Science for the Africa-EU partnership - side event at Africa-Europe Week

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) conducts scientific research to support the policy goals of the AU-EU partnership.

The activities carried out with a variety of African and other international partners are multidisciplinary and range from migration and demography to water resource management, raw materials, food security, access to clean energy or nuclear safety and security.

The Africa Knowledge Platform is a new, visual and interactive gateway to this multi-disciplinary work. It provides up-to-date knowledge for policymakers to help them tackle complex policy questions, identify trends and shape sustainable development for the future.

Watch the recording

Session programme

• 11:00 Introduction and opening speeches
• 11:30 Inspiring words
• 11:50 Presentation and demo of the Africa Knowledge Platform
• 12:05 How to reply to complex policy questions?
  Advice from experts in different fields reporting back from thematic preliminary sessions and consultations:
  • Strategic Corridors for an enhanced and greener EU-Africa connectivity.
  • The JRC’s Photovoltaic DEI index-tool to support investments in decentralised energy.
  • Nuclear Science for a Safer Society (open preliminary session on Monday 14 February, 9:00 - Watch the recording (password: AFRns1402)).
  • Multi-disciplinary tools for monitoring and risk assessment in Africa (open preliminary session Monday 14 February, 9:00).
  • Towards sustainable raw material value chains in Africa.
  • Contribution of economic research to build more sustainable food systems.
  • Migration and demography in the future of EU-AU relationships.
  • Natural resources management and Climate risks.
  • Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Africa: strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration
• 12:50 Closing remarks

Main speakers

• Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth (video message)
• Stephen Quest, Director-General of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
• Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships
• Guido Saracco, Rettore Politecnico di Torino, Italy
• Emmanuel Nkurunziza, Director General of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, Nairobi
• Andre Nonguierma, Chief, GeoInformation Systems Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
• Dessislava Choumelova, Head of EU Delegation to Eswatini
• Agnes Asele, independent Young African Voice 
• Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit International Cooperation II - Asia, Africa, Middle East & External Relations, European Commission Directorate General Research and Innovation
• Stephen Peedell, Africa Portfolio leader at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
• Alan Belward, Acting Director of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre Directorate for Sustainable Resources (moderator)

Background

Ahead of the 6th Summit of the African Union and the European Union, the Africa-Europe Week (14-18 Feb) offers opportunities for exchanges and discussions among stakeholders of different horizons.

Cooperation on science, technology and innovation is a key component of the Africa-EU Partnership. It underpins advances in many policy domains, such as the digital and green transitions or health policies. For over 30 years, the JRC has been providing scientific evidence and tools to support the joint priorities of this partnership, in collaboration with many partners in Africa, at country, regional and continental level.

The Africa Knowledge Platform (AKP) is a new interactive tool that brings together all the data and knowledge produced by the JRC on one multi-disciplinary platform. It features data, narratives and thematic analytical tools linked to the SDGs and covering the key topics of the AU-EU partnership and Stronger Europe in the World policy priorities. Information can be filtered by topic, by SDG and by country.

The ”Science for the Africa-EU Partnership” session at the Africa-Europe Week is an invitation to discuss the current and upcoming policy questions that require a multi-disciplinary, cross-sectorial approach. It aims at identifying concrete actions to strengthen the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in supporting the policy goals of the Africa-EU partnership, as well as opportunities for the future development of the AKP.

• Africa Knowledge Platform
• Africa-Europe Week website
• Africa-Europe Week event platform