CESA
Working Paper CEsA/ISEG Research No. 207/2025 examines TICAD’s contribution to South–South and Triangular Cooperation in Africa
The Working Paper CEsA/ISEG Research No. 207/2025, entitled The Historical Constraints of Africa South–South Cooperation: 30 Years of TICAD through the Lenses of South-South-Triangular Cooperation, analyses the three decades since the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and its role in ending Africa’s marginalization and exit aid dependency
The legacy of TICAD and its contribution to promoting structural changes in African development through South-South and Triangular Cooperation are the main conclusions of the new Working Paper CEsA/ISEG Research No. 207/2025, entitled The Historical Constraints of Africa South–South Cooperation: 30 Years of TICAD through the Lenses of South-South-Triangular Cooperation.
Authored by Pedro Miguel Amakasu Raposo de Medeiros Carvalho, full professor at Kansai University (Osaka, Japan) and associated researcher at CEsA/ISEG Research, the research article adopts a qualitative and chronological approach, with a cross-analysis of OECD reports, TICAD documents, UN and OAU historical resolutions, and secondary literature covering approximately 1960–2022, to understand the conceptual significance of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, explore the historical reasons why this modality has not advanced in Africa, and examine its contribution over three decades of TICAD in reducing Africa’s marginalisation and dependency on aid.
The Working Paper No. 207/2025 can be downloaded at the following link: https://cesa.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Working-Paper_207-2025_Final.pdf
Abstract:
Placing emphasis on the concepts of self-reliance and self-help, this paper contributes to the broad literature on South-South and Triangular cooperation, first, to understand its conceptual significance to south-south cooperation; second, to understand why from an historical perspective south-south cooperation has not advanced in Africa; and third, drawing on three decades of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, to understand the extent of TICAD contribution to promoting Africa’s self-reliance, essential to ending Africa’s marginalization and exit aid dependency. Based on insights from cross-analysis OECD reports, TICAD documents, UN and OAU historical resolutions, and secondary literature, through a qualitative and chronological approach, roughly from 1960 to 2022, we find that the role of TICAD through SS-TrC not only has contributed to structural development changes in Africa, but also redefined the paradigm of development assistance based on country ownership and equal partnership, thus becoming part of the Global Agenda for Development.
About the Author:
Pedro Miguel Amakasu Raposo de Medeiros Carvalho is full professor at Kansai University (Osaka, Japan) and associate researcher at CEsA/ISEG Research.
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Author: CEsA Communication Team (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
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Working Paper 207/2025: The Historical Constraints of Africa South-South Cooperation: 30 years of TICAD through the lenses of South-South-Triangular Cooperation
Abstract
Placing emphasis on the concepts of self-reliance and self-help, this paper contributes to the broad literature on South-South and Triangular cooperation, first, to understand its conceptual significance to south-south cooperation; second, to understand why from an historical perspective south-south cooperation has not advanced in Africa; and third, drawing on three decades of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, to understand the extent of TICAD contribution to promoting Africa’s self-reliance, essential to ending Africa’s marginalization and exit aid dependency. Based on insights from cross-analysis OECD reports, TICAD documents, UN and OAU historical resolutions, and secondary literature, through a qualitative and chronological approach, roughly from 1960 to 2022, we find that the role of TICAD through SS-TrC not only has contributed to structural development changes in Africa, but also redefined the paradigm of development assistance based on country ownership and equal partnership, thus becoming part of the Global Agenda for Development.
Cite this Working Paper
Amakasu Raposo de Medeiros Carvalho, Pedro Miguel (2025). “The Historical Constraints of Africa South-South Cooperation: 30 years of TICAD through the lenses of South-South-Triangular Cooperation”. CEsA/ISEG Research – Documentos de trabalho nº 207/2025
CEsA/ISEG Research Working Paper No. 206/2025 proposes a model to understand the dependency among actors involved in the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy
The CEsA/ISEG Research Working Paper No. 206/2025, entitled Multiplexing Corporate Power: Navigating corporate autonomy in the EU Global Gateway, presents the conceptual framework of “geoeconomic force multiplexing”, which explains how corporations process public inputs across geographical, sectoral, temporal, and network dimensions.
The dynamics of dependency between corporations and the various actors involved in the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, as well as the impact of these relations on achieving geoeconomic objectives, are the focus of the new CEsA/ISEG Research Working Paper No. 206/2025, entitled Multiplexing Corporate Power: Navigating corporate autonomy in the EU Global Gateway.
Authored by Luís Pais Bernardo, researcher at CEsA/ISEG Research, the study analyses three flagship projects — the Lobito Corridor (Angola), Dakar BRT (Senegal), and Lumut Maritime Industrial City (Malaysia) — through which it develops an innovative conceptual framework explaining how corporations process public inputs across multiple dimensions: geographical, sectoral, temporal, and network.
Based on these interactions, the author identifies four “multiplexer profiles”: autonomous (high leverage, low dependence), directed (high leverage, high dependence), bounded (low leverage, high dependence), and opportunistic (low leverage, low dependence). The study further demonstrates that, by delegating the implementation of the initiative to corporate actors, the EU creates path-dependent lock-ins that may redirect or undermine the original objectives of the Global Gateway.
The Working Paper No. 206/2025 is available for download here https://cesa.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/publicacoes/working-paper-206-2025-multiplexing-corporate-power-navigating-corporate-autonomy-in-the-eu-global-gateway/
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Abstract:
The EU’s Global Gateway initiative relies on corporations to achieve geoeconomic goals, creating structural dependence on actors with autonomous transformation capacity. By analyzing official documents and three flagship projects (Lobito Corridor (Angola), Dakar BRT (Senegal), and Lumut Maritime Industrial City (Malaysia)) I develop a “geoeconomic force multiplexing” framework explaining how corporations process public inputs across geographic, sectoral, temporal, and network dimensions. Four “multiplexer profiles” emerge from the interaction of leverage and patron dependence: autonomous (high leverage, low dependence), directed (high leverage, high dependence), bounded (low leverage, high dependence), and opportunistic (low leverage, low dependence). The EU faces inherent tension: channeling priorities through high-leverage corporations invites lower steerability, while more dependent actors lack transformative capacity. Delegating implementation to corporate actors creates path-dependent lock-ins that may redirect or undermine original objectives.
About the author:
Luís Pais Bernardo is an associate researcher at CEsA/ISEG Research. He works in the areas of Social Sciences with an emphasis on Political Science.
Click here to explore the full collection of CEsA Working Papers
Author: CEsA Communication Team (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Image: Reproduction
Working Paper 206/2025: Multiplexing Corporate Power: Navigating corporate autonomy in the EU Global Gateway
Abstract
The EU’s Global Gateway initiative relies on corporations to achieve geoeconomic goals, creating structural dependence on actors with autonomous transformation capacity. By analyzing official documents and three flagship projects (Lobito Corridor (Angola), Dakar BRT (Senegal), and Lumut Maritime Industrial City (Malaysia)) I develop a “geoeconomic force multiplexing” framework explaining how corporations process public inputs across geographic, sectoral, temporal, and network dimensions. Four “multiplexer profiles” emerge from the interaction of leverage and patron dependence: autonomous (high leverage, low dependence), directed (high leverage, high dependence), bounded (low leverage, high dependence), and opportunistic (low leverage, low dependence). The EU faces inherent tension: channeling priorities through high-leverage corporations invites lower steerability, while more dependent actors lack transformative capacity. Delegating implementation to corporate actors creates path-dependent lock-ins that may redirect or undermine original objectives.
Cite this Working Paper
Pais Bernardo, Luís (2025). “Multiplexing Corporate Power: Navigating corporate autonomy in the EU Global Gateway”. CEsA/ISEG Research – Documentos de trabalho nº 206/2025
Visa policy and its potential on attracting inbound tourism flows in Angola
Abstract
Over time, tourism has accompanied the evolution of societies and today it is often considered as a driver of economic and social development for many countries. Despite this, Angola continues to record relatively low numbers of international flows of tourists. According to Angola’s Tourism Master Plan a number of arrivals ranging from 1.4 to 3.5 million was expected for 2017, and in reality, 0.26 million were recorded, which is about 5 to 13 times lower than initial projections (MEPA, 2020). The analysis of this reality alerted to the fact that natural and cultural resources, the availability of quality infrastructure and the general operating conditions of a country such as safety, hygiene, and health conditions, are essential factors of competitiveness, but are not exclusive. Entry into Angola requires a visa application for most countries of origin of tourists. In 2017 of the fifteen countries that most traveled to Angola, only two did not require a prior visa and four did not require a visa upon arrival (MEPA, 2020). This finding and the legal changes introduced in 2018, in the visa policy, motivated this study which aims to answer the following starting question: To what extent the visa policy is important for the development of foreign tourism in Angola?
The paper is structured in different sections. It begins with an introduction, followed by the state of the art. The second section presents the evolution of tourism in Angola in the last decades, both in legislative and statistical terms, contextualizing the political and social economic situation experienced as well as the visa policy and the main options and legal framework. In the third section, the methodology adopted is presented followed by the discussion of results.
Cite this paper
Sarmento, E., & Silva, E. (2025). Visa policy and its potential on attracting inbound tourism flows in Angola. In Eduardo Brito-Henriques, Eduarda Marques da Costa & Patrícia Abrantes, Planeamento Territorial e Turismo. Estudos em homenagem a José Manuel Simões (Cap. 13, pp. 153-162). ISBN: 978-989-693-188-9. Lisboa: Centro de Estudos Geográficos da Universidade de Lisboa. ISBN 978-972-636-316-3 DOI 10.33787/CEG20250001
Direitos Humanos, Económicos e Sociais em São Tomé e Príncipe
Abstract
The 2024 report on Economic and Social Human Rights in São Tomé and Príncipe, developed within the scope of the projects “Observatory of Policies and Governance in São Tomé and Príncipe” and “Better Governance, More Rights, More Citizenship”, presents a detailed analysis of the Santomean population’s access to basic rights such as housing, health, education, food, water, and justice.
Cite this Book
Sangreman, C. et al (2024). Direitos Humanos, Económicos e Sociais em São Tomé e Príncipe. Lisboa: ACEP.
Save the Date: 4th Conference of Young Researchers of the CPLP-Africa to be held in March 2026, in Mozambique, under the theme “Cultural Diversity, Digital Innovation and Ancestral Knowledge”
The 4th Conference of Young Researchers of the CPLP-Africa will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026, in Maputo, Mozambique, under the theme “Cultural Diversity, Digital Innovation and Ancestral Knowledge: Building Sustainable Futures in Africa”. The event aims to foster dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary thought, connecting areas such as cultural diversity, emerging technologies, traditional knowledge, and public policies for sustainable development, in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Over these three days, young researchers, academics, policymakers, artists, and civil society representatives will gather in plenary sessions, thematic panels, capacity-building workshops, and cultural activities. Promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences, the conference ensures broad and inclusive participation, with particular emphasis on advancing youth leadership and African scientific excellence.
Among the expected outcomes are the establishment of an Ancestral Innovation Incubator, a South–South Public Policy Laboratory, and the “Reimagined Africanness” Cultural Diplomacy Residency Programme — initiatives that consolidate the transformative legacy of EJICPLP.
Call for Papers
Submissions are now open for the Call for Papers of the 4th Conference of Young Researchers of the CPLP-Africa. Young researchers aged between 18 and 45 are invited to submit their paper proposals in the form of an abstract by 3 January 2026. All information is available in Portuguese on the official event page (click here).
About the Conference of Young Researchers of the CPLP-Africa
The conference is an international initiative that seeks to strengthen scientific excellence and foster youth leadership within the CPLP space. It marks a milestone in consolidating a young, creative, and collaborative scientific community, promoting critical, innovative, and socially relevant research, and reinforcing scientific and cultural cooperation for sustainable and inclusive development.
Following two editions held in Portugal (at the Lisbon School of Economics and Management – ISEG, University of Lisbon, in 2021 and 2022) and one in Angola (at the Luanda Science Centre, in 2024), the Conference now returns to the African continent, in Maputo, Mozambique, from 25 to 27 March 2026, maintaining its hybrid and itinerant format to celebrate dialogue between tradition, innovation, and sustainability.
The EJICPLP Africa Association, in co-organisation with UNESCO, Eduardo Mondlane University, and Felcos Umbria, and in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Culture of Mozambique, CESA – Centre for African Studies, University of Lisbon, OWSD, Joaquim Chissano University, the Catholic University of Mozambique, among other academic and cultural institutions from the CPLP, work together to ensure that this edition reinforces the commitment to valuing African voices, South–South scientific cooperation, and the recognition of local knowledge as foundations for building equitable and sustainable futures.
Read more on the official event website: IV CONFERÊNCIA
Author: CEsA Communication (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt), with information from the Conference of Young Researchers of the CPLP-Africa
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Isabel Castro Henriques moderates the roundtable “Contemporary challenges in Post-colonial Times” on 12 November at the National Museum of Ethnology
Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, the National Museum of Ethnology, CEsA – Centre for African and Development Studies (ISEG RESEARCH/ISEG/Universidade de Lisboa) are pleased to invite you to the Roundtable Contemporary challenges in Post-colonial Times, which will be held on 12 November 2025, at 6 p.m., at the National Museum of Ethnology (Av. da Ilha da Madeira – Lisbon). The session will be moderated by Professor Isabel Castro Henriques (CEsA/ISEG Research), featuring presentations by Gonçalo de Carvalho Amaro, Inocência Mata, Margarida Calafate Ribeiro, Ana Paula Tavares, and Lívio de Morais.
The exhibition Deconstructing Colonialism, Decolonising the Imagination. Portuguese Colonialism in Africa: Myths and Realities, open to the public until 30 November, 2025, at the National Museum of Ethnology, was conceived and coordinated by historian Isabel Castro Henriques with contributions from around 30 researchers who delve into the various themes explored in the exhibition. The exhibition aims to present key aspects of Portuguese colonialism in Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Its objectives are to dismantle the myths created by colonial ideology, decolonize Portuguese imaginations, and contribute—through an accessible and educational approach—to a renewed understanding of Portuguese colonialism.
Author: CEsA Communication Team (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt) with information from the Communication Teams of the National Museum of Ethnology
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Development Studies Seminars 2025-2026 | From the ‘Marxist-Leninist’ One-Party System to the Neoliberal Hegemonic Party: Fifty Years of Authoritarian Paternalism in Angola and Mozambique
The Development Studies Seminars are an initiative that, since 1991, promotes research carried out in the areas of study of the Masters in Development and International Cooperation (MCDI) of ISEG and the PhD Programme in Development Studies of the University of Lisbon
Development Studies Seminars 2025-2026
Topic: From the ‘Marxist-Leninist’ One-Party System to the Neoliberal Hegemonic Party: Fifty Years of Authoritarian Paternalism in Angola and Mozambique (original title: Do Partido Único ‘Marxista-Leninista’ ao Partido Hegemónico Neoliberal: Cinquenta anos de paternalismo autoritário em Angola e Moçambique)
Presenter: Professor Michel Cahen (CNRS-LAM/Science Po Bordeaux, France, & CEsA/ISEG Research/ISEG-Universidade de Lisboa)
Date: 11 November 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Venue: Novo Banco Room, 4th Floor Quelhas Building, ISEG (Access by Rua do Quelhas 6 1200-731, Lisbon, Portugal)
Free admission, in person event. Lecture in English.
About the presenter
Michel Cahen is Emeritus Director of Research of the CNRS at the “Les Afriques dans le monde” Center, at the Institut D’études Politiques de Bordeaux (or “Sciences Po Bordeaux”). Historiator, he is a specialist on contemporary Portuguese colonial history in Africa and a political analyst of the PALOPs. He also works on the relations between Portugal, Brazil and Africa, on the ideology of lusophony and luso-tropicalism, on coloniality and the postcolonial/decolonial, on creolizations. He has also worked on the connection between fascism and colonialism.
Note on the processing of personal data in the context of this event:
Photographs and/or audiovisual images, individual or collective, can be taken and/or broadcast live during the event. Photographs and videos can be published either on the CEsA or ISEG website, in the media and social networks, as well as on the online platforms of partner organizations. Photographs and videos can be reproduced in various media, including CEsA and ISEG publications, social networks and the press, within the scope of a specific event, or for other institutional purposes, as well as for promotional activities.
Author: CEsA Communication (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Images: CEsA/Reproduction
CEsA/ISEG Research Working Paper No. 205/2025 investigates the reasons behind the low level of investment by US pension funds in African entities
The CEsA/ISEG Research Working Paper No. 205/2025, entitled Obstacles to US Pension Fund Investment in Africa, seeks to identify the reasons behind the lack of investment in the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a multilateral financial institution
Despite its success in attracting capital from a diverse range of institutional investors, the AFC has not achieved the same outcome with US pension funds. This paper combines a case study of the AFC, consultations with senior professionals and experts, and a review of academic literature and industry reports, with the aim of identifying the reasons for the absence of investment in the AFC and, more broadly, the limited share of US pension fund investments in African entities.
The CEsA/ISEG Research Working Paper No. 205/2025, entitled Obstacles to US Pension Fund Investment in Africa, indicates institutional obstacles in the US pension fund investment ecosystem are mostly responsible for US pension funds forgoing investment in the AFC. More broadly, the research suggests inadequate returns, elevated risks, limited investment opportunities, and poor liquidity are impeding investment in Africa. The paper is authored by Daniel Preston, Professor at Indiana University Bloomington and a PhD student in Development Studies at ISEG.
Working Paper No. 205/2025 can be downloaded at the following link: https://cesa.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Working-Paper-205_2025.pdf
Abstract:
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has been unable to raise capital from US pension funds despite its success in attracting investment from a diverse range of institutional investors. This article combines a case study of the AFC, consultations with senior-level professionals and experts, and a review of academic literature and industry reports to identify the reasons for the lack of investment in the AFC and the overall small share of investments in African entities by US pension funds. The research indicates institutional obstacles in the US pension fund investment ecosystem are mostly responsible for US pension funds forgoing investment in the AFC. More broadly, the research suggests inadequate returns, elevated risks, unsuitable investment characteristics, limited investment opportunities, higher costs, and poor liquidity are impeding investment in Africa. Efforts by development organizations and governments to accelerate capital market development, improve political and macroeconomic stability, and grow their capacity to deploy risk- sharing mechanisms could help increase US pension fund investment in Africa. US pension funds could benefit from reevaluating their investment policies, considering a larger allocation to fixed income investments abroad, and incentivizing investment consulting firms to build their capacity to provide investment advice for African markets.
About the author:
Daniel Preston is a Clinical Professor and Director of the Master of International Affairs programme at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington. He is also pursuing a PhD in Development Studies at ISEG.
Click here to explore the full collection of CEsA Working Papers
Author: CEsA Communication Team (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Image: Reproduction
