France Bolsters African Diaspora Ties
- MARSEILLE, France (AP) — France is deepening its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation between France and African nations.Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot highlighted this...
- The Ancrages Forum, organized by Les Déterminés, convened hundreds of participants from the African diaspora and across France.
- Barrot reaffirmed the critical role of the African diaspora in facilitating dialogue and development across the Mediterranean.
france Strengthens Ties with African Diaspora through Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Table of Contents
- france Strengthens Ties with African Diaspora through Entrepreneurship Initiatives
- Ancrages Forum Focuses on Franco-African Entrepreneurship
- france’s Action Plan for African Diasporas
- Key Programs Supporting Entrepreneurs
- House of African Worlds (MansA) to Open in Paris
- Quai d’Orsay to host Event Highlighting African Diaspora
- Upcoming Forums and events
- Mediterranean Season 2026
- france’s commitment to the African Diaspora: A Q&A
- Q: what is France doing to strengthen ties with the African diaspora?
- Q: Where was this commitment highlighted?
- Q: What is the Ancrages Forum?
- Q: What is France’s African Diasporas Action Plan?
- Q: What key programs are included in the Action Plan?
- Q: How many entrepreneurs have been supported by MEET Africa and Pass Africa?
- Q: What is the recent news about Pass Africa?
- Q: How much funding has been provided through Choose Africa?
- Q: How many African businesses and micro-entrepreneurs have benefited from Choose africa?
- Q: What is the focus of DIASDEV?
- Q: What does Digital Africa do?
- Q: What is the House of African Worlds (MansA)?
- Q: What events are planned to celebrate the African diaspora?
- Q: Are there any upcoming forums or events planned?
- Q: What is the Mediterranean Season 2026?
- Q: what are the key initiatives and events?
MARSEILLE, France (AP) — France is deepening its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation between France and African nations.Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot highlighted this commitment during the second edition of the Ancrages Forum in Marseille on Wednesday, April 16.
Ancrages Forum Focuses on Franco-African Entrepreneurship
The Ancrages Forum, organized by Les Déterminés, convened hundreds of participants from the African diaspora and across France. The event served as a platform to discuss and promote collaborative ventures.
france’s Action Plan for African Diasporas
Barrot reaffirmed the critical role of the African diaspora in facilitating dialogue and development across the Mediterranean. To support this, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has launched an African Diasporas Action Plan, engaging its diplomatic network both in France and at its embassies in Africa.
Key Programs Supporting Entrepreneurs
The action plan includes several key programs designed to bolster African entrepreneurship:
- MEET Africa and Pass Africa: These programs have already supported over 3,000 entrepreneurs. Barrot announced the launch of the third edition of pass Africa, which will support 20 new entrepreneurs in 2025.
- Choose Africa: This initiative has provided €3.5 billion in funding to over 40,000 African businesses and hundreds of thousands of micro-entrepreneurs. Choose Africa 2 (2023-2027) aims to attract new investors and support french businesses expanding into Africa.
- DIASDEV: Renewed for 2025, DIASDEV focuses on reducing money transfer costs and developing innovative financial products for the diaspora.
- Digital Africa: This program provides technical, financial, and institutional assistance to African digital entrepreneurs, helping them scale high-impact tech innovations.
House of African Worlds (MansA) to Open in Paris
Barrot announced that the House of African Worlds (MansA) will open in Paris in June. MansA will serve as a hub for conversation, innovation, and debate, showcasing contemporary African art and fostering entrepreneurship.
Quai d’Orsay to host Event Highlighting African Diaspora
On June 21, coinciding with the Fête de la Musique, the Quai d’Orsay will host an event celebrating the talent and musical creativity of the African diaspora.
Upcoming Forums and events
Looking ahead, Barrot mentioned several other key events:
- A third edition of the Ancrages Forum will take place at the end of 2025.
- The second edition of the Democracy Forum of the Innovation Foundation for Democracy (FIDEMO) will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from June 19-22.
- The second edition of the African art Forum will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, in October 2025.
Mediterranean Season 2026
The Ancrages Forum in Marseille is a key component of the 2026 Mediterranean Season, a cultural initiative coordinated by the Institut français. this season will highlight the connections between the peoples of the Mediterranean region, spanning France, the Maghreb, and the Middle East.
france’s commitment to the African Diaspora: A Q&A
Q: what is France doing to strengthen ties with the African diaspora?
France is actively working to deepen its relationship with the African diaspora through initiatives focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. This commitment was highlighted by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.
Q: Where was this commitment highlighted?
This commitment was highlighted during the second edition of the Ancrages Forum in Marseille on Wednesday, April 16.
Q: What is the Ancrages Forum?
The Ancrages Forum, organized by Les Déterminés, is a platform that brings together hundreds of participants from the African diaspora and across france to discuss and promote collaborative ventures.
Q: What is France’s African Diasporas Action Plan?
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs launched an African Diasporas Action Plan to support the African diaspora’s role in facilitating dialog and development across the Mediterranean. This plan involves the diplomatic network both in France and at its embassies in Africa.
Q: What key programs are included in the Action Plan?
The action plan includes several key programs designed to support African entrepreneurship. These programs include:
MEET Africa and Pass africa: These programs have already supported over 3,000 entrepreneurs.
Choose Africa: This initiative has provided €3.5 billion in funding to over 40,000 African businesses and hundreds of thousands of micro-entrepreneurs.
DIASDEV: This program focuses on reducing money transfer costs and developing innovative financial products for the diaspora.
Digital Africa: This program provides technical, financial, and institutional assistance to African digital entrepreneurs.
Q: How many entrepreneurs have been supported by MEET Africa and Pass Africa?
These programs have already supported over 3,000 entrepreneurs.
Q: What is the recent news about Pass Africa?
The third edition of Pass Africa is set to launch, which will support 20 new entrepreneurs in 2025.
Q: How much funding has been provided through Choose Africa?
choose Africa has provided €3.5 billion in funding.
Q: How many African businesses and micro-entrepreneurs have benefited from Choose africa?
Over 40,000 African businesses and hundreds of thousands of micro-entrepreneurs have benefited.
Q: What is the focus of DIASDEV?
DIASDEV focuses on reducing money transfer costs and developing innovative financial products for the diaspora. it has been renewed for 2025.
Q: What does Digital Africa do?
Digital Africa provides technical, financial, and institutional assistance to African digital entrepreneurs, helping them scale high-impact tech innovations.
Q: What is the House of African Worlds (MansA)?
The House of African Worlds (MansA) will open in Paris in June. It will serve as a hub for conversation, innovation, and debate, showcasing contemporary African art and fostering entrepreneurship.
Q: What events are planned to celebrate the African diaspora?
On June 21, coinciding with the Fête de la Musique, the Quai d’Orsay will host an event celebrating the talent and musical creativity of the African diaspora.
Q: Are there any upcoming forums or events planned?
Yes, several key events are planned:
A third edition of the Ancrages Forum will take place at the end of 2025.
The second edition of the Democracy Forum of the Innovation Foundation for Democracy (FIDEMO) will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from June 19-22.
* The second edition of the African art forum will take place in Lagos,Nigeria,in October 2025.
Q: What is the Mediterranean Season 2026?
The Ancrages Forum in Marseille is a key component of the 2026 Mediterranean Season, a cultural initiative coordinated by the Institut français. This season will highlight the connections between the peoples of the Mediterranean region, spanning France, the Maghreb, and the Middle East.
Q: what are the key initiatives and events?
here is a concise overview:
| Initiative/Event | Description | Key Dates/Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Ancrages Forum | Platform for Franco-African Entrepreneurship | Marseille (April 16), future edition end of 2025 |
| African Diasporas Action Plan | Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs initiative | Ongoing |
| MEET Africa & Pass Africa | Entrepreneurship support programs | Ongoing, Pass Africa – 2025 |
| Choose Africa | Funding for african businesses | Ongoing, Choose Africa 2 (2023-2027) |
| DIASDEV | Focus on money transfer and diaspora financial products | renewed for 2025 |
| Digital Africa | Support for African digital entrepreneurs | Ongoing |
| House of African Worlds (MansA) | Hub for conversation, innovation, and art | Paris (June) |
| Quai d’Orsay Event | Party of African diaspora talent | Paris (June 21) |
| Democracy Forum (FIDEMO) | Forum on democracy and innovation | Dakar, Senegal (june 19-22, 2025) |
| African art Forum | Forum on African art | lagos, Nigeria (October 2025) |
| Mediterranean Season | Cultural initiative promoting connections in the Mediterranean region | 2026 |