties, but also a lot to lose if they fail to act.  

The  5th  Africa-EU  Summit  due  to  take  place  in  November  2017  provides  a  critical 
opportunity  for  African  and  European  Leaders  to  respond  to  this  evolving  context  and 
reshape and deepen the Africa-EU partnership.  

This Communication proposes a revitalised framework for joint action that the EU and its 
Member States could bring to the Summit and that could be reflected in a Road Map for 
2018-2020. It envisages a stronger, deeper and more action-oriented strategic partnership 
for more prosperity and stability in the two continents. It sets out policy priorities and an 
initial  set  of  concrete  initiatives  for  2018-2020  and  beyond,  to  be  coordinated  and 
strengthened  with  EU  Member  States  and  further  developed  jointly  with  African 
partners, in response to Africa's own Agenda 20631 and building on the Global strategy 
for  the  EU's  Foreign  and  Security  Policy2  It  pays  particular  attention to  the  aspirations 
and  needs  of  youth,  whose  involvement  in  the  overall  process  will  be  strongly 
encouraged.  

It contributes to the ongoing reflection, launched through the Joint Communication on A 
renewed partnership with the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific3, which will 
inform the negotiations that will start in 2018, in view of renewing the EU's longstanding 
partnership with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, in particular the Africa pillar. 

It is guided by international frameworks, such as the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 
Development4, its Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) on financing for development5 
and  the  Paris  Agreement  on  climate  change6.  It  is  consistent  with  other  relevant  EU 
policies.7 

2.  A CHANGING LANDSCAPE IN AFRICA 

In  all  its  diversity,  Africa  is  present  on  the  international  scene  with  more  confidence, 
dynamism and optimism than ever before.  

1 AU, Agenda 2063, 2015 
2 Global Strategy on the EU's Foreign and Security Policy, 2016 – further referred to as EU Global Strategy 
3 Joint Communication on A renewed partnership with the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, 
JOIN(2016) 52 final 
4 UN, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015 
5 UN, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 2015 
6 UN, the Paris Agreement, 2015 
7  These  include  notably  the  proposed  new  European  consensus  on  development,  the  European 
neighbourhood policy, and the European agenda on migration and the Valletta action plan, the EU action 
plan on human rights and democracy, the existing legally binding association agreements with the different 
North African countries (except Libya) and the ACP countries. 

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Over  the  last  two  decades,  Africa  has  demonstrated  impressive  economic  progress. 
Positive transformations are taking place in a number of countries. An increasing number 
of African governments and regional organisations are taking a leading role in addressing 
the security, political and poverty reduction challenges within their borders and beyond 
as well as playing a more active role in promoting good governance and the rule of law. 
In  a  number  of  countries,  this  has  allowed  state  and  society  to  become  more  resilient, 
increasing citizens' political participation and progress towards structural transformation. 

Still,  these  encouraging  trends  are  often  fragile  and  not  yet  inclusive  or  sustainable 
enough  to  offer  better  prospects  for  a  large  part  of  the  population,  and  especially  for 
Africa's  growing  numbers  of  young  people.  The  opening  political  space  in  some 
countries contrasts with regressive trends in others. Several countries have been unable to 
reform  and  to  recover  from  conflict  to  the  extent  or  pace  necessary  and  so  suffer  from 
fragility.  Many  countries  still  face  severe  constraints  on  their  sustainable  economic 
development  and  depend  heavily  on  exploiting  natural  resources.  Indeed  overall 
economic  growth  on  the  African  continent  is  currently  slowing  down.  Beyond  local 
factors,  transnational  security  challenges,  in  particular  organised  crime,  including 
trafficking  in  human  beings,  and  terrorism,  pose  threats  to  regional  stability  and 
sustainable development. Environmental degradation on land and sea, the consequences 
of  climate  change,  and  outbreaks  of  infectious  diseases  such  as  Ebola  also  threaten 
progress. The outbreak of famine in South Sudan, in Nigeria and Somalia highlight the 
effect  and  inter-linkages  of  insecurity,  climate  change  and  food  and  water  shortages. 
These  challenges  have  led  to  unprecedented  levels  of  forced  displacements  in  Africa. 
They have also fuelled increased irregular migration, first and foremost within Africa but 
also  towards  Europe,  which  in  turn  increases  pressure  on  political  leadership  and 
governance systems in all countries affected.  

Demographic  dynamics  will  be  one  of  the  most  significant  structural  changes  in  the 
world  in  the  21st  century.  By  2050,  Africa's  population  will  be  2.4  billion  of 
predominantly  young  people8.  The  way  these  changes  will  be  managed  politically  and 
accommodated economically will define the future of the continent and beyond.  

On the one hand, demographic projections in Africa leave little doubt about the crucial 
need  to  generate  millions  of  new  jobs.  According  to  projections9,  Sub-Saharan  Africa 
needs to create 18 million new jobs each year up to 2035 to absorb new labour market 
entrants, compared to the 3 million formal jobs created today. In addition, given the small 
size of the formal sector and the absence of social protection systems in most countries a 
majority  of  young  people  will  continue  to  resort  to  the  informal  economy,  including 
subsistence agriculture, as mode of survival. 

On  the  other  hand,  such  population  growth  potentially  offers  significant  economic 
opportunities.  Overall  private  consumption  driven  by  a  burgeoning  middle  class10  is 

8 UN, World population prospects, 2015. By 2050, instead, the EU's population is projected to fall an 500 
million with a rising share of elders. 

9 IMF, Regional economic outlook, 2015 
10 AfDB, Tracking Africa’s Progress in Figures, 2014 

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projected  to  reach  EUR  2  trillion  annually  in  202511,  and  companies  in  Africa  are 
expected to offer an even larger market, with spending levels projected to reach EUR 3.3 
trillion annually by 2025.  

3.  EU STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 

In this changing and global context, it is clearly in the EU strategic interest to deepen and 
adapt its longstanding partnership with Africa. 

Over the past 10 years, the EU and Africa have already built a stronger and more political 
partnership  based  on  shared  values  and  interests,  enshrined  in  the  Joint  Africa-EU 
Strategy12  (JAES).  Today  the  EU  is  collectively  Africa's  main  foreign  investor13,  its 
principle trading partner14, a key security provider15, its main source of remittances16, and 
its first partner in development and humanitarian assistance17. An ever closer network of 
human  contacts  and  exchanges  strengthens  the  bonds  between  the  peoples  from  both 
continents. 

Building on the JAES, the EU should pursue three interrelated strategic objectives: 

  A  stronger  mutual  engagement  and  an  increased  cooperation  in  the  international 
arena, based on common values and shared interests, including in bilateral relations; 

  Security,  on  land  and  on  sea,  and  the  fight  against  transnational  threats  as  an 

investment in security on both continents;  

  Sustainable and inclusive economic development in Africa, to create the jobs that the 

continent needs and to seize the opportunities it offers to Europe. 

4.  A STRONGER POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP 

Delivering  an  ambitious  common  agenda  requires  first  and  foremost  investment  at 
political  level  to  lift  the  existing  political  relationship  with  Africa  to  a  higher  strategic 
stage. This can be achieved by: 

11 McKinsey Global Institute, Lions on the move II, 2016 
12 Joint Africa-EU Strategy, 2007 
13 EUR 32 billion of EU FDI flows to Africa in 2015 (33% of total FDI flows to Africa); EU accounted for 
33.5% of African imports and 41% of African exports in 2016. The EIB also provides over 2 billion € of 
annual financing in Africa. 
14  The  EU  offers  free  access  to  the  EU  market  for  all  products  via  Economic  Partnership  Agreements 
(EPA) and the Everything But Arms initiative for least developed countries, and many products under Free 
Trade  Agreements  with  Algeria,  Egypt,  Morocco  and  Tunisia,  and  the  Union's  Generalised  Scheme  of 
Preferences. 
15 Through the African Peace Facility alone, the EU channelled funding amounting to over EUR 2 billion 
since  2004.  The  EU  has  also  currently  deployed  7  CSDP  missions  in  Africa,  both  civilian  and  military, 
including operation Atalanta. 
16 EUR 21 billion of remittances from the EU to Africa in 2015 (36% of global flow to Africa). 
17 EUR 21 billion of collective ODA (EU and its Member States) to Africa in 2015 (50% of total ODA to 
Africa). 

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  Deepening  coalitions  on  global  governance  issues,  by  seeking  increased  dialogue 
and effective cooperation within international fora. The African Union (AU) and the 
African group in the UN are strategic partners and key allies to strengthen the role of 
the  UN  and  the  rule-based  global  order  which  is  essential  for  future  peace  and 
prosperity. All partners have a role in enhancing the effectiveness, accountability and 
representativeness  of  the  whole  UN  system,  including  the  Security  Council.  Such 
cooperation  should  seek  to  reform  and  strengthen  multilateral  institutions,  and 
develop  agreements  norms  and  actions  in  response  to  global  challenges  such  as 
climate  change,  epidemics,  pressure  on  natural  resources  as  well  as  migration  and 
mobility and humanitarian crises. Likewise it shall serve to promote and support the 
rule  of  law  and  justice  at  the  international  level,  including  ensuring  justice  and 
accountability  for  the  most  serious  crimes,  in  compliance  with  principles  set  out  in 
the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; 

  Increasing  cooperation  on  common  interests  and  based  on  frequent  political 
interaction,  by  using  the  full  potential  of  the  JAES  and  other  existing  cooperation 
frameworks  and  agreements  at  the  most  appropriate  level  (multilateral,  continental, 
regional, national, local), based on subsidiarity principles. In particular, the EU and 
African  partners  should  re-invigorate  the  political  dialogue  at  ministerial  level,  not 
just on foreign policy issues, but also on sectorial policy initiatives and partnerships; 

  Delivering  a  people-centred  partnership,  by  cementing  people-to-people  and 
business-to-business  contacts  and  exchanges  and  by  strengthening  in  particular 
engagement  with  local  authorities,  the  private  sector  and  civil  society.  This  has 
proven to be challenging and calls for renewed joint efforts. Dialogue with all these 
actors will be encouraged in the run-up to the Summit and beyond. 

5.  TURNING STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES INTO ACTIONS 

The EU's external policy framework and Africa's own reform  Agenda 2063 provide the 
right  guidance  to  turn  these  objectives  into  a  transformative  agenda,  structured  around 
two main strands:  

  Building more resilient states and societies; 

  Creating more and better jobs, especially for youth. 

5.1.  More resilient States and societies 

In Agenda 2063, Africa envisions a peaceful, secure and prosperous Africa, an Africa of 
good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law and an 
Africa  where  development  is  people-driven,  unleashing  the  potential  of  its  youth  –  in 
particular young women – and leaving no one behind. 

These  aspirations  fully  meet  the  EU's  own  values  and  goals,  in  particular  as  fragility 
beyond its borders threatens all its vital interests. 

6 

 
 
A.  Prevent conflicts, address crises and peacebuilding 

Never  before  have  EU  security  interests  been  so  intertwined  with  Africa.  The  direct 
connection between Libya and the Sahel, between the Horn of Africa and the Gulf, call 
for  a  more  strategic  approach  going  beyond  established  formats.  Threats  to  maritime 
security in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea affect directly Europe's 
economy. 

Terrorism,  violent  extremism  and  transnational  organised  crimes,  such  as  trafficking  in 
human  beings,  as  well  as  more  traditional  threats  to  peace  and  stability  (intra-state 
conflicts,  local  conflicts  over  resources,  electoral  violence,  armed  robbery  and  piracy 
etc.), all constitute symptoms of a deeper structural instability and fragility.  

African vision 

In Agenda 2063, Africa aspires to a peaceful and secure continent. With the adoption of 
the  African  Peace  and  Security  Architecture  (APSA),  Africa  ambitions  to  strengthen 
mechanisms for securing peace and reconciliation at all levels, address emerging threats 
to Africa's peace and security; and to put in place strategies for the continent to finance 
its  security  needs.  Paul  Kagame's  report  "The  imperative  to  reinforce  our  Union"  and 
Donal Kaberuka's report on "Securing predictable and sustainable financing for peace in 
Africa18" are important stepping stones to further strengthen this process. 

EU action 

Africa remains one of the centres of gravity of EU action in the field of security. Out of 
33  completed  or  ongoing  civilian  and  military  EU-led  operations,  19  were  deployed  in 
Africa and today, 5 out of 6 current EU-led military operations are deployed in Africa. 
Through the African Peace Facility (APF) alone, the EU channelled substantial funding 
amounting  to  over  EUR  2  billion  since  2004.  This  comes  in  addition  to  important 
security/counter terrorism/radicalisation related assistance programmes at national level, 
and other activities conducted by the EU and by individual Member States. In line with 
the EU Global Strategy the EU wants to reassert its position as a security provider and 
Africa's  key  partner  on  operationalising  the  APSA  and  supporting  regional  strategies, 
hence  contributing  to  ongoing  African  efforts  at  finding  "African  solutions  to  African 
problems". 

The EU proposes to take the partnership a step further by boosting efforts to: 

(i) Further intensify coordination and dialogue, by:  

  Setting up a collaborative platform bringing together European and African partners 
as well as the UN and international actors to build stronger resilience against the full 
spectrum of threats and crisis triggering; 

(ii) Prevent conflicts, by: 

  Strengthening support to the full operationalisation of the APSA and the building of 

African capacities; 

18  It  foresees  in  particular  to  secure  financing  for  the  AU  through  a  0.2%  levy  on  imports  to  African 
countries. This should enable AU member states to fully fund the functioning of the AU Commission and 
to cover 75% of programmes. 

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  Enhancing  security  sector  reform  capacity  building  initiatives,  notably  through 
CSDP19 missions and through complementary support to capacity-building in support 
of security and development; 

  Enhancing  civilian  rule  of  law  and  law  enforcement  capacities  as  well  as  African 
countries' abilities to effectively counter terrorism, piracy, violent radicalisation and 
organised crime, including trafficking in human beings. 

  Enhancing  the  effective  implementation  of  relevant  UNSC  resolutions,  policies  and 

conventions, through providing relevant expertise; 

  Reinforcing  the  availability  of  expert  cooperation  with  individual  African  partners 
including  through  capacity  building  projects  to  enhance  maritime  and  aviation 
security e.g. via the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace20; 

(iii) Address crises and improve conflict management, by: 

  Continuing  to  assist  the  African  Union,  sub  regional  organisations  and  countries  in 
peace support operations through the EU's specific instruments such as the APF and 
through CSDP operations, at their request and where deemed appropriate. Activities 
could  also  include  the  initial  steps  of  post  conflict  peacebuilding  efforts  such  as 
disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.  

Flagships 

  Establish a cooperation platform bringing together the UN, European, African 
and  other 
increase  political  dialogue,  strategic 
to 
discussions  and  joint  actions  in  the  field  of  conflict  prevention,  peacebuilding  and 
development. 

international  partners, 

  Make  an  initial  contribution  to  the  AU  Peace  Fund  provided  its  governance 
structure is in place and continue working with the AU and the UN to implement the 
AU/Kaberuka planon financial sustainability options. 

  Support  African  initiatives  in  the  field  of  maritime  security21  by  upgrading 
maritime awareness strategies, tools and information networks as well as police and 
judiciary systems. 

B.  Strengthen governance systems 

Governance,  development  and  security  are  intimately  linked.  Resilient  societies,  with 
accountable,  democratic,  effective  and  transparent  institutions  at  all  levels,  which  are 
operating  in  a  stable  and  predictable  macro-economic  framework  and  where  human 
rights  are  respected,  are  at  the  core  of  sustainable  development  and  stability.  Such 
societies are also best prepared to adapt, respond to and properly manage changes in the 

19 Common Security and Defence Policy 
20 Regulation (EU) No 230/2014, OJ L77, 15.3.2014 

21 Yaoundé Code of Conduct, Djibouti Code of Conduct, Lomé Charter 

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external  economic  environment,  and  internal  changes,  including  through  delivering 
effectively services to a growing population.  

Progress in governance is uneven. Democracy is gaining ground, but needs to be nurtured 
as  the  integrity  of  electoral  process  is  often  challenged  and  constitutional  changes  or 
attempts  thereof  to  allow  for  incumbents  to  remain  in  power  occur.  Progress  in  the 
promotion and protection of human rights is still unequal and variable due to insufficient 
governance, instability and conflicts.  

Inclusive  participation  of  citizens  in  public  decision  making  and  in  particular  the 
involvement of youth and women in formal political processes will increase trust in state 
institutions.  These  institutions  also  often  lack  capacity  to  function  effectively,  for 
example,  in  areas  such  as  public  finance  management  including  transparency  of  public 
procurement  and  expenditure  and  the  fight  against  corruption  and  fraud.  In  particular, 
domestic revenue mobilisation, a prerequisite for the state being able to deliver, is often 
below the necessary levels and is undermined by Illicit Financial Flows22. At least USD 
50  billion23  leave  the  continent  annually  through  illicit  financial  outflows,  largely 
surpassing the total amount of annual Official Development Assistance (ODA). 

In  all  areas  of  governance,  from  participation  and  empowerment  to  transparency, 
accountability  and  quality  of  delivery  of  public  services,  digital  services24  and 
technologies can play – and are already playing – an important enabling role. Both EU 
and Africa can benefit and learn from each other's experiences. 

African vision 

In  Agenda  2063,  Africa  aspires  to  "be  a  continent  where  democratic  values,  culture, 
practices, universal  principles of  human rights,  gender  equality, justice and the rule of 
law are entrenched", and "have capable institutions and transformative leadership at all 
levels". It envisages a people-centred development where citizens actively participate in 
the  social,  economic  and  political  development,  and  where  institutions  are  accountable 
and  deliver  effective  and  efficient  services  with  competent  professionals.  With  the 
African  Governance  Architecture  the  continent  has  equipped  itself  with  an  important 
framework  for  coordination  and  democracy-building.  The  African  Peer  Review 
Mechanism, a unique Africa-owned instrument, is a key pillar of this architecture. 

EU action 

The EU is Africa's main partner in governance, democracy, rule of law and human rights, 
with  strong  and  longstanding  engagement  at  national,  regional  and  continental  level  as 
fundamental  element  of  its  relationship.25  Structural  political  dialogues  are  held  with 
most African countries in line with the articles on political dialogue under the respective 
association  agreement  e.g.  Article  8  of  the  Cotonou  Agreement  for  African  ACP 
countries. In addition the EU provides substantial support for the implementation of the 

22  Unrecorded  capital  flows  derived  from  corruption,  criminal  activity,  tax  evasion  and  laundered 
commercial transactions 
23 Report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, 2014 
24 Commission Staff Working Document, "Digital for Development", SWD(2017)  
25 Over EUR 3.3 billion are foreseen for 2014-2020 by the EU 

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African  governance  commitments,  through  programmes  with  national,  regional  and 
continental  institutions,  complemented  by  actions  aiming  at  strengthening  local 
authorities and civil society participation in policy dialogue. The EU is also supporting 
African  countries'  efforts  to  mobilise  more  domestic  resources,  improve  public  finance 
management and ensure debt sustainability, in particular through the implementation of 
the "Collect more, Spend better26" approach, based on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. 

Building  on  its  experience  the  EU  proposes  to  take  the  partnership  a  step  further  by 
boosting efforts to: 

(i) Support democracy and promote human rights and the rule of law, by  

-  Strengthening  and  expanding  the  political  dialogues  with  partner  countries  using  to 

the full provisions of existing frameworks and agreements;  

-  Encouraging  the  ratification  and  implementation  of  international  and  AU's  own 

human rights instruments at national level; 

-  Further  strengthening  confidence 

through  enhanced 
cooperation on Electoral Observation, in particular with the AU, including follow-up 
to electoral observation recommendations; 

in  democratic  processes 

-  Strengthening  dialogue  and  information  exchange,  drawing  lessons  and  extracting 
best practices from electoral observation missions that have cooperated on the ground 
in  the  past,  democracy  cooperation  programmes  and  support  to  the  African 
Governance  Architecture  by  developing  contacts  and  joint  events  with  all 
stakeholders  including  government,  political  parties,  parliamentary  assemblies  and 
civil  society,  to  share  experiences  and  expertise  and  identify  ways  to  strengthen 
democracy across the two continents. 

(ii) Promote accountable, transparent and responsive governance, by: 

-  Supporting  institutions'  capacity  to  offer  opportunities  for  the  increasing  number  of 

youth to participate in all levels of societies; 

- 

Increasing  the  participation  of  citizens  in  decision  making  processes,  enhancing 
transparency and accountability of public administration, as well as the efficiency and 
quality in delivering public services, notably through the deployment of eGovernance 
services,  while  ensuring  respect  for  privacy  and  a  high  level  of  personal  data 
protection; 

-  Strengthening  joint  efforts  to  facilitate,  preserve,  and  broaden  the  space  for  civil 

society engagement in advocacy and policy shaping; 

-  Supporting a  stronger role and capacity  for local authorities in  particular to  address 
the  challenges 
the 
implementation of the African Charter on Local Governance and the AHCLA27 and 
by facilitating twinnings; 

rapid  urbanisation,  notably  by  supporting 

related 

to 

26 Commission Staff Working Document, 'Collect More – Spend Better', SWD(2015) 198 
27 African Union High Council of Local Authorities 

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-  Deepening the empowerment of women, youth as well as vulnerable people, through 
targeted  programmes  fostering  their  participation  in  decision  making  processes  and 
ensuring  equal  access  for  all  to  quality  education  and  vocational  and  training, 
adequate  and  sustainable  social  protection,  as  well  as  universal  health  coverage, 
including  vaccination,  reproductive  health  care  and  prevention  of  communicable 
disease; 

-  Fostering  cooperation  on  public  finance  management,  including  with  a  focus  on 
proactive  policies/instruments  fighting  corruption,  and  fraud  and  ensuring  efficient 
control systems for public finance by supporting capacity development in areas such 
as  reforms  to  tax  policy,  tax  administration,  and  revenue  management  from  natural 
resources, as well as combatting illicit financial flows, in the follow-up of the Addis 
Ababa Agenda for Action; 

(iii) Building resilience to environmental degradation and humanitarian crises, by: 

- 

Increased  effort  to  support  governments'  investment  in  disaster  risk  reduction, 
capacity building for early action, protracted displacement crises and the provision of 
basic needs to better withstand, adapt, and recover from stress, shocks and traumas, 
including in urban settings; 

-  Helping  African  partners  to  address  vulnerability  to  disease  outbreaks  and  other 
health threats - such as antimicrobial resistance - in particular through strengthening 
health  systems,  building  capacity  for  emergency  preparedness  and  response28,  and 
supporting sanitation and provision of clean water; 

-  Strengthening  Africa's  own  capacity 

to  manage  environmental  and  societal 
challenges through the use of space technologies and information including data and 
services provided by the European Earth Observation Programme Copernicus; 

-  Facilitating  improved  social  and  environmental  conditions  in  relation  to  the 
exploitation  of  natural  resources,  including  in  the  process  of  minerals  extraction, 
processing and recycling. 

Flagships 

  Strengthen dialogue and information exchange on democracy support starting with a 
Joint  AU-EU  high-level  conference  on  electoral  processes,  democracy  and 
governance  in  Africa  and  Europe;  in  line  with  African  and  European  policies, 
involving  relevant  institutions,  including  the  Pan-African  and  European  Parliament, 
as well as civil society and academia; 

  Double support to domestic resource mobilisation by 2020, in line with the Addis 

Tax Initiative; 

  Joint action to strengthen sustainable management of natural resources, notably 

via the elaboration of a joint EU-Africa Charter. 

28  This  includes  working  through  the  European  and  Developing  Countries  Clinical  Trials  Partnership 

programme (EDCTP2) on poverty-related infectious diseases. 

11 

 
 
                                                            
C.  Manage migration and mobility 

Mobility and migration constitute important economic, security-related and social issues 
in both Africa and Europe. They can enrich and strengthen societies but also destabilise 
them  if  not  managed  properly.  With  migration  and  mobility  flows  -  including  forced 
displacement - at record high levels within Africa, and at the same time with increasing 
numbers of migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Europe from Africa, both continents 
have recognised that more needs to be done in particular to prevent hazardous journeys, 
to  reduce  deaths  on  the  route,  and  to  step-up  practical  cooperation.  Africa  and  Europe 
have a shared interest and a shared responsibility, calling also for global solutions, based 
on  the  principle  of  solidarity  and  responsibility-sharing.  The  New  York  Declaration29 
provides  a  very  good  political  framework  for  addressing  large  movements  of  refugees 
and migrants. 

African Vision 

In Agenda 2063, Africa envisions to have dynamic and mutually beneficial links with its 
diaspora and be a continent of seamless borders, to bring an end to the brain drain and 
also  all  forms  of  "illegal  migrations  and  trafficking  of  youth"  whilst  seeking  greater 
mobility  amongst,  for  instance,  academics,  researchers  staff  and  students  -  e.g. 
emphasising  the  importance  of  intra-African  youth  mobility.  Other  priorities  include 
improvements  in  remittances'  mechanisms  and  responsible  labour  migration  policies. 
Furthermore Africa aspires to be a continent with no human trafficking, where organized 
crime and other forms of criminal networks are ended. 

EU action 

The  EU  addresses  migration  in  a  spirit  of  partnership  and  mutual  trust  through 
continuous dialogue and cooperation with its African partners. Important frameworks for 
dialogue  are  already  in  place,  such  as  the  Africa-EU  Migration  and  Mobility  Dialogue 
(MMD).  Further  initiatives  bring  together  European  governments  and  institutions  with 
their counterparts from Central, Western and Northern Africa ('Rabat Process'), and from 
Northern and Eastern Africa ('Khartoum Process'). Leaders from the 31 European and 35 
African countries as members of these two dialogue processes committed to an ambitious 
action plan in Valletta in November 2015.  

The EU's most ambitious and innovative approach to effectively managing migration is 
the  Partnership  Framework30,  which  provides  an  umbrella  for  practical  cooperation  in 
addressing root causes of migration and in migration management between the EU and 
third  countries  of  origin  and  transit,  fully  respecting  humanitarian  and  human  rights 
obligations.  Within  the  spirit  of  the  Partnership  Framework,  the  EU  and  its  Member 
States have recently increased efforts vis-à-vis their partners in Northern Africa in order 
to  save  more  lives  in  the  Mediterranean  and  more  effectively  manage  migratory  flows. 
This  led  to  the  Joint  Communication:  Migration  on  the  Central  Mediterranean  route 

29 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted on 19 September 2016 by the United Nations 
General Assembly 
30 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council 
and  the  European  Investment  Bank  on  establishing  a  new  Partnership  Framework  with  third  countries 
under the European Agenda on Migration COM(2016) 385 final. 

12 

 
                                                            
Managing flows, saving lives31, and was confirmed again by the European Council, in the 
Malta Declaration32 on addressing the Central Mediterranean route.  

The Emergency Trust Fund for Africa33 (EUTF Africa) is a key tool in delivering on the 
commitments made in Valletta, just as it remains of utmost importance to the Partnership 
Framework  approach. Worth over EUR 2.6 billion34 and covering the Sahel region and 
Lake  Chad,  the  Horn  of  Africa  and  North  of  Africa,  the  EUTF  Africa  addresses  root 
causes  of  destabilisation,  irregular  migration,  forced  displacement35  and  trafficking  in 
human  beings  by  supporting  job  creation  and  economic  development,  resilience, 
migration management as well as stability and governance. 

Beyond  these  processes  and  initiatives,  the  proposed  European  External  Investment 
Plan36  (EIP)  will  be  the  EU's  most  powerful  vehicle  for  promoting  investment  and  job 
creation in Africa – contributing to sustainable growth and targeting directly root causes 
of migration and forced displacement. 

Within these existing frameworks, the EU proposes to take the partnership a step further 
by continuing efforts under the Partnership Framework approach, as well as :  

(i) Address regional migration flows and related cross-border challenges, by: 

  Supporting  the  adoption  and  internalisation  of  regulatory  frameworks  conducive  to 

legal migration and mobility within Africa; 

  Addressing forced displacement and promoting international protection based on the 
principle of responsibility sharing, by helping preserve and enhance human capital of 
those  forced  to  flee  their  homes,  ensure  their  protection  and  ultimately  provide 
developmental benefits for the displaced and their hosts;  

  Stepping  up  cooperation  on  border  management,  including  through  the  concept  of 

Integrated Border Management.  

  Working  together  towards  the  finalisation  of  the  Global  Compacts  in  2018  and 

cooperate closely with relevant International Organisations; 

31 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on Migration 
on the Central Mediterranean route - Managing flows, saving lives. JOIN(2017) 4. 
32 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/01/03-malta-declaration/ 
33 Commission Decision C(2015)7293 final of 20 October 2015.  
34 With the European Development Fund as main funding source and pledged contributions from Member 
States and other donors. It announces an additional EUR 200 million in 2017 for the North Africa window 
of the EU Trust Fund for Africa, with a priority focus on migration-related projects concerning Libya, 

35 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic 
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Lives in Dignity: from Aid Dependence to Self-
Reliance, Forced Displacement and Development COM(2016)234. 
36 Commission's proposal for a Regulation on the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) and 
establishing the EFSD Guarantee and the EFSD Guarantee Fund (COM(2016)586); Communication from 
the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  European  Central  Bank,  the  European 
Economic  and  Social  Committee,  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  and  the  European  Investment  Bank, 
"Strengthening European Investments for jobs and growth: Towards a second phase of the European Fund 
for Strategic Investments and a new European External Investment Plan". Brussels, 14.9.2016, COM(2016) 
581 final. 

13 

 
                                                            
(ii) Maximise the dividends of regular migration and mobility and its potential as a 
development driver through:  

  Further support to the work of the African Institute for Remittances; 

 

Improved  knowledge,  operation  and  capacity  of  the  African  diaspora  as  a 
development actor; 

  Further support to diaspora investment and entrepreneurship in countries of origin; 

  Further increase of students and researchers' mobility. 

(iii) Enhance cooperation on irregular migration, by  

  Supporting the implementation of comprehensive legislative frameworks covering all 
aspects of trafficking in human beings and smuggling of persons, in line with the UN 
Convention Against Organised Crime and its supplementing protocols, including by 
stepping up cooperation in the fight against trafficking and smuggling networks; 

  Putting  in  place  adequate  measures  to  manage  incoming,  outgoing  and  transit 
migration  flows,  including  by  promoting  the  establishment  of  reliable  civil 
registration/ID  systems,  and  of  procedures  ensuring  the  respect  of  migrants'  rights 
and of the principle of non-refoulement; 

  Preventing  and  discouraging  the  use  of  irregular  channels  of  migration  and 
strengthening  cooperation  to  facilitate  the  return  and  sustainable  reintegration  of 
irregular migrants, while promoting regular migration and mobility opportunities.  

Flagships 

  Support  African  initiatives  on  regular  Intra-African  migration  and  mobility, 
including support to the development of the Protocol on Free Movement of persons 
in  Africa  and  to  the  Protocol  Relating  to  the  Specific  Right  to  Nationality  and  the 
Eradication of Statelessness in Africa; support to social protection schemes including 
the  portability  of  social  rights;  mechanisms  for  portability  and  recognition  of  skills 
and qualifications.  

  Increase  Africa-EU  cooperation  in  the  fight  against  smuggling  and  trafficking 
networks, including by supporting African states' accession to and implementation of 
the UN "Convention against Transnational Organised Crime" and its supplementing 
protocols. 

5.2.  More and better jobs, especially for youth 

In Agenda 2063, Africa envisions a paradigm shift allowing for "a prosperous continent, 
with  the  means  and  resources  to  drive  its  own  development  and  where  economies  are 
structurally transformed through industrialisation, manufacturing and value addition to 
create shared growth through private sector development, entrepreneurship and decent 
jobs for all".  

With  a  view  to  making  this  paradigm  shift  a  reality,  the  EU  accompanies  Africa's 
industrialisation with the ultimate goal of creating wealth through more and better jobs, 

14 

 
 
 
focusing on increasing labour productivity and quality investments in value-adding and 
labour intensive sectors, particularly in the agri-food sector, in respect of internationally 
agreed labour rights and decent working conditions as well as on women's empowerment. 
At  the  same  time,  it  is  crucial  to  ensure  that  the  economic  transformation  takes  into 
account  the  challenges  and  opportunities  of  climate  change  and  environmental 
sustainability. 

A.  Attract responsible and sustainable investments 

Macroeconomic  stability,  the  creation  of  regional  markets,  an  appropriate  investment 
climate and a diversified value-adding economy are essential for economic development 
and decent job creation.  

The  private  sector  holds  the  largest  potential  for  generating  jobs  and  it  is  therefore 
essential  to  attract  responsible  private  –  domestic  and  foreign  –  investments  in  Africa. 
That  requires  developing  stable  and  open  financial  systems  for  increased  private  sector 
credit  and  creating  an  enabling  investment  climate,  while  encouraging  the  responsible 
conduct  of  investors  respecting  social  and  environmental  standards  and  good  corporate 
governance. 

African vision 

In Agenda 2063, Africa aspires to become "a continent where freedom of people, capital, 
goods  and  services  will  result  in  significant  increases  in  trade  and  investments".  This 
translates  into  the  need  to  promote  "macroeconomic  policies  that  facilitate  growth, 
employment  creation,  investments  and  industrialisation",  and  to  "develop  the  African 
private  sector  through  engagement  and  a  conducive  climate,  fostering  pan-African 
businesses  through  the  growth  of  regional  manufacturing  hubs  and  scaled  up  intra-
African trade".  

EU action 

The  EU  has  been  working  extensively  with  African  partners  to  develop  the  business 
environment  and  investment  climate,  advance  Africa's  economic  integration  process  at 
national,  regional  and  continental  level,  as  well  as  to  crowd  in  public  and  private 
investments  across  the  continent.  Boosting  in  particular  private  investments  in 
complement to scarce public resources is indispensable and lies at the heart of the EIP.  

The EU proposes to take the partnership a step further to :  

(i) Boost massive responsible and sustainable investments in Africa,  in particular in 
the context of the proposed EIP by: 

  Supporting a predictable and conducive investment climate in Africa for responsible 
and sustainable investment, through dialogue with African countries and the private 
sector;  

  Supporting core enabling infrastructures, in particular in sectors including sustainable 
energy, water, transport, information and communications technologies, environment, 
sustainable  use  of  natural  resources  and  blue  growth,  social  infrastructure,  human 
capital ; this will include offering partnerships with EU industry, in particular where 
it is world leader;  

15 

 
  Supporting Africa's entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups 

through dedicated local business support structures and services;  

  Working with international financial institutions and development banks to leverage 
resources  from  capital  markets,  focusing  on  value  adding  sectors  with  the  highest 
potential  for  sustainable  job  creation  and  low-carbon  development,  and  seizing  the 
opportunities offered by the green, blue and circular economy; 

  Promoting  corporate  social  responsibility,  social  entrepreneurship  and  responsible 

business conduct frameworks; 

(ii) Foster European and Africa business relations by: 

  Establishing  a  structured  dialogue  with  European  and  African  private  sector,  via  a 
Sustainable  Business  for  Africa  (SB4A)  platform  in  the  framework  of  the  EIP, 
business fora, and "Economic Diplomacy Missions" of European investors to Africa; 

  Further  strengthening  EU-Africa  trade  relations,  by  ensuring  partners  can  reap  the 
full  benefits  of  the  stable  and  predictable  framework  provided  by  the  Economic 
Partnership  Agreements  (EPA),  Free  Trade  Agreements  and  other  beneficial  trade 
regimes,  in  the  context  of  a  reinforced  multilateral  trading  system.  They  will  also 
benefit from a revised EU Aid for Trade strategy; 

(iii) Support Africa's ambition to build a true inner-African market by: 

  Facilitating trade through sustainable customs reform and modernisation support; 

  Further strengthening the "Pan-African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI)"37 with specific 
emphasis on rolling out a pan-African standardisation system, inspired by EU Single 
Market best practices; 

  Supporting preparations for a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). 

Flagships 

  Generate  massive  EU  investments  in  Africa  via  the  proposed  EIP,  expected  to 
leverage  EUR  44  billion  of  investments  until  2020,  supported  by  a  structured 
dialogue with European and African private sector under a Sustainable Business for 
Africa (SB4A) platform. Synergies will be sought with similar national initiatives by 
EU  Member  States  and  at  multilateral  level,  in  particular  with  the  G20  "Compact 
with Africa". 

  Support a more predictable and conducive investment climate in Africa, notably 
via the endorsement of Africa-EU guiding principles for investment policymaking. 

  Support  Africa's  digital  agenda,  focussing  on  the  deployment  of  eGovernance 
services,  initiatives  and  investments  that  facilitate  the  development  of  agri-business 
through  access  to  and  use  of  market,  climate  and  environmental  data,  and  on  the 
development of open digital research environment to foster skills and knowledge. 

37  PAQI,  officially  inaugurated  in  2013,  aims  at  strengthening  the  development  and  implementation  of 
African policies on Standards, Measurement, Conformity Assessment and Accreditation. 

16 

 
 
                                                            
B.  Energise Africa 

Achieving  universal  access  to  affordable,  reliable,  sustainable  and  modern  energy  in 
Africa,  including  in  rural  areas,  is  also  an  opportunity  for  generating  inclusive 
development and jobs for both continents, aligned with the climate challenge. It is in the 
shared  interest  to  enhance  cooperation  based  on  the  common  values  of  clean  energy 
transition that the EU champions and leads globally. 

The  demand  for  electricity  supply  is  expected  to  triple  across  Africa  by  203038  as 
economies  grow,  population  expand  and  urbanise.  Some  700  million, predominantly  in 
Sub-Saharan  Africa,  are  without  access  to  modern  forms  of  energy  today  and  neither 
current  electrification  rates  nor  the  annual  GDP  growth  is  thought  to  be  sufficient  to 
ensure universal energy access. Yet Africa's rich indigenous sustainable energy resources 
far  surpass  its  current  and  prospective  needs.  Realising  Africa's  potential  depends  on 
increased power generation and energy efficient use, better cross-border interconnections 
including  with  Europe  and the right policy framework for governing  the energy sector. 
Public funding alone could not provide the investments needed to meet this demand.  

African vision 

Africa  is  determined  to  participate  in  global  efforts  on  climate  change  mitigation  that 
support and broaden the policy space for sustainable development on the continent. Such 
efforts  include  measures  established  in  African  nationally  determined  contributions  on 
climate  change.  In  Agenda  2063,  Africa  envisions  "harnessing  all  African  energy 
resources 
to  ensure  modern,  efficient,  reliable,  cost-effective,  renewable  and 
environmentally friendly energy for all African households, industries and institutions".  

EU action 

The  EU  has  partnered with  Africa in  the  field  of  energy  for  many  years  and is  leading 
efforts  in  the  Decade  of  Sustainable  Energy  for  all39,  with  the  objective  to  increase 
electricity  generation  and  distribution  by  raising  the  share  of  renewable  energy  and 
reducing the proportion of fossil fuel in the total energy production.  

The  EU  has  set  aspirational  targets  for  its  sustainable  energy  cooperation  with  Sub-
Saharan  Africa40,  contributing  also  to  the  COP21  objectives:  by  2020,  the  EU  will 
support bringing access to sustainable energy to 30 million people, delivering 5 GW of 
renewable energy generation capacity and saving 11 million ton CO2 per year, in support 
to the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI).  

In  the  case  of  North  Africa  the  partnership  on  energy  continues  to  develop  at  regional 
level  in  the  framework  of  the  Union  for  the  Mediterranean.  At  bilateral  level,  the  EU 
works  with  North  African  countries  with  a  wide  portfolio  of  financial  and  technical 
assistance  programs  and,  in  the  specific  case  of  a  key  energy  supplier  like  Algeria, 
through a Strategic Energy Partnership.  

38 IRENA, 2015 
39 In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2014-2024 the Decade of Sustainable Energy 
for All. 
40 Over EUR 2.7 billion are foreseen for 2014-2020 by the EU. 

17 

 
                                                            
The EU proposes to take the partnership a step further by boosting its efforts to:  

(i) Spur public and private investments in renewable energy in Africa, in particular 
in the context of the proposed EIP, by: 

  Facilitating  public-private  cooperation  via  a  high  level  platform  to  build  a  strong 

economic case for accelerated private sector investments in Africa; 

  Playing  a  catalytic  role  by  helping  African  governments  to  improve  the  enabling 
environment for the energy sector. Based on its comprehensive policy frameworks on 
energy  and  climate  including  the  latest  Clean  Energy  for  All  Europeans  package41, 
the EU may share as relevant with African partners a wealth of unique experiences, 
knowledge  and  best  practice  in  policy  analysis  and  regulation  to  trigger  sustainable 
energy  production  and  energy  system  modernisation,  and,  where  relevant,  regional 
market integration; 

  Helping  building  regional  integration  of  energy  markets  in  Africa,  through  the 

harmonisation of electricity regulations;  

  Promoting  cross-border  interconnections  including  with  Europe  to  ensure  a  reliable 

and affordable energy supply; 

(ii) Deepen strategic alliances and collaboration, by:  

 

Intensifying  dialogue  and  coordination  in  the  framework  of  the  Africa-EU  energy 
partnership,  with  EU  Member  States  through  the  EU  Energy  Initiative  (EUEI),  and 
with key partners and initiatives such as G20, G7, SE4All and USAID Power Africa, 
to foster cooperation; 

  Partnering with local authorities in a bottom-up transition to a global low-carbon and 
climate-resilient  economy  and  society,  including  through  initiatives  such  as  the 
Global Covenant of Mayors (which builds on the successful EU Covenant of Mayors) 
and the further extension of its Regional Africa components;  

  Enhancing collaboration between researchers and innovators in the framework of the 

EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue on science, technology and innovation.  

Flagships 

  Deliver the EU contribution to the AREI and reach 5 GW of renewable energy 
generation  capacity  by  2020  while  bringing  access  to  sustainable  energy  to  30 
million people in Africa and saving 11 million tons of CO2 per year. 

  Launch  a  new  initiative  to  facilitate  EU  and  Africa  public-private  cooperation 
on increased investments in Africa's sustainable energy sector via a High Level 
Platform  to  improve  the  investment  climate  and  de-risk  private  investments, 
facilitate  knowledge  sharing  on  innovative  business  and  financing  models  and  best 
practice on public finance leveraging. 

41 COM(2016) 860 final 

18 

 
                                                            
  Launch  a  new  EU-Africa  Research  and  Innovation  Partnership  on  climate 
change  and  sustainable  energy  focusing  on  deployment42  as  well  as  capacity 
building in energy efficiency and renewables and on climate services.  

C.  Transform  African  agriculture  and  agro-businesses,  and  its  blue  economy, 

including fisheries  

Agriculture,  including  livestock,  fisheries  and  aquaculture  are  vital  for  Africa.  It 
represents  the  main  source  of  income  for  some  90%  of  the  continent's  rural  population 
and provides the means of subsistence to an estimated 75% of the labour force, half of 
which  are  women.  Productivity  remains  low  and  based  on  small-scale  subsistence 
farming  and  artisanal  fishing.  Lack  of  capital,  unsustainable  management  of  resources, 
land  property  issues  and  maritime  insecurity  are  key  obstacles  preventing  the  required 
growth.  Africa  is  losing  several  billion  euros  due  to  overexploited  fish  stocks  and  sub-
optimal  fisheries  governance.  Furthermore  the  impacts  of  climate  change  –  current and 
expected – put additional pressure on the sectors.  

Unlocking  the  potential  of  the  food  producing  sectors  appears  to  be  one  of  the  most 
effective ways to address food security, create employment and income opportunities and 
empower hundreds of millions of Africans, in particular the young people. 

African vision 

In  Agenda  2063,  Africa  envisions  to  "transform,  grow  and  industrialise  its  economies 
including  through  value  addition  of  natural  resources,  productivity  plans  and  regional 
value  chains",  while  promoting  "the  implementation  of  industrial  policies  at  all  levels, 
with  focus  on  MSME43s  and  agribusinesses"  and  "strategies  to  grow  the  African 
blue/ocean and green economies"44. 

EU action 

The EU is one of Africa's main partners for agriculture and blue economy development.45 
Its  action  aims  to  enhance  the  role  of  responsible  value  chains  in  rural  and  maritime 
development  programmes  and  to  strengthen  the  accompanying  regulatory  and  policy 
framework, while managing precious resources like water and land in a sustainable way. 

The EU intends to take the partnership a step further by boosting its efforts to: 

42 In line with COM (2016) 763 

43 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 
44  The  transformation  of  Africa's  agriculture  is  anchored  in  the  Comprehensive  Africa  Agriculture 
Development  Programme  (CAADP).  The  African  Union's  2014  Malabo  Declaration  on  Accelerated 
Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods provides further 
impetus to the CAADP and gives direction for agriculture on the continent for the next 10 years. 

45  Over  EUR  4.2  billion  are  foreseen  for  2014-2020  by  the  EU  to  support  actions  related  to  food  and 
nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture and fisheries in Africa 

19 

 
 
                                                            
(i) Spur responsible and sustainable value chain development by: 

  Facilitating  private  sector  investments  along  agro-food  value  chains,  building  on 
initiatives  such  as  the  Agriculture  Financing  Instrument  (AgriFI),  the  proposed  EIP 
and FAO-OECD guidance for responsible agricultural supply chains; 

  Assist  Africa  in  seizing  market  opportunities  for  the  African  food  production.  The 
EPAs  offer  major  opportunities,  including  free  access  to  the  EU,  flexible  rules  for 
sourcing  inputs,  dialogue  and  cooperation  on  agriculture,  and  EPA  implementation 
plans.  For  least-developed  countries  without  EPAs,  free  market  access  is  provided 
through  "Everything  But  Arms".  The  EU  will  also  continue  to  support  the 
development  of  Africa's  capacity  to  comply  with  safety  and  quality  standards, 
including on sanitary and phytosanitary issues; 

 

Increasing  the  sustainable  productivity  of  the  African  fisheries  sector  through 
expanding  as  appropriate 
the  network  of  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership 
Agreements between the EU and African countries, and improving African partners' 
capacity  in  sustainable  fisheries  management  and  the  fight  against  Illegal, 
Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) through cooperation and dialogue under 
the EU's IUU Regulation46;  

  Promoting the implementation of climate action in African agriculture as laid down 

in African countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); 

  Promoting  effective  mainstreaming  of  climate  change  adaptation,  biodiversity 
conservation  and  restoration  and  disaster-risk  reduction  in  African  agriculture 
policies, including through restoration of ecosystems and nature-based solutions; 

(ii) Foster skills, innovation and collaborative research by: 

  Strengthening  the  mobilisation  of  European  and  African  expertise  in  research  and 
innovation, in particular by reinforcing the implementation of the Africa-EU roadmap 
on  Food  and  Nutrition  Security  and  Sustainable  Agriculture47  (FNSSA),  the 
forthcoming  Partnership  for  Research  and  Innovation  in  the  Mediterranean  Area 
(PRIMA) and the All Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance; 

  Enhancing  vocational 

in  agriculture  and  agri-food 
entrepreneurial  activities,  building  on  previous  and  current  support  to  farmers' 
organisations; 

training  and  education 

  Scaling-up support to access to finance, access to connectivity for small farmers and 

the use of e-Agriculture digital services to boost productivity and income; 

Flagships 

46  Regulation  (EC)  No  1005/2008  —  EU  system  to  prevent,  deter  and  eliminate  illegal,  unreported  and 
unregulated fishing 
47 Roadmap towards a jointly funded EU-Africa Research & Innovation Partnership on Food and Nutrition 
Security and Sustainable Agriculture. Addis Ababa, 4-5 April 2016. 

20 

 
 
                                                            
  Spur  value  chain  development  by  facilitating  responsible  investments  for 
sustainable  agri-business  and  blue  economy,  using  the  range  of  instruments 
including AgriFI and the proposed European External Investment Plan.  

  Generate  EU  and  African  investments  to  support  research  and  innovation  in 
agriculture  via  the  EU-Africa  Research  and  Innovation  Partnership  on  FNSSA  and 
increase  the  uptake  of  new  technologies  by  local  communities  for  increased 
agricultural income and nutrition. 

  Expanding  as  appropriate  the  network  of  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership 

Agreements between the EU and African countries.  

D.  Advance knowledge and skills 

Although participation in education in most African countries has increased significantly 
over  the  last  decades,  still  over  20%  of  African  children,  girls  in  particular,  do  not 
complete primary education; about 50% do not have access to secondary education and 
only 7% access tertiary education. Current levels of basic learning, which is necessary for 
young  people  to  continue  their  education  through  Vocational  Education  and  Training 
(VET)  and  higher  education,  are  still  very  low.  Many  young  people  who  manage  to 
complete primary and secondary education leave without the knowledge and skills they 
need for further learning and to be active, responsible and productive citizens. 

There  is  a  mismatch  between  the  skills  that  young  people  receive  through  VET  and 
higher  education,  and  those  needed  for  their  working  life.  Education  and  VET  systems 
need to be more relevant to the needs of the labour market, more closely linked to social 
and  industrial  development,  more  innovative,  and  of  higher  quality.  As  many  young 
people work in the informal sector or need to create their own livelihoods, it is vital they 
have access to entrepreneurial education and training, and business support services to be 
able to integrate the formal sector. 

Better  linking  education,  innovation  and  research  will  enhance  the  contribution  of 
education to jobs and sustainable development, in particular in the fields of distance and 
open learning. 

African vision 

In  Agenda  2063,  Africa  envisions  to  "catalyse  education  and  skills  revolution  and 
actively  promote  science,  technology,  research  and  innovation,  to  build  knowledge, 
human capital, capabilities and skills required to drive innovation". 

EU action 

The  EU  is  Africa's  longstanding  partner  in  the  area  of  education,  from  early  childhood 
and primary to higher education, including VET and entrepreneurial learning48 as well as 
in research and innovation. 

48 In the current programming (2014-2020), the EU is supporting bilateral education and VET programmes 
in Africa with approximately EUR 1.34 billion. In the same period the EU also supports education through 
global initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) with EUR 375 million. 

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The EU promotes equal opportunities, reduced inequalities and increased employability, 
with  social  cohesion,  equity,  diversity,  inclusiveness  and  the  elimination  of  gender 
disparities.  

The EU proposes to take the partnership a step further by boosting its efforts to: 

(i) Support quality education at all levels by: 

 

Increasing  joint  efforts  to  facilitate  access  to  and  completion  of  primary  and 
secondary education for all children, especially girls, through bilateral programmes 
and the Global Partnership for Education; 

  Addressing  gender  and  education,  including  gender-based  violence,  under  an  EU 

Gender Equality Initiative; 

  Further  encourage  African  countries'  participation  in  the  Erasmus+  programme, 
increasing  the  mobility  of  staff  and  students  and  academic  cooperation  thereby 
improving students' skills and the quality of and relevance of education. 

  Further supporting regional mobility and increasing support to the harmonisation of 
higher  education  through  cross-border  programmes,  recognition  of  qualifications, 
improved quality assurance, innovation and to an enhanced "Tuning project"; 

(ii) Extend support for Vocational Education and Training and Entrepreneurship 
by: 

  Launching  an  EU  VET  Facility  that  will  provide  high  level  expertise  to  national 
stakeholders  to  support  transition  processes  towards  more  demand-driven  VET 
systems adapted to the needs and opportunities of the labour market; 

  Supporting  mobility  and  capacity  building  in  Higher  Education  through  Erasmus+, 

and developing pilot projects to extend Erasmus+ VET mobility schemes to Africa; 

  Supporting  capacity-building  projects  promoting  women  and  young  peoples'  active 
participation  in  society  and  the  economy,  notably  through  improving  non-formal 
learning and enhancing synergies between education systems and the labour market; 

  Supporting  the  development  of  digital  skills  and  literacy  and  the  use  of  digital 
technologies  and  services  in  providing  forward  looking,  inclusive  and  high  quality 
education.  This  also  means  supporting  the  capacity  and  skills  of  entrepreneurs, 
including women to use digital technology to build up businesses; 

(iii) Intensify Africa-EU collaboration on research by: 

  Enhancing  collaboration  between  researchers  and  innovators  from  Africa  and 
Europe,  including  through  increasing  professional  development  opportunities  for 
researchers through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and other types of Horizon 
2020 projects; 

  Supporting  research  capacity-building  in  Africa  through  programmes  such  as  the 

African Union Research Grants; 

  Supporting  an  open  digital  research  environment  for  universities  and  research 

organisations in Africa. 

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Flagships 

 

Launch  an  African  Youth  facility,  expanding  the  scope  of  Erasmus+ 
programme through 3 separate initiatives:  

A. "Youth empowerment" programme to develop the capacities of youth 
organisations and promote mobility between young people and young entrepreneurs in 
Africa and Europe.  

B. Pilot a VET mobility project.  

C. Reinforce the African chapter of the Erasmus+ Students and Alumni 

Association. 

 

Establish an EU VET facility to strengthen the labour market relevance of VET 
and promote inclusion of vulnerable groups. 

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