The Netherlands and the EU-Africa partnership
Jennie van der Mheen – Manager International Cooperation Africa
Position paper tbv rondetafelgesprek ‘Economische-, handels- en ontwikkelingsaspecten van de
toekomstige EU-Afrika partnerschapsagenda’, 9 februari 2022
Introduction

Integrated approach in the EU-Africa partnership

The EU seeks to transform its relationship with Africa into a
mutual, equal partnership. This has been set out in the EU’s
Joint Communication ‘Towards a comprehensive Strategy
with Africa’. The ‘kabinetsappreciatie EU-Afrika strategie’
concludes that:
• the Netherlands priorities are convincingly reflected in the
proposals of the Commission;
• the government welcomes the proposed integrated
approach to conflicts and crises;
• as far as the government is concerned, the challenge now
is mainly in the further elaboration of the proposals;
• the Netherlands appreciation regarding the subsidiarity
and proportionality of this proposal is positive. The EU is in
a position to develop and implement policies in an
integrated way through the wide range of European
instruments.

The EU-Africa Partnership identified a number of mutual
interests and responsibilities:
• developing a green growth model;
• improving the business environment and investment
climate;
• boosting education, research and innovation;
• the creation of decent jobs and value addition through
sustainable investments;
• maximising the benefits of regional economic integration
and trade;
• ensuring food security and rural development;
• combatting climate change;
• ensuring access to sustainable energy and protecting
biodiversity and natural resources;
• promoting peace and security;
• ensuring well-governed migration and mobility;
• engaging together on the global scene to strengthen the
multilateral rules-based order, promoting universal values,
human rights, democracy, rule of law and gender equality.
It also states that ‘positive developments in one of these
areas depend on progress in other areas’.

The recommendations in this position paper in short:
➢The Netherlands has more to offer than funding.
➢Organise a more active contribution of Dutch stakeholders
in agenda setting of the EU-Africa Partnership, and in the
implementation of EU programmes.
➢Use the Dutch strength to build local capacities, design
integral (systematic) approaches, engaging all
stakeholders.
➢Science contributes to solving problems. Three EuropeanAfrican ministerial meetings have acknowledged this.
Ensure implementation of such resolutions.
➢Use the network of African experts (African alumni of
Dutch universities and African partner organisations) to
engage in full dialogue, rather than limited discussions
with a few representatives of African organisations like
AUC or AUDA.
➢Involve the African and European research communities in
the development and consultations of Thematic and
country Multi-annual Indicative Plans or the ‘Innovation
Agenda’.
➢To fully use the Dutch potential to meaningfully contribute
to EU actions in Africa, develop a joint strategy including
strategic stakeholders.

Wageningen University & Research
Postbus 9101, 6711 HB Wageningen
Contact: jennie.vandermheen@wur.nl

The systems approach is an important element of the
research and education system at WUR. Agriculture is
considered to be more than food production; it includes
management of natural resources, climate change, trade
regimes, competition for investments, research and
innovation, veterinary and public health, food safety,
creating stability, etc. This requires an integrated approach,
like the food systems thinking, to develop coherent policies
and development actions that are interconnected.
The European Union’s Integrated Strategy in the Sahel
proposes to use a triple nexus approach (peace –
development – humanitarian aid) to address root causes of
poverty, violent conflicts and migration. As part of an
integrated and coherent approach, the policy states that the
EU will base its actions on the nexus between humanitarian
aid, support for sustainable development and support for
peace. This is complex, especially in fragile countries where
the authority of the state has eroded. This might possibly be
the reason why few EU actions, implemented by
international organisations, have been developed along the
proposed integrated approach.
The Netherlands is acknowledged for its systems and multiactor (Dutch diamond) approach. It encourages meaningful
participation of multiple stakeholders in the development
and the implementation of actions and policies. Together
with the strengthening of local capacities, the contextsensitive integrated approach sought after by the EU, can
be ensured. Use this Dutch strength to build local
capacities, design integral (systematic) approaches,
engaging all stakeholders.

Operationalisation of the EU-AU partnerships: who
sets the agenda in an equal partnership?

Subsidiarity: Netherlands role in European agenda
setting

European and African interests do not always converge. It is
assumed that the EU’s own priorities are relevant for Africa,
without paying much attention to the impacts these policies
may have on Africa. While climate change and greening the
agri-food sector is a topic of common interest, the EU Green
Deal is not only about mutual benefits. Some probable
consequences are:
• a reduction in agricultural trade between Europe and
Africa;
• additional requirements (barriers) to access the European
market;
• the need to increase food production in Africa.
Achieving higher food production in Africa, while mitigating
the increase of greenhouse gasses (GHG) requires closing
the yield gap with high quality inputs and good agricultural
practices. From this perspective it is questionable if the
research focus on agro-ecology as the main trajectory to
intensify agricultural production in Africa under the Africa
Initiative is the outcome of a discussion among equal
partners.

The Netherlands has a long history of collaboration with
Africa, in trade, development collaboration and research and
education. Dutch universities are highly appreciated in
Africa and many alumni are well positioned in Africa.
There is extensive knowledge on Africa, and long-standing
relations can be mobilised to contribute to Europe’s wish for
a partnership among equals, and an agenda of genuine joint
interests and mutual benefits. The knowledge and
relationships provide a comparative advantage that the
Netherlands government and African partners can use to
influence the agenda’s of the five proposed Africa-Europe
Partnerships under the ‘Comprehensive strategy with Africa’.

WUR is one of the largest trainers of African PhD’s
worldwide. The majority of these African PhD’s return to
their home country. Moreover, our research activities are
implemented with African partner organisations. The
extensive network of African organisations and experts are
very capable to voice their priorities. Use the network of
experts to engage in full dialogue, rather than limited
discussions with a few representatives of African
organisations like AUC or AUDA.
Importance of evidence based policies and
development actions
Incomplete analysis of root causes of problems can lead to
policies and projects with unintended and unnecessary
negative consequences. An example; the rise in food
demand of Africa’s growing population is seen as a good
opportunity to boost job creation in the food economy.
There is a proliferation of youth specific and youth-targeted
interventions. In the Sahel, international development
partners often narrowly frame the problem as a “youth
employment” crisis and presume a causal link with violence.
However, research suggests that
a) joblessness is not the sole explanation for violent
mobilization, but rather the perceived injustices in the
distribution of economic resources, and
b)a focus on youth-targeted interventions distracts
policymakers and stakeholders from developing the
needed policy agenda for structural change.
Science contributes to solving problems. Declarations
of three Africa-Europe ministerial meetings (Research &
Innovation, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs) have recognised the
role of science, technology, innovation, education and skills
development, and have emphasized the importance of joint
collaboration in these fields. Implementation of such
resolutions through involving the African and European
research communities in the development and consultations
of thematic and country Multi-annual Indicative Programmes
or the ‘AU-EU Innovation Agenda’ that will be discussed
during the upcoming Africa-Europe Summit, could be first
steps.

The Netherlands has more to offer than funding.
Organise a more active contribution of Netherlands
stakeholders in agenda setting. Science diplomacy can
help deepening the EU’s engagement with Africa in
identifying mutual benefits and interests.
Subsidiarity: Netherlands role in implementation
The NDICI (Neighbourhood, Development and International
Cooperation Instrument) is the main source of finance to
implement the joint partnerships and policies. A large part
of this financial instrument will be used as a tool for
leveraging private capital through guarantees and blending.
The Dutch private sector has a well recognised innovative
power; yet Africa’s food systems transformation do not
require simply exporting Dutch innovations. For the Dutch
private sector to make a meaningful contribution solving
African challenges, an approach that includes investment in
capacity building is needed.
Another part of NDICI is to be used as grants for
development activities. The Netherlands government can
make use of these EU funds through Delegated Cooperation
Agreements. Experience shows that the Netherlands needs
to advocate more profoundly that it is able to develop
integrated, context specific, and evidence-based
development programmes that can address African
problems. Currently only a handful of European countries
appear to make use of these EU funds.
Grants for joint Research & Innovation cooperation are used
for:
• public health,
• green transition (food, climate change and energy)
• innovation and technology; and
• capacities for science.
The secretariat of the European and Developing Countries
Clinical Trials Partnerships (EDCTP) is based in the
Netherlands. This is seen as a highly successful Partnership,
has received (by far) the largest financial contribution and is
seen as the big example of how to cooperate with Africa.
Because there is unclarity on the financial contribution of
the Netherlands to EDCTP3, it is not certain if the European
secretariat will remain in the Hague.
The Netherlands has the capacities and experiences to
meaningfully contribute to EU actions in Africa. To fully use
this potential requires a joint strategy, under the
leadership of the Netherlands government.