Africa-Europe Foundation Unveils The

The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) advocates for a fresh chapter in the connection between Africa and Europe, characterized not by aid but b...

The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) advocates for a fresh chapter in the connection between Africa and Europe, characterized not by aid but by fair investment, not by statements but by tangible results. Developed by AEF in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and over 50 prominent African and European research organizations, ‘The Condition of Africa-Europe 2025 - Funding Our FutureThe report presents a practical plan for a collaboration based on equity, mutual responsibility, and tangible results.

On the night before the 7th African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) publishes its main report for 2025, urging a major transformation in how the two continents fund their shared future. Africa and Europe are home to 1.8 billion people and almost 30% of United Nations members, a combined influence that can impact global priorities, but their financial collaboration is still not fully utilized.

The Foundation encourages both parties to go beyond temporary aid cycles and establish a long-term structure for shared ownership and joint investment, where public and private funds work together to create large-scale impact. A model that emphasizes improved processes and more intelligent funding, moving firmly towards value creation and innovative tools that do not compromise climate goals with human progress.

The report offers the most thorough evaluation of its type regarding Africa-Europe relations—with finance serving as the central thread that runs through all thematic sections, ranging from health to transition minerals, ocean management to creative sectors. It is released at a significant time when both Unions are anticipated to reinvigorate their political alliance 25 years after its establishment.

The 7th AU–EU Summit in Angola, scheduled for 24-25 November, needs to show a shift from plans to action - turning the partnership's vision into a plan for results. Paul Walton, Executive Director of the Africa-Europe Foundation, said regarding the summit: "If Africa and Europe wish to be significant together, they must work together, take bold steps at this crucial time of global political transformation, and showcase genuine benefits for the people of both continents."

The report titled "Financing our Future: The State of Africa-Europe," urges a concentration on implementation, aiming to develop the necessary tools, trust, and pace for tangible progress—between Summits, not across generations. The document highlights that Africa loses nearly $90 billion annually due to illegal financial flows, with essential sectors lacking sufficient funding. It advocates for improved mobilization of local resources and the restructuring of global financial systems, enabling economies to invest according to their own terms and enhance their resilience.

This involves making full use of existing tools like sovereign wealth and pension funds, which collectively manage more than $330 billion in assets, and constitute the biggest source of available capital in Africa. Health is highlighted as a key measure of this new collaborative approach. The report notes advancements where vaccine production collaborations are enhancing regional strength, and outlines further shared investment in research and workforce development as an investment in mutual safety and readiness.

All play a crucial role in generating long-term value and avoiding future pandemics, supporting Africa and Europe's goals of strategic independence. The same reasoning holds true for energy and industrial collaborations. Africa receives less than 3% of global investments in renewable energy, even though it possesses over 60% of the world's most favorable solar resources.

Collaborative efforts demonstrate how common infrastructure can boost Africa's industrial growth while aiding Europe's shift towards a greener environment and diversifying its energy sources. By working together, Africa and Europe can contribute to creating a Global Green Economy, with the expansion of the Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative serving as one of the most notable examples of progress in balancing climate goals with development needs. The report also highlights the underdeveloped opportunities within the blue economy, portraying oceans as a shared area for future prosperity.

Utilizing the 'Africa-Europe Ocean Roadmap' as a practical guide for collaborative efforts in ocean management, knowledge exchange, funding, and investment can foster a sustainable marine economy that advantages both regions.

Amid increasing isolationist tendencies and a weakened global system, the report urges Africa and Europe to unite as a stabilizing influence and an open cultural-economic link – a collaboration that enhances international cooperation, promotes sustained investment, and provides a collective approach to common challenges. Recent joint efforts between the AU and EU on the Pact for the Future, the Pandemic Agreement, and Ocean Governance provide important insights and momentum to work together in advancing reforms to global governance and shaping a shared long-term vision for the future of the multilateral system.

The Africa-Europe Foundation states that it is now time for the collaboration to shift from discussion to tangible outcomes. It suggests establishing a continuous AU-EU think-tank structure to aid development and promote execution between summits.

In response to the report, Mo Ibrahim, Co-Founder of the Africa-Europe Foundation and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, stated: “Our Report offers a practical framework for a new financial partnership that moves firmly past aid and into co-creation, shared risk, value generation, and resource trading. This involves concentrating on more intelligent funding, not just increased funding, modifying financial instruments, simplifying funding procedures, and evaluating progress based on actual impact and direct advantages for our communities.”

Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the head of AUDA-NEPAD, stated: “In an era of global changes, Africa and Europe must recognize that our unity is more crucial than ever to achieve outcomes for our people. For this, we need to go beyond immediate benefits and focus on long-term transformative change, turning promises into real actions. This reflects the essence of our collaboration with the Africa-Europe Foundation and sets the direction for our response to the 7th AU-EU Summit.”

About the Africa-Europe Foundation:

The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) is the sole entity of its type, jointly managed by participants from both Africa and Europe. AEF serves as an independent space for multi-stakeholder discussion, open debate, and strategic evaluation, uniting specialists and leaders from various backgrounds to create new possibilities that can turn Africa-Europe relations into tangible actions. It functions as a 'think and do tank' for the AU-EU Partnership, enhancing current institutional structures and collaborating closely with AU/EU Member States and the Commissions based in Addis Ababa and Brussels.

Visit:  www.africaeuropefoundation.org

Regarding the Africa-Europe Report:

This is the second version of the State of Africa-Europe Report. The initial edition, published in 2024, was a pioneering effort to track the commitments made during the 6th EU-AU Summit held in Brussels in February 2022. The Africa-Europe Foundation - as an independent entity - collaborated with the European Union and African Union, alongside other relevant stakeholders, to collect, verify, and compile data on progress achieved - covering financial pledges, policy changes, peace and security, education, and digital skills. Feedback from partners on the benchmarking report:

Arancha Gonzales, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po: “Upon reading the Africa-Europe Foundation Report, I recognized just how extensive and profound the connection is—this is the message the Report conveys: a narrative of more and deeper ties.”

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization: “I appreciate AEF's efforts to break down these barriers and show how collaboration across sectors, particularly the intersection of climate, health, and development, should be the foundation of every aspect of the Africa-Europe partnership.”

Koen Doens, Director General for International Partnerships at the European Commission: “The work carried out on the Report is truly outstanding. The Africa-Europe Foundation's Report encourages us to reflect on the past while also challenging us to step beyond our comfort zone. I believe the report is genuinely impressive in this regard.”

Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation: “This is a report filled with data that explores the wide-ranging interactions between the EU and Africa, highlighting the importance of the Africa-Europe Foundation as an independent entity uniquely positioned to bring attention to a discussion that still lacks sufficient public focus (...). The Africa-Europe Foundation deserves recognition for fulfilling its promise to track advancements in the implementation of commitments aimed at supporting the EU-AU agenda.”

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