As Europe deepens its economic partnerships with Africa, a European Parliament member is calling for closer monitoring of aid projects to ensure local communities see tangible benefits.
German lawmaker and European Parliament member, Udo Bullmann, made the call during a meeting with African journalists in Brussels, Belgium.
He said stronger monitoring would help guide future aid decisions as the global landscape changes and African countries seek greater autonomy in their partnerships.
Bullmann also advocated stronger EU-Africa cooperation, particularly in critical minerals, and called for more processing and refining of African raw materials within the continent to create jobs and retain greater economic value locally.
He said EU programmes should be assessed based on factors including job creation, fair wages, environmental impact and long-term sustainability.
Bullmann added that discussions are underway in the European Parliament on establishing a framework to measure the outcomes of EU-funded projects.
