EUROPE-AFRICA POLICY RESEARCH NETWORK

EARN is a network of African and European Policy Research Institutes, aiming to contribute to the EU-Africa Policy Dialogue. EARN intends to bring added value on pooling and fostering policy research capacities, dialogue, information and partnership between European and African non-governmental research institutions on issues relating to EU-Africa relations.

What is EARN’s objective?
Who are the EARN members?
When and how did it start?
How is it structured?
What are the outputs of such a network?
How to become a Member?
Contact EARN

What is EARN’s objective?

To provide independent policy analysis on issues of common concern for Africa and Europe, such as peace and security, governance, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, reform of multilateral institutions, climate change, energy, trade and regional integration, pandemic diseases, migration, science and technology, and other key political and development issues
To influence, through practical research, the implementation of the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, and to be part of the monitoring and follow-up mechanisms for its implementation
To encourage co-operation, co-ordination and partnerships between policy research institutes in Europe and Africa with a view to explore innovative ways of improving joint responses to common problems and to develop the institutional capacities of the network members, so as to reduce asymmetries between African and European policy research capacities
To enhance interaction between the world of policy research and policy making to contribute to a better informed decision-making process of the European and African policy makers – multilateral, regional and national bodies
To increase public awareness on issues concerning EU and Africa within the academic world, the broad diversity of NGOs and civil society stake-holders, the private sector and the media
Read more about the objectives – doc

Who are the EARN members?
Click here to get to the list of members and to their organisation profiles – html

When and how did it start?
Discussions on the launch of a network of European and African policy research institutes started early in 2007. The EARN network was officially launched in December 2007 (at the Lisbon Summit). Its formal (interim) structure was decided upon in April 2008.

How is it structured ?

The Steering Committee (interim) is made of the Working Group leaders and the Co-ordination Team (ten members: five Africans and five Europeans). The role of the Steering Committee will be fundamentally a guiding role, providing strategic orientation to the activities of the network and the mobilisation of funding, and whenever necessary, take decisions on membership, funding and prioritisation of activities.
The Working Groups and their respective leaders (2 per working group: one African, one European) will be the main drivers of the EARN work plan and its linkages with policy-makers. The five working groups, established by the members, will focus on the following topics: ‘Overall EU-Africa partnership and global issues’, ‘Peace & Security’, ‘Governance’, ‘Trade & Regional Integration’ and ‘Poverty Reduction & Development’. Read more about the Working Groups
The Co-ordination Team is meant to take responsibility for the broader and overarching topic of ‘EU-Africa relations’ and for activities that cut across the Working Groups activities. One institute acts as Chair of the Steering Committee and two other members are co-chairs (one African, one European)

What are the outputs of such a network?
The yearly outputs of the network will be:
Annual Conference;
Annual Report;
Discussion papers (up to 4);
Briefs or policy papers (up to 8);
Website (to be created on the course of the first year).

How to become a Member?
EARN privileges membership of think tanks and networks with interest, track record and expertise on broad and/or specific areas of concern of EU-Africa relations (e.g. development, humanitarian, political, security, migration, trade, environment, and other areas of concern to EU-Africa relations).
(more…)

Contact EARN
E-Mail address:

earn@ecdpm.org

Postal address:
Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 21
6211 HE Maastricht
The Netherlands
info@ecdpm.org
www.ecdpm.org
Tel +31 (0)43 – 3502 900
Fax +31 (0)43 – 3502 902

Request for more info – click here