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Through research-backed projects, we validate cooperation pathways that could define Baltic and partner country political & economic landscapes of tomorrow.

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Response to Delegated act framing the programming of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)

30 May 2021

As organization striving for more equal partnerships between the EU and African countries, AfriKo welcomes the efforts to review the narratives of traditional donor-recipient relationship and inclusion of “International Cooperation” component in the name of NDICI instrument. However, significantly more attention is needed for translating this change in vocabulary to actual practices. Section “6) Strengthening partnerships” could be strengthened with clearly identified objectives for creating joint initiatives and facilitating mutually beneficial economic / research / civil society relations between the EU and African actors in the identified priority areas. Additionally, in the area of digital transformation, more emphasis on advanced digital skills could be given. While a great proportion of ICT oriented projects in Africa have been previously focused on digital literacy, thus broadening the pool of tech consumers, it is important to go beyond this and nurture digital talents to become tech creators with advanced digital skills. Though youth unemployment rates are high in most of the African countries, well established local startups often recruit internationally because they cannot find skilled enough local talents (and large numbers-focused digital literacy training projects do not address this issue). Therefore, initiatives for advanced digital skills development and facilitation of people-to-people interactions between digital economy actors in the EU and Africa should be prioritized, as this would lay ground for a real partnership between the regions.
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