Advancing EU–Africa Collaboration: Italian CIDRA Members’ Strategic Engagements Across Global Policy and Academic Forums

In early September, Fabio Masini was invited to the Karpacz Economic Forum, where he actively participated in high-level sessions and discussions, presenting the general aims and vision of the CIDRA project. On this occasion, he met with Emanuela Del Re, former Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Africa, engaging in fruitful discussions on EU–Africa relations. Fabio also connected with Marinella Linati from The ONE Campaign, which subsequently reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate within the framework of the project.

Meanwhile, Bernard Snoy (RTI) was invited to a workshop at Columbia University (New York) focused on Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). During the event, he presented the ongoing CIDRA project on EU–Africa relations. Among the participants was Abebe Shimeles, advisor to the Ethiopian Government on debt restructuring. Following the workshop, Shimeles was introduced to Fabio Masini and is expected to join the academic meeting in Addis Ababa scheduled for Fall next year.

In addition, Albertina Nania and Fabio Masini met Giovanni Riccio, who later facilitated further professional exchanges by introducing Nania to Assafrica – International Representation of Confindustria. Assafrica supports Italian companies expanding across Africa and the Middle East and provided the CIDRA team with a comprehensive list of scientific attachés based at diplomatic missions worldwide. These attachés play a crucial role in promoting scientific and technological excellence, fostering bilateral cooperation, and connecting research institutions, public authorities, and high-tech enterprises—significantly enhancing the project’s international outreach and networking capacity.

CIDRA continues to build strong bridges between research, policy, and practice across continents.