
Wisdom recommends not reinventing the wheel. Instead, we have developed in the Partnership yearbook: Monitoring and tracking tools on best performance and evaluation.
The first of such exercises pertains to the critical examination of Australia’s African Relations. Indeed, in 2015, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Julie Bishop MP, established the Advisory Group on Australian African Relations (AGAAR) to provide the Commonwealth Government with advice on advancing and diversifying Australia’s growing relationship with Africa. Members of the Group were chosen from across the spectrum of the relationship – business, academia, government, and the community.
Africa grows in economic and strategic importance, attracting investment and increased attention from global powers, countries with colonial links, and emerging nations. Australia cannot afford to be an onlooker as Africa’s influence accelerates and what happens in the continent has an increasingly regional and worldwide impact.
To this end, AGAAR recommends that Australia adopts a strategic approach to Africa based on a renewed
vision whereby the Government prioritizes activities that:
• Create long term and sustainable relationships across the entire continent;
• Realise significant mutual benefits; and
• Focus on areas where Australia is recognized as having a specialized offering in the following areas of strategic focus:
a. Expanding trade and investment ties;
b. Building a sustainable partnership on development;
c. Strengthening security;
d. Cooperating on global issues;
e. Strengthening the position of women;
f. Developing closer people-to-people ties.
For the Australian Government to maintain a relevant and contemporary Australia Africa Strategy in line with national interests and opportunities, regular reviews and advice through the work of an ongoing advisory body are recommended.
The Australia Africa Week (AAW) initiative in Perth, pioneered in 2016, is a critical initiative that AGAAR has promoted.