Second Regional Meeting Africa in Botswana

Many interesting ideas and recommendations were discussed by the participants of the Second Regional Meeting Africa of the Policy Forum on Development (PFD) which took place from 8 – 10 October in Gaborone (Botswana). During two and a half days 100 stakedholders from local authorities, civil society and the private sector had gathered with representatives of EU institutions to discuss the state of play of the EU-Africa relations, the implementation of the sustainable development goals and how to foster development in the whole of Africa. Among the topics discussed was the challenge of corruption and the shrinking space of civil society, questions how to empower women and youth, how to support private sector investment (e.g. through the European Investment Plan) and how to find common solutions between Europe and Africa for pressing issues such as migration, peace and security. One important debate also focused on the post-Cotonou agreement to be completed by February 2020 and how to involve multiple stakeholders, in particular civil society and local authorities. More photos and the final communiqué of the event are available here.