The Government of Finland is currently drawing up a national Africa strategy. And for this purpose, it invites members of the African diaspora who live in the country to contribute their ideas.
According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the aim of the strategy is to diversify Finland’s relations with African countries and develop the ambitions and coherence of Finland’s Africa policy.
Special attention will be paid to the expansion and deepening of Finland’s political and economic ties with African countries, in addition to the already existing development cooperation, as well as of Finland’s relations with the African Union and other regional organizations on the continent.
The strategy aims at identifying shared interests and strengthening connections in different sectors between Finland and Africa. Points of departure include Finland’s own interests and competencies, Agenda 2030, and the ´'Africa We Want' Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Finland’s strategy also takes into consideration the policies of the European Union’s recent Strategy with Africa.
As part of the strategy process, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is organizing a virtual consultation with African diaspora in Finland on Friday 20 November, 2020, at 14:00-15:30 (Finnish time).
Tentative programme:
14:00 Opening remarks by Johanna Sumuvuori, Secretary of State
14:10 Presentation of the strategy process by the Department for Africa and the Middle East
14:25 Panel of diaspora members, moderator Peter Kariuki, Ministry of Justice
Sarah Laaru, Finnish-African Society
Takura Matswetu, Think Africa
Driss El Habti, University of Eastern Finland
Maiju Korpela, the Finnish Somalia Network
14:55 Discussion
15:25 Conclusion by Johanna Sumuvuori, Secretary of State
Under the theme How does African diaspora in Finland see Finland’s Africa strategy? the panel (and the discussion thereafter) is expected to answer particularly the following two questions:
- What does the diaspora expect and wish from the strategy?
- The strategy aims at expanding and deepening Finland’s political and economic relations with African countries, in addition to existing development cooperation. How can African diaspora in Finland contribute to this goal?
The event will be in English and recorded for internal purposes only.
People willing to participate can register HERE
