A new compact for a better life and peace in Africa Global-solutions-to-global-challenges like climate change are our duty
by Judith Helfmann-Hundack, Director for Foreign Trade & Development Policy, German-African Business Association, Berlin/Hamburg*
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starts at a very young age. Children are forced to create their own toys from tin cans, plastic bottles and other things they find thrown away. I believe it is from this very beginning that the incredible innovations emerge. When we think of innovation, we like to think of the newest mobile phone and its applications, sustainable energy producing technology, or a medical breakthrough. But it is not only these high profile innovations that are impressive in Africa – even though statistics have it that the next Einstein will be African.
he focus in Africa has moved from seeking foreign-solutions-for-African-problems to African-solutions-to-African-challenges. With increasing political stability and factors such as abundant minerals and other natural resources, Africa’s future is promising and rewarding, but not only for these Old stereotypes plague Africa reasons. The population of Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to Everybody cites the massive increase in mobile phone usage. double by 2050, and approximately 40% of the population is What are less spoken about are the phone repair services that currently under the age of 15. To benefit from the demographic have also popped up all over the continent. When you have a dividend, governments must not only mobile phone, you want it to last as long tackle population growth but they need as possible, as it is usually a big investto ensure that the upcoming labor force ment. Here, when your phone breaks, it is well educated, skilled, healthy and ecois normal time to find another one. There, Judith Helfmann-Hundack nomically engaged. On the international that is not always the case. Personally, I has been Director of Foreign Trade & Deagenda, the African Union speaks up for had an old phone that no longer funcvelopment Policy at the German-African the continent when it comes to global valtioned, which I had almost given up on Business Association since 2011 and ue chains and especially climate change, while travelling in Ghana. I came across has been seconded to Afrika-Verein bei demanding adapted cooperative support. a little phone repair shop on a side road GIZ on behalf of BMZ (Federal Ministry and decided to see if they could fix it. A for Economic Cooperation and Develfew minutes later I was given a reconIncredible innovations emerge opment). She studied international law structed phone, working perfectly. When I tell anyone I have been to Africa, in Germany and China and started her Often firms state that there is a lack of often the first question is ”was it safe?” professional career in 1998 at the Fedskilled workers, but with a little training, Suspicion over the continents’ negative eration of German Industries (BDI) before there are specialists out there who would stereotypes still inhibits investors from joining Ernst & Young. Prior to her current be able to excel. A lot of innovation octravelling there and understanding firstposition, she worked with the Deutsche curs while people are competing to make hand the spirit of innovation that sweeps Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft a living. Old and almost traditional stereacross the continent. as an Investment Manager for Asia and otypes plague Africa. They may be justiInnovation springs from necessity and it Microfinance.
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Photo: © Feans, CC BY 2.0, flickr.com
THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
