REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA - DIVA
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Redefining the Social Contract in Africa African and European thought leaders came together to discuss the changing character of the social contract in Africa.
2 | REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA
Redefining the
social contract
in Africa
Across a continent where large sections of the population feel
disconnected from meaningful citizenship, there is an urgent
need to redefine and strengthen the social contract. This was at
the core of a virtual public discussion hosted by the Nordic Africa
Institute and Hanaholmen Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre.
T
he high-level seminar human rights and others. Adebayo
with thought leaders, Olukoshi, director of International
Roundtable participants
scholars and policy- IDEA in Africa and West Asia, added
Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, special repre-
makers from Africa sentative of the UN secretary-general that it is in its predictability — people
and Europe discussed to the African Union; Kwesi Aning, head knowing what to expect from their
the changing character of research, Kofi Annan International governments — that a social con-
of the social contract in Africa, en- Peacekeeping Centre; Jakkie Cilliers, tract is useful for citizens. However,
head of African Futures & Innovation,
compassing its role in social trans- Institute for Security Studies; Eleanor
according to Kwesi Aning, head of
formation. In addition, panellists Fisher, head of research, the Nordic research at the Kofi Annan Interna-
considered how the Nordic countries Africa Institute; Adebayo Olukoshi, tional Peacekeeping Training Centre
could support African perspectives in director, Africa and West Asia, in Ghana, institutional capacity is low
International IDEA; Geert Laporte,
the forthcoming negotiations of the director, European Think Tanks Group;
and resources are limited.
African Union-European Union (AU- Sinikka Antila, EU ambassador to
EU) partnership. Namibia; Torbjörn Pettersson, former “POLITICAL LEADERS CREATE false ex-
ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia, the pectations in their bid to win power.
African Union, IGAD and Djibouti; and
THERÉSE SJÖMANDER MAGNUSSON,
Amanda Hammar, president, European
They know themselves they cannot
the director of NAI, moderated and African Studies Association. deliver on election promises”, he
kicked off the digital event: “We know warned.
development is more than economic Hanna Tetteh, the special repre-
growth. In order to meet the challeng- investing in a strong social contract at sentative of the UN secretary-general
es we have ahead it is fundamental the centre of this discussion”. to the AU, pointed out the need to
that societies are built on trust and Albeit a wide concept, the panelists understand the African context. For
have agreements on rights and obli- agreed upon a number of features instance, low-income African countri-
gations. With this in mind, we want that constitute a social contract, such es are facing completely different
to put the role of establishing and as rule of law, fairness, transparency, challenges to middle-income ones.
REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA | 3
“
Hanna Serwaa
Tetteh, special
representative
of the UN secre-
tary-general to
the AU
“In low-income countri-
es, the social contract is
limited because people
have fewer expectations,
while politicians have
fewer resources to distri-
bute. That is why a one
size fits all approach will
never work in Africa.”
Kwesi Aning, head
of research, Kofi
Annan Internatio-
nal Peacekeeping
Centre
“Political leaders create
“Middle-income countries have In addition, she underlined her hope
false expectations in
resources, and the people expect that that the new AU-EU partnership will their bid to win power.
governments will deliver services. In not focus solely on the EU’s current They know themselves
low-income countries, the social con- priority on migration. It should rather they cannot deliver on
tract is limited because people have look at issues relevant to the African
fewer expectations while politicians continent, such as sustainable growth,
election promises.”
have fewer resources to distribute. green transition and digital transfor-
That is why a one size fits all approach mation, but also peace and democra-
Jakkie Cilliers,
will never work in Africa”, Tetteh tisation. head of African
explained. “Because we see a deterioration Futures & Innova-
in the quality of governance – and tion, Institute for
THE DIRECTOR OF the European Think governance is key to deliver on the Security Studies
Tanks Group, Geert Laporte, stressed development agenda. In addition,
the elements of universality in a social the economy is crucial for building
contract. “I think it is essential for any a social contract, but the pandemic “In Ethiopia and Rwanda,
type of cohesion in any type of socie- has had a huge impact, with drop- social contracts stem from
ty. At the same time, it is a living type ping commodity prices and reduced
of relationship that is evolving, which returns from the service sector. The deep national traumas
must be taken into account”. debt suspension service has helped, and both countries have
What is needed, then, to deepen but more financial help is necessary”, taken development-orien
the social contract in Africa, Therése Tetteh observed. ted pathways not based on
Sjömander Magnusson asked. Some
panellists underlined that expecta- THE COVID-19 CRISIS could make it even democracy. In history,
tions from the citizenry cannot be more difficult for states to deliver ser- development has always
met because of the fragility of state vices to citizens. According to Jakkie preceded democratisation.
institutions. Cilliers, head of African Futures & The Nordic countries
Innovation at the Institute for Security
REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL organi- Studies (ISS), millions of Africans are perhaps can show us a
sations on the continent have a lot of at risk of falling into extreme poverty. different way, because we
knowledge to share with state insti- On a more positive note, he mentio- don’t want to go in the
tutions, Hanna Tetteh pointed out. ned the agreement on intercontinental same direction as China.”
4 | REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA
“Eleanor Fisher,
head of research,
the Nordic Africa
Institute
“Stakeholders are often
excluded from the dis-
cussion. Such conversa-
tion should not only be
between states, but also
include plural voices
from different corners
of civil society.”
Adebayo Olukoshi,
director, Africa and
West Asia, Interna
tional IDEA
A Ugandan woman is angry with her local council chair, whom she accuses of diverting
“Election losers are left money intended for health care. Photo: Frederic Noy/Panos Pictures.
out completely, which
often leads to violence free trade that could provide oppor- beginning. It had to be negotiated and
and undermines political tunities for leapfrogging to greater moulded together over time to beco-
will. We must enable prosperity. Another important dis- me strong”, Pettersson pointed out.
cussion, according to Cilliers, is what
political losers with the development routes African countries SEVERAL PANELLISTS STRESSED that
chance to fight another will take. zero-sum politics, 'where the winner
day. At the same time, “In Ethiopia and Rwanda, social takes all', is still all too common on
there seems to be less contracts stem from deep national the African continent and needs
traumas and both countries have replacing with the will to mobilise
space for leaders’ long- taken development-oriented pathways societies to move forward.
term thinking and policy- not based on democracy. In history, “Election losers are left out com-
making on the continent.” development has always preceded pletely, which often leads to violence
democratisation. The Nordic countri- and undermines political will. We
es perhaps can show us a different must enable political losers with the
way, because we don’t want to go in chance to fight another day”, Adebayo
Geert Laporte, the same direction as China”, Cilliers Olukoshi said.
director, European remarked. “At the same time there seems to
Think Tanks Group
be less space for leaders’ long-term
ACCORDING TO BOTH Eleanor Fisher, thinking and policy making on the
head of research at NAI, and Torbjörn continent”, he added.
Pettersson, former Swedish ambassa-
dor to the AU, the Nordics can contri- TOO OFTEN, IDEAS and experiences are
“It takes two to tango bute in areas where the social contract imported from the global North to
and the EU are still is particularly strong in their countri- Africa as whole packages. Develop-
collaborating with the es. For instance, welfare, democracy, ment cooperation is important, but
most corrupt leaders on gender equality and people´s high we must not surrender completely,
level of trust in governmental autho- Olukoshi stated.
the continent, perhaps rities, underpinned by low levels of “No region has a monopoly on an-
out of fear of being side corruption in public institutions. swers and no region has a monopoly
lined by China.” “But let’s not forget, there was no on problems. Just because something
social contract in Sweden from the works in one place does not mean it
REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA | 5
Governance performance in Africa, 2019
19.2
Somalia
“Sinikka Antila,
EU ambassador
to Namibia
(lowest score)
“Building strong institu-
77.2 tions is difficult, however,
48.8
The 2020 Ibrahim
Mauritius
(highest score)
Index of African and we have been trying
for a long time. First, we
Governance (IIAG)
covers ten years’
worth of data from
2010 to 2019 inclu-
sent out experts, and
sive for 54 African then we tried projects
and later budget support.
countries. Data
collected from 40
Overall African governance
independent sources
construct a frame
I want to believe there is
score 2019: 48.8 of 100
Change 2010-19: +1.2
work of four main a willingness to overcome
the bottlenecks, and I
categories, each with
(Slowing Improvement) four subcategories.
strongly believe we need
Performance score 2019, four main categories to strengthen multilateral
action between the EU
and Africa.”
51.9 49.5 47.8 46.2
Torbjörn
Pettersson,
former ambassa-
Human Security and Participation, Foundations dor of Sweden to
Development Rule of law Rights & for Economic Ethiopia, the AU,
Includes Access to Includes Absence Inclusion Opportunity
IGAD and Djibouti
Healthcare, Water of Violence Includes Political Includes Civil
& Sanitation, Equ- against Civilians, Pluralism, Civil Registration, Tax &
Revenue Mobilisa-
“But let's not forget,
ality in Education, Equality before Society Space,
Social Safety the Law, Institu- Democratic Elec- tion, Professional
Nets, Poverty Re-
duction Policies,
tional Checks &
Balances, Civic
tions, Freedom of
Expression & Be-
Administration,
Trade Environment, there was no social con-
Environmental Checks & Balan- lief, Equal Political Transport Network,
Rural Land & Water
tract in Sweden from the
beginning. It had to be
Sustainability and ces, Anti-Corrup- Power and Equal
more. tion Mechanism Civil Liberties and Access and more.
Change from and more. more. Change from
2010 to 2019
negotiated and moulded
together over time to
2010 to 2019 Change from Change from
+3.0 (Slowing 2010 to 2019 2010 to 2019 +4.1 (Slowing
Improvement) -0.7 (Slowing
Deterioration)
-1.4 (Increasing
Deterioration)
Improvement)
become strong.”
Amanda Hammar,
president, European
will work in Africa. We must come “We must also understand there African Studies
to the negotiating table with our own are vested interests at play, not only by Association
knowledge, and with the power to African leaders but also by European
reject what we know doesn’t work leaders. It takes two to tango and the
for us. There must be a limit on the EU are still collaborating with the
culture of selling solutions”. most corrupt leaders on the conti- “There are two domains
nent, perhaps out of fear of being of agency; the engage-
GEERT LAPORTE AGREED that donor sidelined by China”.
and partner countries should not sell
ment with the outside –
ready solutions that assume a cer- Laporte and Olukoshi together like partnerships with the
tain type of social contract in Africa. stressed that an active citizenship is Nordics or EU, and do-
However, that does not mean that the way forward, but unfortunately, mestic engagement. But
experiences in the Nordics are not donor agencies are only reaching a
valuable, but rather that this calls for fraction of all civil society actors. In-
who is invited in, and by
partnerships beyond a donor and creased support, said Olukoshi, could whom, to these engage-
recipient aid logic. give citizens a watchdog role over ments?”
6 | REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA
A young couple officially registers their marriage at a town hall in Burundi. Photo: Chris de Bode/Panos.
society similar to that in the Nordics. there are many more bottlenecks on and the need to include the voices of
Laporte stressed that it is about the African continent. young people, women and those who
leading by example, and there the “Weak institutions are an impedi- are typically excluded. “However, it is
Nordic countries have a role to play. ment to imple- not easy to ensure
“Because they don’t show the same mentation of
double standards as many other good policies.
“Just because something that people are in
the dialogue”, Fisher
donors. However, I also think Nordic Building strong works in one place does observed.
countries should invest more in the EU institutions is not mean it will work in African agency
than they currently do. It seems they difficult, however, Africa. We must come to was something se-
are more interested in working globally and we have been veral panelist spoke
or with the UN”. trying for a long
the negotiating table about. Moderator
time. First, we with our own knowledge, Therése Sjömander
TORBJÖRN PETTERSSON THINKS it is im- sent out experts, and with the power to Magnusson defined
portant that the EU considers the AU and then we tried reject what we know it in this context as
as the primary institution to engage projects and later to have a voice and
in partnership, and thus avoid having budget support.
doesn’t work for us.” the ability to act, and
many smaller bilateral agreements. I want to believe to have influence on
“We also need to look beyond there is a willingness to overcome the social transformation.
transactional agreements. We need to bottlenecks, and I strongly believe we
focus on global problems like climate need to strengthen multilateral action FOR AMANDA HAMMAR, President of the
change, the youth bulge, and that iden- between the EU and Africa”, Antila European African Studies Association,
tity politics are taking over. If the focus said. it is important to discuss who has a say
is on economics, the donor-recipient Stakeholders are often excluded and where. “There are two domains
model will prevail”, Pettersson said. from the discussion, Eleanor Fisher of agency; the engagement with the
remarked. Such a conversation should outside – like partnerships with the
SINIKKA ANTILA, THE EU ambassador to not only be between states, but also Nordics or EU, and domestic enga-
Namibia, highlighted that EU and AU include plural voices from different gement. But who is invited in, and by
have more or less the same policies. corners of civil society. This brings whom, to these engagements? This is
But when it comes to implementation, issues of African agency to the fore an important dynamic, as well as the
REDEFINING THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AFRICA | 7
act of agency because there is plenty of
room for citizens in various compo-
sitions to invent the spaces and make
these come to the fore”.
IN THIS RESPECT, the panel reinforced
how to co-create a conversation to
generate transformation towards an
inclusive and just society.
“One suggestion is to acknowled-
ge that we have joint and complex
problems that we need to address, but
“Gunvor Kronman,
CEO of the Hana-
holmen Swedish-
Finnish Cultural
Centre
the view that African leaders need to that the solutions have to be different,
“Young voices must be
move beyond rhetoric and show since- and this is where African perspectives, included in the AU-EU
re willingness to address social divides knowledge and agency are absolutely dialogue. We have to
and inequalities on the continent. fundamental”, Sjömander Magnusson find ways for letting
“But also citizens must take an said.
active role and responsibility. Seve-
them be heard. Also,
ral panellists emphasised the term IT IS EASY tosay that partnerships during the Covid-19
‘active citizenship’ in order to nurture must be on equal terms, the panellists crisis we see very clearly
the social contract. Here, the Nordic agreed, but yet so hard to achieve. how girls’ rights and
countries could have a role to play”, “One way could be to discuss global
Sjömander Magnusson said. challenges that we are all facing, defi-
gender equality have
ned in the Agenda 2030, because only taken big steps back-
ACCORDING TO Hanna Tetteh the through ‘togetherness’ will we enable wards. This we must
problem is not only about imported social transformation”, Sjömander address.”
models or lack of agency. It is also that Magnusson concluded.
values, ethics and integrity are univer-
sal, but not insisted on in the African THE DIRECTOR OF the Hanaholmen
Therése Sjöman-
context. Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, der Magnusson,
“There are different standards in Gunvor Kronman, concluded the director of the
different countries. We need to insist event by pointing to the need for broa- Nordic Africa
Institute
on good governance principles and der social inclusion. While Europe has
leaders must be held accountable by an ageing population, 75 percent of
the institutions”, Tetteh underlined. Africans are under 35 years old.
“Young voices must be included in “In order to meet the
THERÉSE SJÖMANDER MAGNUSSON, the AU-EU dialogue. We have to find challenges we have
emphasised that one key message ways for letting them be heard. Also, ahead it is fundamental
brought to the fore by all the panel- during the Covid-19 crisis we see very
lists is the need to understand the clearly how girls’ rights and gender
that societies are built on
underlying mechanisms that result in equality have taken big steps back- trust and have agre-
social cohesion in different societies. wards. This we must address”, Kron- ements on rights and
The social contract in and between man emphasised. ◆ obligations. With this in
African countries looks very different
from what ties a society together in,
mind, we want to put the
for example, the Nordic region. Still, importance of establish-
according to the panellists there is a ing and investing in a
genuine interest from African leaders strong social contract at
to learn from outside the region and
here the Nordic countries can lead See the event at the centre of this discus-
by example. Therefore, an important
the Nordic Africa
Institute webpage:
sion.”
question raised at the roundtable was nai.uu.se/nordics-africa-roundtable
© Nordiska Afrikainstitutet/the Nordic Africa Institute, You can find this, and all other NAI publications, in our digital
February 2021 archive Diva: www.nai.diva-portal.org
ISBN 978-91-7106-873-6 Rights and permissions: This work is available under the Cre-
ative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence (CC BY 3.0)
Text, design and production: Johan Sävström, Fredrik Swahn
and Sebastian Danielsson, NAI Please address all queries on rights and licenses to the Nordic
Africa Institute, PO Box 1703, SE-751 47 Uppsala, Sweden
The opinions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect E-mail: publications@nai.uu.se
the views of the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) Website: nai.uu.se
NORDIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE EU-AFRICA PARTNERSHIP
About this note
This is a summary note of the virtual seminar The Nordic contribution to
EU-Africa cooperation in times of threatened multilateralism held on 30
November 2020. Thought leaders, scholars and policymakers from Africa
and Europe discussed the need to strengthen the social contract in Africa,
and how the Nordic countries can contribute to the future of EU-Africa
relations.
About the Nordic Africa Institute
The Nordic Africa Institute conducts independent, policy-relevant research,
provides analysis and informs decision making, with the aim of advancing
research-based knowledge of contemporary Africa. The institute is jointly
financed by the governments of Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
About the Hanaholmen Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre
The Hanaholmen Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre works to develop
co-operation between the two countries in all areas of society. Hanaholmen
organises various types of events, courses, seminars and projects, as well
as investigating various social development needs.
This note is based on
SDG-relevant research,
it concerns goals 16.You can also read
