Building Bridges for Sustainable Growth

SEEDS community,

We’re thrilled to share the outcomes of the SEEDS Think Tank 2025, held on March 8, 2025, in Hamburg – a special date that coincided with International Women’s Day. The gathering brought together members of the African diaspora, partners, and friends of SEEDS to exchange ideas and take action on how the diaspora can support sustainable development and inclusive growth in Africa.

The agenda revolved around three central themes:

• Honoring the contributions of African women

• Navigating diverging economic interests between Europe and Africa

• Exploring how the diaspora can overcome key challenges and drive change

Kick-off and SEEDS Network Highlights

 The event began with a welcoming networking session, allowing participants to connect, exchange ideas, and set the tone for an interactive day of learning and dialogue. The SEEDS team then presented an overview of the network's growing impact. Highlights included:

• More than 3300 hours of mentoring delivered through initiatives like the NABIKO

mentoring program

• Over €130,000 in startup funding distributed via partnerships and business angel groups

• A network of 13+ active partnerships and three diaspora-led Business Angel Networks

• Support for startups in four countries, with a strong focus on gender diversity (60% of mentored startups are led or co-led by women)

These milestones reflect SEEDS’ core mission: to connect, empower, and support African professionals and entrepreneurs through practical, values-based engagement.

Honoring African Women: Resilient, Ambitious, Empowering

This year’s Think Tank coincided with International Women’s Day, and SEEDS took the opportunity to celebrate the vital contributions of African women to economic and social

progress – both on the continent and in the diaspora. Facts and figures shared during the session underscored both the achievements and challenges African women face:

• Women in Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest rate of entrepreneurship globally (26%), far surpassing Europe (6%) and North America (12%)

• 70% of food in Sub-Saharan Africa is produced by women, who also carry out 30% of agricultural activity [1]

• 90% of African women’s income is reinvested in their families, a powerful engine for community development [2]

• Countries like Rwanda lead the world in women’s parliamentary representation, with 61.3% of seats held by women [3]

To complement the data, participants engaged in a Mentimeter poll that invited them to name the key characteristics of African women. The resulting word cloud revealed a powerful set of attributes: resilience, strength, compassion, courage, ambition. 

As a final gesture of gratitude and celebration, roses were presented to all the women in the room, honoring their strength and leadership.

Fishbowl Discussion: Diaspora Between Two Worlds

The heart of the event was a Fishbowl Discussion exploring the theme:

"Diverging Economical Interests between European and African Countries – What Role is the Diaspora Playing?" 

Moderated by Armel Djeukou from SEEDS, the discussion featured insights from three opening panelists: Reine Ngamo, Chairwoman of the Verein Kamerunische Bildungsgemeinschaft Hamburg, Gael Pentang, SEEDS Co-Founder and Mentor and Thierry Djeumo, SEEDS Business Angel and Mentor.

As participants rotated in and out of the panel, the conversation tackled key contradictions and opportunities:

• While Africa produces 5.5% of the world's minerals, its trade still relies heavily on raw materials (57% mining) over value-added exports

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in renewable energy is rising, but challenges in infrastructure and access to finance persist

• Remittances outpace FDI and ODA (Official Development Assistance), showing the diaspora’s growing financial role

• Job creation through FDI is led by sectors like software, IT services, and manufacturing –sectors ripe for diaspora engagement.

Participants highlighted that the diaspora can play a unique bridging role – not just financially, but through their access to networks, knowledge, and policy influence. Calls were made to foster more context-aware investment, more diaspora unity, and increased representation in European decision-making spaces.

Collaborative Sessions: From Conversation to Co-Creation

After a short break, participants moved into four breakout groups, each focusing on one key

challenge. These collaborative sessions were a highlight of the event, filled with energy and

concrete thinking. Here’s what emerged from each group:

Improving Access to Funding

This group, led by Thierry Djeumo and Blandine Nganso, explored how the diaspora can play a more strategic role in facilitating access to funding for impactful projects across Africa. A key proposal was the establishment of cooperative financing mechanisms, such as “Njangi-style” investment groups, where diaspora members pool resources to support verified local ventures.

The discussion also underlined the need to strengthen trust through transparency, reliable project follow-ups, and targeted mentoring programs. Participants emphasized shifting from a mindset of tribal or personal affiliations toward impact-driven, collaborative funding approaches. Sharing and celebrating success stories was seen as essential to inspire confidence and scale engagement within the wider diaspora network.

Bridging the Knowledge and Skills Gap

Facilitated by Evariste Happi, this group placed particular emphasis on the importance of

identifying specific needs and opportunities across African sectors before building knowledge bridges. Participants advocated for a data-informed mapping of critical skills gaps, which could then be matched with diaspora expertise in a strategic and results-oriented way.

Structured platforms for mentorship, consulting, and co-development were seen as essential tools to facilitate effective knowledge exchange. Social media and digital channels were highlighted as low-barrier, high-impact solutions for exposing expertise and enabling fast, real-time engagement. Internship programs for African students in Europe were proposed as a way to build long-term capacity, while Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) were recognized as key enablers for maintaining continuity and local relevance in these exchanges.

Building Sustainable Business Models

Under the guidance of Dr. Jules Keghie, this group tackled the challenge of building sustainable and context-sensitive business models suited to Africa’s fragmented economies. Rather than relying on large-scale foreign direct investment, the group advocated for micro-industrialization: the development of small, agile, and locally embedded enterprises that respond to community needs.

They encouraged the import of technologies, not finished products, and stressed the importance of understanding cultural and regulatory contexts before launching any venture. Key recommendations included: offering fiscal incentives for diaspora investors, launching skills-based vocational training, and lobbying for stronger recognition of “Made in Africa” goods and services. They also called for stronger coordination between diaspora groups and local partners with on the ground knowledge.

Promoting Cultural Diplomacy

Moderated by Esther Keghie, this group focused on how the diaspora can reshape global

narratives about Africa and promote a more unified, confident cultural identity. One of the group’s standout proposals was the launch of an annual pan-African conference, organized by the diaspora, that celebrates innovation, leadership, and progress across African communities – drawing inspiration from events like “Challenge Camerounais”.

The team also recommended the creation of educational programs and institutions focused on African history, values, and identity, supported by the diaspora and in collaboration with local actors. Long-term partnerships between diaspora professionals and African universities were seen as a key tool for building pride and mutual understanding.

Crucially, the group encouraged professionalism and self-awareness in diaspora circles: being on time, delivering results, and challenging stereotypes by leading through example. Involving Europeans in diaspora initiatives, they argued, can also promote mutual understanding and shared success.

A Warm Ending, A Connected Future

Following the collaborative wrap-up, the event ended on a high note with refreshments, casual networking, and heartfelt conversations. The atmosphere was one of connection and purpose: participants left with not only new ideas, but also new partners.

Looking Ahead

SEEDS Think Tank 2025 showed once again that the African diaspora holds a unique position: bridging continents, connecting people, and driving innovation. Whether through funding, mentorship, cultural exchange, or advocacy, the SEEDS network continues to prove that change starts with collaboration. Together, we are shaping a future where African potential is not just imagined, but realized.

A sincere thank you to all who played a part in making the SEEDS Think Tank 2025 a success. Your commitment to advancing Africa’s economic growth and entrepreneurial potential is appreciated. We look forward to continuing this journey together with more impactful events and opportunities ahead.

Until next time, 

SEEDS Team 

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[1] Machel, Graca COVID-19 And The Impact On African Women: All Responses Must Respect The Gendered Impacts Of The Pandemic. June 18th, 2020

[2] Damaris Seleina Parsitau Invisible lives, missing voices: Putting women and girls at the centre of post-COVID-19 recovery and reconstruction. January 28th, 2021

[3] UN women, “Facts And Figures: Women’s Leadership And Political Participation.” January 15th, 2021