Finland, Norway and Denmark have launched Africa strategies with a renewed will to engage with African actors and partners on more equal terms. In a way, according to NAI researcher Jesper Bjarnesen, the Nordics’ Africa strategies are a reaction to the geopolitical changes where Europe, and in particular France, have lost influence on the African continent.
“If the Nordic countries align their approaches, they could play an important role in, for instance, strengthening Africa's voice in the UN security council”, he says.

In this science-to-policy conversation, Jesper Bjarnesen, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, takes us through the common features in the Nordic countries’ Africa strategies — but also points out distinctions that each country put extra emphasis on.

• Denmark has a focus on migration governance, and investing in peace building with the assumption that conflicts lead to more migration.
  
• Norway has a strong emphasis on green solutions and innovations that can push the green energy transition.
  
• Finland is very committed to trade, and actually pledges to double its trade with Africa.
  

The common features include values of democratisation, good governance, gender equality and a strong belief in the multilateral system. Bjarnesen argues that the Nordic countries could help strengthen Africa’s voice in the UN security council.

This science-to-policy conversation is based on the recently published policy note Opens in new window., co-authored by NAI researchers Jesper Bjarnesen, Diana Højlund Madsen, Liisa Laakso, Patience Mususa and Angela Muvumba Sellström.

Watch the recorded science-to-policy conversation:

Listen to the audio version: