THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Germany’s minister of economic co-operation and development, Dr Gerd Müller, is presently promoting a plan to redesign the country’s relationship with Africa.
Launched in Berlin early this year, the plan proposes new planks in German-African ties with the aim of promoting sustainable political stability and economic growth in Africa.
‘Marshall Plan with Africa’, in a nutshell, is a way to help the continent come to grips with the enormous challenges of a demographic growth that outmatches economic development.
The 30-page discussion paper envisages “a new level” in Germany’s development co-operation with Africa in the areas of economic development, trade, education and energy. Müller is seeking partnership with Africa on the realization of the plan.
Why is Germany so concerned about Africa?
Millions of young Africans cannot find jobs after completing their education and many of them head to Europe as irregular migrants due to a lack of future perspective in their home countries. The result is the migrant crisis that Europe currently faces.
The German minister believes that if African countries can increase their rate of economic growth on a sustainable basis, lesser numbers of their youths will seek opportunities for self-actualisation elsewhere. The plan therefore concentrates on creating jobs for young people and offering them a better future in Africa.
Moreover, growing African economies will provide new markets for German goods. So it will be a win-win outcome, if the plan realizes its objectives as expounded by Minister Müller.
Germany-based African intellectuals will discuss the ‘Marshall Plan with Africa’ in Frankfurt on Thursday, 11 May in Frankfurt am Main. The event, organized by the Afro Deutsches Akademiker Netzwerk ( Afro German Academic Network or ADAN) will take an in-depth look at the plan and offer suggestions on how best to design it for it realize its lofty goals.
ADAN, an association of young, ambitious academics of African origin in Germany, would like to contribute its own quota to finding solutions to the problems confronting Africa. And the Roundtable on the ‘Marshall Plan with Africa’ provides them a unique opportunity to make input into German policy on Africa.
Femi Awoniyi
Roundtable ‘Marshall Plan with Africa’
Date: Thursday, 11 May 2017
Time: 17:30 – 21:00 hrs
Venue: Frankfurt am Main
Contact: Participants are required to register by sending an email to:
professionals@ada-netzwerk.com
