ZIAF Public Dialogue / Ambivalences of collaborative research between Germany and Africa

Today, transnational science and scholarship is inconceivable without collaborative work. It has become a matter of course to work in African countries in collaboration with scientists from the universities there on topics that affect this region. Therefore, the question is not so much whether collaborative work should take place, but rather how and in which situations it makes sense – and where there are problems. Europe and Africa share a long history, including colonial asymmetries, which is still reflected in scientific cooperation today. Collaboration between scientists from Europe and Africa has some specific characteristics that will be discussed in more detail at this panel event.

Examples include:

1. Research priorities and local expertise
   Africa faces particular challenges for which European researchers are sometimes less sensitised. This gives rise to fields of research in which African scientists have decisive expertise.
2. Unequal research infrastructures and funding
   While collaborations within Europe and with North America usually involve similarly equipped research institutions, there are often considerable infrastructure challenges in Africa.
3. Political and bureaucratic challenges
   African scientists often face visa problems when they intend to conduct research in Europe – an obstacle when it comes to reciprocal collaboration.
4. Linguistic diversity and intercultural dynamics
   While European-North American collaborations usually use English as the working language, the linguistic situation in Africa is more complex. At the same time, African scientists bring with them a variety of cultural perspectives that can promote innovative approaches in research projects.

Successful cooperation therefore requires not only scientific exchange, but also attention to structural peculiarities. The above mentioned topics will be analysed in three fields of scientific work: Promotion of young researchers, research projects and communication of results. Established practices, expectations of the various stakeholders and the possibilities under the given framework conditions deserve critical reflection, which may lead to a substantial contribution to utilising collaborative work. This includes both an acknowledgement of the limitations of this way of working and an agreement on the benefits that can arise from collaboration in terms of knowledge and the advancement of science.

Dr.   Edwin Ameso and Prof. Erdmute Alber will discuss this forward-looking topics.

Edwin Ameso is a postdoctoral researcher at Leipzig Universität. He focuses on digital health technologies, universal health coverage, health insurance and social welfare in sub-saharan Africa.

Erdmute Alber is a German social anthropologist specialising in political and kinship anthropology. She has held the Chair of Social Anthropology at the University of Bayreuth since 2010.

The evening will be moderated by Prof. Hans Peter Hahn, Director of ZIAF and professor of Social Anthropology at Goethe University.

11 June 2025 / 7 p.m., Campus Westend,  Casino 1.802