AERAP Africa-Europe Science and Innovation Forum 2023

Africa’s history shaped the continent in its actual 54 countries recognized by United Nations, from which 5: Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Principe and Guiné-Bissau share the same official language, being usually designated as Portuguese Speaking Countries in Africa.

Apart from the common language, these countries are different in area, population, economic growth, and natural resources. Angola and Mozambique, the largest in area and population are also the ones with rich mineral reserves, such as oil, gas and precious minerals. Cape Verde, São Tomé and Principe e Guiné-Bissau are smaller in size, population and with limited natural resources.

However, all these countries share Africa’s population trend of having more than 60% of its population under 25 years that induces the investment that should be made in this potential human asset.

Facing limited financial resources, local governments main concerns are focused in primary and secondary education, relegating higher education and scientific research to second place. This framework leads to countries with a significant shortage of skilled workforce, resulting in weak institutions and delayed development.

The investment in capacity building through higher education and scientific research must be regarded as a priority in what concerns international cooperation. Several European countries at a bilateral level, framed or not by EC mechanisms, are actively supporting academic and scientific development in many African countries, yet some face language barriers that keep them away from international funding mechanisms, with heavy requirements and complicated procedures in a foreign language.

Portugal, having the same official language and a Member State of European Union, throughout specific cooperation instruments, should assume an important role fostering capacity building in these 5 countries and bridging appropriated collaboration with other European Countries willing to actively participate in this mission.

The efforts to strengthen capacity building must be approached in several dimensions, being thus indispensable to work with people, local institutions, and local governments, towards knowledge acquisition, institutional management and enabling policies.

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, through the Division of Sustainable Development regularly issues guidelines on International Cooperation for Capacity-Building in Developing Countries, however we usually face international mechanisms and instruments aiming to enhance capacity building in African countries that deliver poor results and lack in local impact. These actions must and could be improved.

It is therefore fundamental that the organizations and entities focused on fostering capacity building in Africa are committed to engage in regular debates and experience’s sharing, to increase the efficiency and rise the impact of the initiatives.