Bärbel Kofler

By NICHOLASNORBROOK

A new ‘AfricaStrategy ’ from Germany’s Ministry of Economic Cooperationand Development aims for climate-change solutions thatacceptthe responsibility of industrialised countries, and a more humane way tomanage migration. Thestrategy has been over a year inthemaking, says parliamentary statesecretary Bärbel Kofler, and involved conversations withscientists, business, politicians, civil society and youth in both Germany andonthecontinent.

While the economic focusis oncreating the 25million ‘decent jobs’ for youth needed each year inAfrica,thepolitical content “is aboutthree basics:itshould be more social, more ecological,and more feminist,” says Kofler.

Germany does not wantto hide itsbusinessinterestson the continent. Rather, “we see that thoseinterests will only cometo a positive endifthere is economic development”. There willbe a focus oncreating local value. “We are one ofthe few ministries supporting theAfricanUnionwiththeAfrican Continental Free Trade Area,” Koflersays.

There is alsocapacitybuildingto allow Africancountries to get the most from theirnatural resource projects “You need strong administrative skillsontheonehand, andalsothe negotiatingskills,” says Kofler, pointing to aBerlinbacked plancalled CONNEX which supports governments around the world intheirnegotiationswith energyandmineral multinationals.

Thesearch for win-winsolutions alsoincludes integrating European plans for climate-friendlyenergy options, suchasgreen hydrogen production in Africa “If you look attheEuropeanNew Green Deal, we need this exchange,” says

Kofler “And we also, ofcourse, need thesupport from the African side onthat.”

Onclimatechange, “we as Europeans, ormaybecountries from a richeror more industrialised part ofthe world,have a great responsibility ”. Germany will, for example, supportaninsurance network for agricultural losses caused by climate change.

Trainingfuturemigrants

Koflerisclear that Germany willnotbe followingthe leadof countries like the UK andNorway, whoare signing dealswith Rwanda tosend migrants toAfrica for processing. She says Germany is workingwith the AU tocome up with solutionsthatare mutually beneficial, “and fair for everybody” Itiscreating ‘Centres for Migration andDevelopment’infive countries inAfrica,which willprovide vocationaltraining for thosewho want tomigrateintoparticularindustries inEurope

There isalso a desire toengage withthearrival of China as a lead partner onthecontinent “It’s easier to do thefingerpointing”, says Kofler, “but that’s not reallyhelpful. We have tocomeup withbetter instruments and betteroffers for Africanpartners.”