In 2024, the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) continued its mission of promoting justice, food sovereignty, corporate accountability, and equitable Africa-Europe relations. This year, the organization made significant strides in addressing food security, advocating for trade justice, and holding corporations accountable for their impact on Africa’s communities and resources.

Key Achievements:

  1. The “Our Land is Our Life” (OLOL) Campaign:
    AEFJN’s OLOL campaign focused on food security, agroecology, and land justice. The Adjumani pilot project in Uganda was a standout success, helping 191 farmers cultivate sustainable crops across 18.5 acres. While the project faced challenges such as delayed funding, it marked a significant step toward empowering local communities through agroecology and food sovereignty.
  2. Trade Justice:
    AEFJN continued to advocate for fairer trade agreements between Africa and Europe, pushing back against exploitative policies like the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The organization emphasized the need for Africa to be recognized as an equal partner in its engagements with Europe, particularly in sectors such as raw materials and agriculture. Advocacy for debt relief and corporate accountability was central to this effort.
  3. Corporate Accountability in Raw Material Extraction:
    With Africa playing a key role in the global energy transition, AEFJN focused on ensuring ethical mining practices. The organization pushed for a binding international treaty to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations and environmental harm. AEFJN’s collaboration with African and European partners aims to ensure that local communities benefit from Africa’s natural resources.
  4. Faith-Based Collaborations:
    AEFJN fostered stronger partnerships between African and European faith-based organizations (FBOs), advocating for decolonized development aid that prioritizes local ownership.

Strategic Priorities for 2025:
Looking ahead, AEFJN plans to expand its work on ethical raw material extraction, migration policies, and research-based advocacy. The organization is also set to expand its team, aiming to hire new staff in Africa and Brussels to enhance its ability to engage at both local and international levels.

In conclusion, 2024 has been a year of progress and challenges for AEFJN. As the organization looks to 2025, it remains committed to promoting justice and equality in Africa-Europe relations, with a focus on ethical resource management, food sovereignty, and stronger partnerships.

Elvis Ng’andwe (M.Afr)

Executive Secretary