2023 – A review

Looking back at our year

The AGYO was established in January 2021 which means that 2024 marks the start of our fourth year. As in the years before, awareness of our Teams up! and Team works! programmes increased in 2023 and we were able to help young people join forces to promote socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development.   

From Berlin to Dakar, from Accra to Hamburg, there were numerous exchange visits between youth groups from Germany and African countries working together on SDG-related projects through the Teams up! Youth Exchange for Sustainable Development programme. Since 1 January 2021, funding has been provided for 67 youth exchange projects, four model projects and five accompanying projects with a total of 1,144 participants.

The Team works! Young Expert Exchange for Sustainable Development programme, still in the early stages, has also enabled many young German and African professionals to spend a number of weeks on assignment, gaining valuable knowledge and experience. Under this programme, there have been 88 assignments, half in African countries and half in Germany, since 1 January 2021. 57 of the assignments were in 2023.

A further stand-out moment in 2023 was the “Training Course of the African-German Youth Office to boost SDG multiplication”. Participants (mainly from Teams up! and Team works!) were able to present their own SDG project ideas and get support from professional consultants to help them implement the projects. The course culminated in an intensive workshop week in Kigali, Rwanda, in October, attended by all the participants.

  • A group of young people are sitting on the floor in a marquee, listening to a presentation by a young man and a young woman.
    Our presentation at the weltwärts Festival: Jacob, Mary and Beauty, former Team works! participants, talked to Linda (SES/Team works!) about their assignments in German companies.
  • A small group of young people is standing in front of a pinboard, presenting results written on coloured sticky notes.
    In October 2023, the groups participating in our SDG course met up in the flesh in Kigali to work on their project ideas in an intensive workshop.
  • A small group of young people is standing in front of a pinboard, presenting results written on coloured sticky notes.
  • Around 20 people are standing next to each other in a group and smiling at the camera.
    At the end of October, our strategic partner, the German Federation for Arts Education and Cultural Learning (BKJ), held a networking meeting for representatives of various organisations from African countries and Germany. Some of the organisations have already conducted youth exchanges with Teams up!
  • There are seven people in the picture. They’re standing in a kitchen.
    Laura was one of 44 young professionals from Germany who went on an assignment in an African company. Trained in cooking and restaurant management, Laura worked with teachers at a vocational college in Ruhango, developing new methods for the chef training programme they offer. Her tandem team partner, Andreas, an SES expert, was on hand to provide help and advice.
  • The photo shows a group of young people in a dance performance. They’re wearing black and white clothing and are moving.
    There were a number of Teams up! youth exchanges in 2023. One example was an exchange between Aktion Tanz - Bundesverband Tanz in Bildung und Gesellschaft e.V. from Germany and Association IMINRIO from Benin for a dance theatre project entitled “Same same but different”.
  • A group of young people are sitting on the floor in a marquee, listening to a presentation by a young man and a young woman.
    Our presentation at the weltwärts Festival: Jacob, Mary and Beauty, former Team works! participants, talked to Linda (SES/Team works!) about their assignments in German companies.
  • A small group of young people is standing in front of a pinboard, presenting results written on coloured sticky notes.
    In October 2023, the groups participating in our SDG course met up in the flesh in Kigali to work on their project ideas in an intensive workshop.
  • A small group of young people is standing in front of a pinboard, presenting results written on coloured sticky notes.
  • Around 20 people are standing next to each other in a group and smiling at the camera.
    At the end of October, our strategic partner, the German Federation for Arts Education and Cultural Learning (BKJ), held a networking meeting for representatives of various organisations from African countries and Germany. Some of the organisations have already conducted youth exchanges with Teams up!
  • There are seven people in the picture. They’re standing in a kitchen.
    Laura was one of 44 young professionals from Germany who went on an assignment in an African company. Trained in cooking and restaurant management, Laura worked with teachers at a vocational college in Ruhango, developing new methods for the chef training programme they offer. Her tandem team partner, Andreas, an SES expert, was on hand to provide help and advice.
  • The photo shows a group of young people in a dance performance. They’re wearing black and white clothing and are moving.
    There were a number of Teams up! youth exchanges in 2023. One example was an exchange between Aktion Tanz - Bundesverband Tanz in Bildung und Gesellschaft e.V. from Germany and Association IMINRIO from Benin for a dance theatre project entitled “Same same but different”.

Africa strategy, feminist development policy and civic engagement strategy

Last year, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), headed by Federal Minister Svenja Schulze, presented three strategy papers, the content of which is key to the AGYO’s work.

On 24 January, the ministry presented its new Africa strategy, entitled “Joining Perspectives – Cooperation with Africa in Times of Change”. It focuses on respect-based collaboration with African countries and the sustainable development of the African continent. The AGYO is contributing to these efforts through activities to promote civil society engagement and youth.

More information

In March, Minister Schulze presented the core components of the new BMZ strategy on feminist development policy.

More information

This was followed by the presentation of the BMZ’s new civic engagement strategy at the weltwärts volunteer service’s 15th anniversary event. The idea behind the strategy is to attract more people to development volunteering and increase support for those already engaged in voluntary work. It’s aimed at all parts of society and offers opportunities for people of all ages, in all phases of live and with all types of experience.

More information

Instagram Reels

Our second Insta Live session: Linda (SES/Team works!) and André (AGYO) spoke to Julian, a fireman whose assignment took him to Kenya.

Go to Instagram Reel

Jacob is 28 and comes from Uganda. He did a Team works! assignment at the Deutsche Welle radio network – but behind the scenes, in the kitchen to be precise. That’s because Jacob is a chef. During his time at Deutsche Welle, he not only learned how to make new dishes, he also brought his expertise from Uganda to the table.

Go to Instagram Reel

We attended the careers day in Bonn. We were delighted that so many people visited our stall to chat and find out more. It was wonderful to share our enthusiasm for the programmes with so many people, answer their questions and to find about other organisations’ programmes.

Go to Instagram Reel

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