December 19, 2013
Posted: 12:06 PM CEST
by ecdpm
in Africa Change Dynamics, Conflict, security and resilience, Cross-cutting issues, ECDPM, Economic Governance, Food security, Political economy analysis, Strengthening European External Action, Trade and Regional integration
This year a lot had happened in international development and co-operation. The EU External Action Service review was launched, the African Union celebrated its’ 50th anniversary, and dialogue around the post-2015 agenda began to take centre stage. We look back over the last year of ECDPM blogs and share the top ten of 2013. The most viewed blogs have covered topics from political economy analysis to regional integration in Southern Africa. Top ten blogs of 2013: EEAS review and development: yet another EU coordination challenge? What and who drives regional integration in Southern Africa? Le ...
“Trevor, where are my weights?” At 4 am, those must have been Mandela’s first morning words as a free man on 12 February 1990. Trevor Manuel was one of the Cape leaders of the United Democratic Front, and an organiser of the welcoming committee for Mandela’s release. This anecdote says a lot about Mandela. About his discipline to stay fit. About his fine nose for talent (six years later, President Mandela will ask the ex-political street fighter Trevor to become South Africa’s first black Minister of Finance). Without a masters degree in economics, Trevor would ...
+++ ECDPM Challenges blog series. Post number five +++ “You are not alone at the party. There is already someone at the table” - the words of a participant shared at the recent conference “Beyond 2014: Are EU-Africa Relations still fit for purpose?”, organised jointly by ECDPM and its partners from the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG). Indeed, EU-Africa relations do not operate on a clean canvas. They exist in a space where different partners have to engage on the basis of mutual interest. The partnership also operates in a context of a rich history of ...
Transcription: Même si il ya maintenant un nouveau président au Mali suite à un processus electoral organisé en hâte, , le développement , la gouvernance et la sécurité dans la région de l’Afrique du Nord -Ouest , une région également appelée le Sahel ( nous parlons de personnes qui vivent au Mali, Mauritanie, Algérie, Niger, Burkina Faso, Libye, le Tchad , mais aussi des pays voisins) est toujours un sujet de préoccupation pour les décideurs politiques africains et européens. Question 1: Pourquoi le Sahel est-il important pour les relations Afrique -Europe ? En fait, il ...
Transcript In the wider context of the discussion of EU-Africa relations and ahead of both the European Think Tanks Group conference and the EU-Africa summit it 2014 we asked some people at ECDPM what they thought were challenges for EU-Africa relations. Dr James Mackie, senior advisor on EU development policy: I think EU-Africa relations can be frustrating in that they… take time. That’s not just because the political processes are slow and there are a lot of actors involved etc. But the protagonists on both sides are quite demanding of each other. The Europeans tend ...
We want to know what you think are the important topics on the lead up to the EU-Africa Summit 2014 in April. In early September we will be setting up an external webpage, which will provide a space for debates and discussions around all the key issues on the run up to the Summit. We want as many voices as possible and that’s where you come in. Blog guidelines The blogs need to be no more than 800 words. They can cover any topic you like as long as it is relevant to Africa Europe ...
Just remember when you are over the hill, you begin to pick up speed Charles M. Schulz The African Union (AU) turned 50 on 23rd May 2013. In a person’s life, that’s a major milestone. Generally at this age, some are either facing a middle-life crisis or looking back happily at their busy life’s accomplishments, hoping for a peaceful future, but that can be sobering and liberating. Sobering because you suddenly realise that there’s a finite span to accomplish all what you want. Liberating because you make the choice to drop non-essential concerns and to ...
This is a special French translation of the original ”Mali donors’ conference: towards low cost solutions” blog as the issues discussed are relevant to a large French speaking audience. La conférence des bailleurs pour le Mali du 15 mai organisée à Bruxelles par l’UE et la France “en collaboration étroite avec le Mali” a rassemblé des promesses de fonds dépassant les 3 milliards d’euros. Elle a certes rassemblé plusieurs centaines de participants du Sahel, d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du monde, mais était-ce juste une nouvelle grand-messe entre donateurs et bénéficiaires ? Les déclarations qui ont suivi la conférence seront ...
The 21st African Union (AU) Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was anchored by the theme Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance. It incorporated the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which is now the African Union. The new spirit of Pan-Africanism is to create a continent free from poverty and conflict that advances African narratives of opportunities, progress and development. A Solemn Declaration of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU was adopted by the African Union Heads of State and Government on 26 ...
On May 25 this year, the African Union celebrates its golden jubilee anniversary in Addis Ababa. The event will be marked by numerous milestones, and is under the theme of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. Beyond the confetti, however, there is a desire for the next 50 years to be sung to a better tune: one that is based on improved socio-economic opportunities, peace and political stability on the continent. One that builds upon constructive and strategic partnerships with old partners and newcomers that match the interests and the needs of the continent. The African Union ...
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