Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. You are the Manager for West and Central Francophone Africa at Africa-Verein der Deutschen Wirtschaft, the (German African Business Association). Tell us, who is Paawana Abalo?

Pawaana Abalo:

Thank you, Amour. I’m Paawana Abalo, I am Manager for French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa at the German African Business Association, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft . I’m originally from Benin and also hold Canadian citizenship. I’ve been living in Berlin for twelve years after spending six years in Canada.

I have an atypical background history regarding my professional life. In fact, I started as journalist in my home country Benin and then worked as French lecturer at the University of York in Toronto, Canada. Twelve years ago when I moved to Berlin, I consecutively worked in a communication agency and at two different African embassies. Thereafter, I joined Africa-Verein  three years ago. 

My main task at my current position, is to support and facilitate business relations between both continents; Europe and Africa, particularly Germany, and the French-speaking regions of West and Central Africa. 

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

With your background and current role, what are the challenges in enhancing business cooperation between Germany and Francophone countries in West and Central Africa? 

Pawaana Abalo:

Before discussing the challenges, let me mention some of our activities to enhance economic relations between Germany and those countries in West and Central Africa. Actually, our actions range from economic activities to political advocacy for the region. As business events, we organize each year, sectorial conferences like the German African Agriculture Agribusiness Forum in January, the German African Energy Forum usually in May or June,   the German African Healthcare Forum., the German African TVET forum or the German African Trade forum.

We also have smaller formats of events like roundtables with delegations from Africa during their visits in Germany, expert circles where African as well German stakeholders and Companies member of Afrika-Verein  discuss around their projects and on specific business-related topics, current developments affecting a specific business sector or even their company projects in Africa. Further activities are delegation trips to Africa. For my region specifically, in 2023  I conducted  two trips  in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. Further trips are planned for 2025. Business trips help the German private sector to explore the African markets, meet partners, and foster collaboration for economic partnerships between Germany and those countries in West and Central Africa.

Now, regarding the challenges, German business presence in Francophone West and Central Africa remains minimal. Very few German companies look towards that part of the continent. And this is for diverse reasons. One major bottleneck is the language barrier, as French is the main trade language  in those countries and German companies are rather English oriented. The second bottleneck, I would say, is the size of the markets; most of the countries, especially in West Africa, are very small-sized countries, and that hampers the attractiveness to German investment and export. Our mission therefore at Africa Verein is to change  the  paradigm of small scale market and encourage German companies to explore those hidden champions and valuably make their way on the African market. 

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Thank you. Considering your insights and experiences, how have recent German policies influenced economic and development opportunities in francophone African countries? What changes would you suggest to enhance these policies?

Pawaana Abalo:

As you know, one of the major German economic strategies towards Africa is the Compact with Africa initiative, which is a selective programme currently involving 13 African countries in a partnership with Germany. Fortunately, six of these countries are in Francophone West and Central Africa, which indicates that they are well-positioned to benefit from economic transformation and foreign investment from the German side. Since 2018, various instruments have been established within this initiative, such as investment funds like Africa Connect (now Impact Connect), AfricaGrow as well as the program Business Network Africa which support, on behalf of the German Government,  the German companies in establishing their business in Africa and facilitated business partnership with Germany.

However, despite the Compact with Africa initiative, the presence of the German private sector in Francophone West and Central Africa is still minimal compared to  Eastern countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, or Southern countries like South Africa or Namibia. Côte d’Ivoire might be an exception in this region, with Senegal following closely. Of course,  analyzing the current situation, I believe certain changes need to be made to German policies in the region. For example, establishing economic agreements and non-double taxation agreements between Germany and the French-speaking countries in the region is crucial. German companies are often hesitant to invest in countries where they face double taxation — having to pay taxes both locally and in Germany. This is a significant barrier to their entry. In countries like Côte d’Ivoire, where such agreements exist, we see a greater presence of German companies.

Another necessary change is to ensure that financing instruments focus on strategic sectors like agriculture, agro-processing, digitalization, education, technical and vocational training and health. Additionally, to  assess the possibility for Germany to scale up credit guarantees and risk covers for smaller countries like Benin, Togo, and Guinea, and promote investments with specific conditions tailored to these nations. Personally, I think that developing a strategy based on investment or partnerships with local companies is essential, as it would enable the German private sector to collaborate with local businesses, fostering mutual growth.

Overall, strengthening partnerships would boost confidence between the German private sector and the private sectors in these countries . 

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Thank you so much for those suggestions. West Africa is currently experiencing various crises, political shifts, ongoing debates on colonization, and efforts to distance themselves from former colonial powers. In your opinion, how do these changes affect the African diaspora in Europe, especially in the country where you are right now? I mean, in Germany?

Pawaana Abalo:

Yes, talking about the diaspora, it’s important to note that Africans are strongly represented across Europe including Germany. .  And irrespective  of the country of origin and the background,  we all feel deeply concerned with the shifts currently occuring on the African continent, in terms of self-awareness and awakening movement that has emerged over the past two decades, mainly among the younger generation. And this, I will say, is for the sake of the continent. 

This awakening is certainly more vivid in particular regions of Francophone West and Central Africa, largely due to historical factors, or what we refer to as the continuation of colonial history — what the Germans call “Koloniale Kontinuität.” Many African countries are now striving to break free from this continuity of colonial past. So, how does this affect the diaspora? First of all, I would like to mention the role the diaspora has played in these shifts in Africa. We have to acknowledge that Africans abroad beyond sending remittances back home, have played a significant role in the current revolution through activism, awareness campaigns, and financial support. A good example is the recent election of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Senegal, where the diaspora contributed significantly through financial backing.

In general, what I could say is that the wake of African countries for their own sovereignty has given us in the diaspora, a certain legitimacy as well as sovereignty . In fact us Africans in the diaspora, we have very often been looked down as beggars whose survival depends on the willingness of their host countries, even though these countries owe us much of their economic survival. So, these changes in Africa give us, the legitimacy as responsible Africans, to raise our voices louder and advocate for a respectful relationship between Africa and Western countries. Moreover, these shifts have a profound impact on the rehabilitation of our identity as Africans. 

And from a business perspective, I would say that this sovereignty asserted by African countries today contributes to the real liberalization of African economies. From my perspective, African countries are increasingly entering global markets, diversifying their trade partners considering that most of them have long been constrained to stick to selected partners. For Germany, the current shift represents a chance to strengthen  its footprints on the African market, particularly in Francophone Africa. 

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

As we approach the end of the UN Decade for People of African Descent which focused on development aspects such as labour law reforms and the removal of barriers to vocational training in developments. How can you evaluate the impact of this initiative on the employment landscape for Afro-Descendants in Germany, and particularly in the contests of your role as Manager for West and Central Francophone Africa?

Thank you very much. The objective of the UN Decade has been to promote respect, protection, and fulfillment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for People of African Descent. Fundamental principles  imply that concrete measures should be proposed or should have been taken to promote full inclusion of People of African Descent in all strata of the society with the objective of equally combatting racism, xenophobia, intolerance and so on and so forth.  As we then approach the end of this decade, the question arises: how far have we actually come in achieving these goals?

Honestly, over the past ten years, I’ve heard very little about the tangible impact of this initiative. While some civil society organizations have developed projects under its umbrella, when we look at concrete outcomes, where are we? I believe it’s difficult to measure the success of this initiative today, largely because there has been very little campaigning around it. As a result, only a few people and institutions have truly embraced or implemented its recommendations. I don’t think much has changed in the lives of Black people due to the UN Decade.

How many people of African descent do we see in leadership or even mid-level positions in German institutions or companies? Yes, I’m here as a Manager for Francophone West and Central Africa, but most of my colleagues are German,  and this is the case in many organizations in Germany. I think we need to rethink and evaluate the impact of this initiative on the lives of  people of African descent, not only in Germany but globally, since this is a worldwide initiative, right? So, that’s it. We are still fighting. Definitely, this is on us as Black people to go beyond such initiatives and make change happen. We need to continue pushing forward, just as you are doing with the Black Academy. I don’t know if your project is within the framework of the UN Decade for People of African Descent, but I have to say, it’s a great initiative to highlight successful African or German people of African descent, as they can serve as examples for the further generation. This is truly commendable.

And, I would also like to acknowledge the work of other organizations, such as ADAN (Afro-Diasporic Academic Network), which has created a career platform for Black people and People of Colour in Europe. So yeah, that’s what I can broadly say about this initiative. This is my perspective, and perhaps not everyone will agree, but I believe many people share this view.

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Now, as we come to the end of this interview, I’d like to discuss a very sensitive topic: Feminist development policy and gender equality are part of the priorities set by the German federal Minister for economic cooperation and development in its new Africa Strategy in 2023. How do you think this policy affects women from the African diaspora? How could they face the challenges to gender equality in Germany?

Pawaana Abalo:

Thank you very much. This is one of my favorite topics. I’ve been actively working on women’s empowerment, not just for African women or women from the African diaspora, but for women in general, especially in the business sector, which is my current background. At Afrika-Verein, we launched a platform called Women in Power AVWiP where we bring together like-minded women to network, share experiences, and learn from each other. This is incredibly important. 

First of all, I’m really pleased to see that the German government is making women’s empowerment in Africa a core part of its strategy. As you certainly know, women are the backbone of our societies, and we need to stand by them, especially in Africa, where the responsibilities on women and the gender equality gap are even greater than everywhere in the world. Prioritizing feminist development policy and gender equality creates momentum not just in Africa, but also here in Germany. It reminds us that we, in the diaspora, bear a heavy responsibility to strongly engage in supporting  this policy and working towards its objectives.

I also want to acknowledge the efforts of the diasporan civil society organizations like ADEFRA, which brings the perspectives of Black women and women of colour to the forefront in Germany. Besides, there are many other organizations that mentor African women in Europe and Germany, such as ELIKIA, with its project “You Are Also Able.” This project helps to  empower young girls from the diaspora by connecting them with successful elder African women in Germany. 

So, how can women in the diaspora succeed and face the challenges of gender equality in Germany? First and foremost, they need to come together and work hand in hand.

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Together, we are strong!

Pawaana Abalo:

Yes, together we are strong. This solidarity is really important — it’s the first tool we have to overcome the gender inequality; solidarity among women. We are in a country where we continuously struggle for our own integration, so, alone, we cannot make this journey. We must come together. A couple of years ago, I was attending a meeting in one of the northern regions of Germany where African women living there shared their experiences with the objective to boost morale and better equip them to deal with life in Germany. Such initiatives  need to be multiplied, perhaps, every week or every month so that women come together, share their initiatives, and learn from each other. This is particularly important for newcomers who need guidance on how to integrate and advance professionally. We shouldn’t forget that before being African women, we are Africans. And as Africans, it’s already challenging here; as women, it’s even more difficult. So, we face two significant challenges, and we shouldn’t go through them alone. Solidarity is definitely important. 

The second thing is courage. We are in Germany, where the system is well-established and tailored  so that everyone can make  his own  way in this society. We need to seize this opportunity, which we may not necessarily have in our own countries. When we come here, we need to find and take advantage of these possibilities for our own well-being.

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Thank you so much. Your statement, “Alone, we cannot make this journey; we have to be together,” will stay with me. Now, as we prepare for the OTD calendar 2025, do you have a specific date you’d like us to highlight? 

Pawaana Abalo:

Yes, I have a personal date: 19 July 2023. On that date, I gave one of my kidneys to a dear person in need. I changed two lives. It’s a significant and deeply personal date for me.

Mahugnon Amour D.: 

Thank you for sharing that. It truly shows the spirit of helping and supporting others. Thank you, Paawana, for being part of this interview.

Pawaana Abalo:

Thank you.