New Partnership and the Mattei Plan for Africa: a critical analysis

By 2050, Africa will account for over 25% of the global population, with a young population and increasing pressure on resources. Environmental challenges and climate change are exacerbating existing conflicts, requiring targeted interventions for adaptation and resilience at the community level. The continent, characterised by a plurality of experiences, faces a ‘polycrisis’ that includes environmental, food and conflict crises, hampering development. Despite economic growth, with an average rate of 4.7% from 2000 to 2017, significant inequalities persist. Some 462 million people live in extreme poverty and many are internally displaced. To address these challenges, a New Partnership with Africa strategy, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and African Union initiatives, is needed. Italian civil society organisations, already rooted in local contexts, can play a crucial role in promoting equal partnerships and supporting change through the mobilisation of social and cultural capital.

Introduction: Gianluca Mengozzi – ARCS President

Moderator: Alessandra Fabretti – DIRE Agency

Speakers:

• Francesco Petrelli – AOI
• Silvia Stilli – Mattei Plan Steering Committee
• Ibrahim Kobena – Italian Coordination of Diasporas for International Cooperation
• Oliviero Forti – Caritas, Asylum and Immigration Table