European Africa Agenda Symposium 2025 – 2100
In the coming century, the global population will grow beyond 10 billion people. The continent of Africa will take the majority share of this, growing from 1.5 to over 4 billion people, most of them living in cities in coastal areas. In 2100, Africa will have the world’s youngest population with a median age of 35.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 70% of the people are under the age of 30. Young people’s potential will therefore be the key to Africa’s sustainable development. We believe that African solutions to local and regional problems (heat, drought, dust, salinity, famine) will help the world to overcome global economic challenges. We aim to work on collaborative initiatives that have a long-term positive impact on the future of Africa.
The problems and the challenges confronting Africa at this time are large and they are urgent. The war between Russia and the Ukraine has followed the COVID-19 crisis. Business and entrepreneurial leaders worldwide will be of paramount importance in the coming decades to work together closely with African businesses and knowledge institutes. Co-creation of new services and products will empower young people, women, agricultural and digital industries.
A moral and cultural transformation is needed, including ethical standards in government and civil society. We need to educate next generation innovation leaders. A spiritual transformation is needed as well, which will give faith and purpose to those leading the way.
A European Africa Agenda is needed for the sake of Europe as well as for the sake of Africa. The Netherlands is willing to lead the way. Several organizations in the public and private domain have joined hands to be a frontrunner in seizing the opportunity to interact with Africa’s upcoming generation. We urge business and innovation leaders throughout Europe to also join hands and work together on a European Africa Agenda 2025-2100.
Themes.
We have chosen to focus our discussion around 5 themes that we feel have the potential to produce the greatest change as we work together with those from the continent itself to see change come. These themes are:
- Cities for Africa’s Future
- Economics, entrepreneurship and job creation, including agriculture
- Education, innovation and next generation
- Empowering women
- Strategies for bridging the gaps in African societies, eg. between rich and poor, black and white, religious and non-religious, etc.
The end result will be a document describing how the different organizations that participate can leverage their know-how and expertise to help see change come. We realize that this is our first step in this process, and that there is still a long way to go. However, as the saying goes, “Every journey begins with the first step.”
EUROPEAN AFRICA AGENDA
2025-2100
Wednesday 5 April, 2023, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Dominion Centre, Ellermanstraat 30, 1114 AK Amsterdam-Duivendrecht
SPEAKERS
€95 PER PERSON | €30 PER STUDENT
(INCLUDING LUNCH)
Register for the event
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Economic Summit, Sallux, GIDS Netwerk, Nations of Women
‘Since 2011, the activities of Sallux have been financially supported by the European Parliament. The liability for any communication or publication by Sallux, in any form and any medium, rests with Sallux. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.’
Program planning
| Planning ‘A European Africa Agenda 2025-2100’ | |
| Wednesday 5 April 2023 | |
| Time | Presentations |
| 09:30 – 09:40 am | Welcome: Stimulating hope in Africa’s future |
| Speaker: Arleen Westerhof, Founder and Director, Economic Summit (Netherlands) | |
| 09:40 – 10:20 am | EU Perspective |
| 09:40 – 10:00 am | Presentation: European Immigration and the need for a new approach |
| Speaker: Johannes de Jong, Director Sallux (Netherlands) | |
| 10:00 – 10:20 am | Presentation: Cooperation between Europe and Africa. What can religion do? |
| Speaker: Simon Polinder, Postdoctoral Researcher Religion, Conflict and Social Transformation, Utrecht University (Netherlands) | |
| 10:20 – 11:40 am | Africa Perspective |
| 10:20 – 10:50 am | Presentation: A new approach to bridging the gaps in Africa |
| Speaker: Boshoff Grobler, Chairman Heal our Land (South Africa) | |
| 10:50 – 11:10 am | Break |
| 11:10 – 11:40 am | Presentation: Cities for Africa’s future |
| Speaker: Don Simmonds, Chief Executive CitiIQ and CEO, The Blyth Group (Canada) | |
| 11:40 – 12:20 pm | Academic Partnerships |
| 11:40 – 12:20 pm | Panel discussion (30 mins discussion. 10 mins Q&A.) |
| Speakers: Prof. Irene S. Egyir, Dean School of Agriculture (Ghana), Titia Bredee, Director Nuffic (Netherlands), | |
| Jan Hak, Netherlands Agro, Food & Technology Center, Honorary Consul of Lesotho (Netherlands) | |
| 12:20 – 2:00 pm | Womens’ Empowerment |
| 12:20 – 12:35 pm | Video presentation: Womens’ Empowerment. A key priority for Africa’s future development |
| Speaker: H.E. Dr. Ameena Gurib Fakim, Former President of Mauritius, STEM Agriculture | |
| 12:35 – 1:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 – 2:00 pm | Fireside chat |
| Speakers: Sara Eid, Department Head, Department of Transparency and Civic Engagement, Ministry of Finance Government of Egypt (Egypt) | |
| Prof. Irene S. Egyir, Dean School of Agriculture (Ghana), , Tina Allton, Founder and Director, Nations of Women | |
| 2:00 – 2:40 pm | Ngo’s and Impact Investing |
| 2:00 – 2:10 pm | Presentation: A new normal for ngo’s |
| Speaker: Margreet Noordhof, CEO Nova (Netherlands) | |
| 2:10 – 2:40 pm | Panel discussie: Ray Sawatsky, Director Kinvest (Canada), Sas Comradie, International Partnerships Manager Tearfund UK (SA/UK), |
| Corjan Rink, Fundmanager Mercy Ships (Netherlands) | |
| 2:40 – 2:55 pm | Presentation: Impact Investing. Lessons in what works from the field. |
| Speaker: Emmie van Halder, CEO Mpower International and Impact Investor Batazia (Netherlands) | |
| 2:55 – 3:35 pm | The EU and The Netherlands. Policy priorities. |
| 2:55 – 3:05 pm | Presentation: The importance of agriculture and rural development in EU-African relations. |
| Speaker: Bert-Jan Ruissen, MEP SGP (Netherlands) | |
| 3:05 – 3:15 pm | Presentation: Priorities for the Dutch-African development relationship |
| Speaker: Evert Jan Slootweg, MP CDA (Netherlands) | |
| 3:15 – 3:35 pm | Break |
| 3:35 – 5:30 pm | Business |
| 3:35 – 4:05 pm | Presentation: Mutual business for Africa. The Sunshine Approach |
| Speaker: Don Larson | |
| 4:05 – 4:45 pm | Business and Impact Investing Panel |
| Speakers: Ray Sawatsky, Director Kinvest (Canada), Jan Hak, Chairman Netherlands Agro, Food and Technology Center (Netheralnds), | |
| Austin Parker, CEO Parker and Parker Law Firm (USA), Stan Uyland, Chairman GIDS Netwerk (Netherlands) | |
| Emmie van Halder, CEO Mpower International and Impact Investor Batazia (Netherlands) | |
| 4:45 – 4:55 pm | Q&A |
| 4:55 – 5:25 pm | Closing presentation: Identity, Vocation and Purpose. A Scriptural framework with which to view the world. |
| Speaker: Bruno Roche, Author and Founder Economics of Mutuality. | |
| 5:25 – 5:30 pm | Last remarks |