Discussing Norway’s future engagement with Africa
Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, the Minister of International Development, visited Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) to attend an open meeting with researchers and experts in Bergen to discuss and get input to the new Norwegian Strategy for Africa.
The Norwegian Government is preparing a new strategy for Norwegian engagement with Africa. In connection with this the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) hosted a seminar on 8 September 2023 to discuss Norway’s future approach to an engagement with Africa.
“Norway has longstanding partnerships with African countries. This will not change. But the world is changing, with climate change and geopolitical turmoil, and not least an African continent in rapid evolvement. In this context, we need to make sure that our approach and policies are adapted accordingly”, said the Minister, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.
The new strategy will not only provide the direction for the governments’ cooperation, but also stimulate the business sector, researchers, and civil society to grow stronger partnerships in African countries.
Espen Villanger, the director of CMI, was very pleased to welcome Tvinnereim to Bergen and to present a program of cutting-edge knowledge involving researchers from CMI, the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, the University of Bergen, NORCE and the Institute of Marine Research.
“The CMI mission is to address global challenges by providing research-based knowledge that inspires and shapes policy and practice. It is a great pleasure for us to host an event that fits perfectly with this mission. With the knowledge presented from so many great researchers, we hope that we will contribute to inspire and shape the new Africa strategy,” said Villanger.
The discussions in the meeting covered a broad range of issues that are of special relevance in the years to come, like climate change, job creation, and questions connected to gender and democracy.
The opportunities for Africa in the years to come are vast, but there are also challenges that need to be dealt with.
“These problems are in Africa but are not African neither in terms of their causes nor consequences. Lack of dignified life caused by military coups leads to young African migrating en masse to the world; hence affecting everybody. This means that the solution cannot only be African”, as pointed out by panelist Munzoul Assal.
The new strategy will be launched before the summer next year, mapping out the overall, long-term direction for the Africa policy moving forward.
“The input from civil society in this process is very crucial if we want good policies”, said Tvinnereim and underlined her appreciation of listening to the expertise and views from the insightful institutions and voices in Bergen.