Marshall Plan with Africa

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The "Marshall Plan with Africa" , better known to the international public as the basis of the G20 Compact with Africa plan presented at the G20 summit in Hamburg 2017 , is a political initiative of the BMZ to promote the development of the African continent, based on Development Minister Gerd Müller going back. The focus is on expanding economic cooperation. The plan is based on three pillars:

  1. Economy, trade and employment;
  2. Peace, security and stability;
  3. Democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

Stefan Brocza pointed out in June 2018 that after the change in the chairmanship of the G20 group in November 2017 , the Marshall Plan had hardly any echo at the major EU summit with the African Union and that no funds were allocated to the plan in the German budget for 2018 have been.

background

At the beginning of his term of office, Müller ( CSU ) declared the African continent to be the focus of the work of his ministry. He often mentioned what he believed to be a necessary “ Marshall Plan for Africa” to create jobs and prospects for young people from African countries. The wording was later changed to “ with Africa”.

In a joint initiative of the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the approach primarily provides for the promotion of private investment. According to the BMZ, only around 1,000 German companies are currently active on the African continent (as of 2017). In addition, a reorganization of relations between the EU and Africa is promoted.

The main feature of the proposals is the connection between public and private-sector actors for development cooperation (DC) with African approaches. This includes, for example, the 2063 Agenda of the African Union .

Furthermore, development should be "sustainable"; in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

aims

  • Improvement of framework conditions for all companies in African countries. The focus is on reducing bureaucracy, combating corruption and creating security and infrastructure. The investment conditions are to be improved.
  • Promotion of German investments and companies in African countries. To this end, the classic instruments of foreign trade promotion (loan guarantees as well as export and investment guarantees) are to be achieved. There should also be tax breaks for companies that are active in African countries.
  • Support of African companies and the development of value chains. From Germany there is supposed to be support for African start-ups, including the "smallest companies". The focus here is on supporting the processing of raw materials in African countries and financing offers for African companies. The ministries want to work for "development-friendly trade and investment agreements".

implementation

The Handelsblatt reported in July 2018 that after two years the Federal Government wants to coordinate the Africa plans of the various ministries for development ( Marshall Plan ), for finance ( Compacts for Africa ) and the Africa initiatives of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and is planning a development investment law.

To implement the Marshall Plan, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is entering into so-called reform partnerships with individual African countries, e. B. Ghana and Tunisia , and thereby promises additional funds for the countries concerned. In return, these countries commit to internal reforms, e.g. B. Facilitating foreign investment and fighting corruption.

Participating states

At the third conference on the G20 Compact with Africa , at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 19, 2019, representatives of the twelve participating countries, the G20 countries and international organizations came together for a summit in the Chancellery in Berlin .

Twelve reform-oriented African countries were represented: Ethiopia , Egypt , Benin , Burkina Faso , Cote d'Ivoire ( Ivory Coast ), Ghana , Guinea , Morocco , Rwanda , Senegal , Togo and Tunisia .

Reactions

In February 2017, the Germanwatch organization praised the first draft of the plan because it should be "an equal partnership based on human rights and mutual respect."

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, November 18, 2019: Compact with Africa. Common goals for Africa
  2. ↑ a b Development aid : Why many Africans doubt the Marshall Plan . ( handelsblatt.com [accessed July 21, 2017]).
  3. ↑ Stefan Brocza: What happened to the Marshall Plan for Africa? . Wiener Zeitung, June 26, 2018, accessed July 10, 2018
  4. ↑ https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Fluchtursachen-Deutschlands-neue-Afrikapetzung-3594692.html?seite=2
  5. ↑ Marshall Plan with Africa - Thinking further about the effectiveness of development policy - EURACTIV.de. Retrieved July 22, 2017 .
  6. ^ Donata Riedel: German business welcomes Gerd Müller's new Marshall Plan for Africa . Handelsblatt, July 9, 2018, accessed July 10, 2018
  7. ↑ http://www.bmz.de/de/presse/aktuelleM nearly 2017/dezember/171212_pm_132_Staatssekretaer-Kitschelt-gibt-Startschein-fuer-die-Reformpart Partnerschaft-mit-Ghana/ index.jsp
  8. ↑ Commentary on the draft of the Marshall Plan with Africa - focus on energy and infrastructure | Germanwatch eV Retrieved on July 21, 2017 .