Why research should be at the heart of Canada’s economic partnerships with francophone Africa

 At a time when geopolitical tensions, protectionism and economic nationalism are gaining momentum, building mutually beneficial economic partnerships takes more than a signature on a trade agreement. It requires mutual trust, an understanding of opportunities and risks and locally grounded knowledge of the ecosystem.  

Canada and francophone African countries can draw on their cultural and linguistic ties to create economic value while supporting businesses, communities and environmental sustainability. They share a common goal of diversifying their economic partnerships beyond their traditional trading partners. The aim is to strengthen economic resilience, unlock new business opportunities and promote shared prosperity.  

Canada has set a goal to double non-US exports by 2035 while francophone African countries are working to address historical dependencies and persistent vulnerabilities linked to natural resource-based and externally oriented production. Research and evidence are critical to setting goals, informing strategic decisions, supporting implementation, and adjusting course when needed. 

Strong partnerships between Canada and francophone Africa, anchored in Canada’s Africa strategy, present an opportunity to advance development and trade relations in a fast-changing world. Canada should make scientific cooperation a core part of its economic diplomacy with francophone Africa to enable people-centered green industrialization under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Development cooperation, diaspora ties, and Canada’s expertise in green technologies are central to this opportunity.  

Trusted networks as a foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships

Canada and French-speaking African countries have engaged through cultural, economic and political forums for almost half a century. These relationships provide a foundation for stronger scientific and economic cooperation.  

Over the past five years, IDRC has worked through these networks to connect research, policy and economic actors in Canada and francophone Africa. IDRC has supported several editions of the Conférence internationale sur la francophonie économique, organized by the Observatoire de la Francophonie économique. These conferences have fostered collaboration between Canadian researchers and their peers across francophone Africa, generated scientific publications and provided mentorship and capacity strengthening opportunities for emerging researchers. The conference proceedings are a prime source of information on markets and business environments across Francophone Africa. This private-sector oriented market intelligence is essential for economic partnerships and illustrates the enabling role of scientific cooperation.  

IDRC has also partnered with the Délégation générale du Québec à Dakar for annual evidence-based editions of the Forum international sur l'entrepreneuriat. The Forum brings together business leaders from Quebec and francophone Africa to explore partnerships and provides emerging entrepreneurs with opportunities for international exposure, mentorship and professional development in collaboration with Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec. This is in line with the Delegation’s mission, amongst other things, to help the business community and Quebec research centres make mutually beneficial partnerships with francophone Africa to create strategic alliances, scientific collaborations, or technology transfers. In 2022, Nicole Tossou, a young renewable energy female engineer from Benin, spent incubation time at the DigiHub in Canada to fine tune her business concept. The following year Hervé Tekou Ngunte from Cameroon spent time at the Research and Development Institute in Agroenvironment in Canada to further develop his organic fertilizer business idea. Bio Ephraim and Rachida from Côte d’Ivoire followed in 2024 for a training for young entrepreneurs given by the École d'Entrepreneurship de Beauce. These examples illustrate how research and evidence can help build trusted relationships on which economic partnerships depend.  

The value of connecting scientific cooperation and economic diplomacy is evident in Senegal. Through IDRC’s nearly CAD19-million research initiative on clean energy for development, Canadian and Senegalese researchers generated evidence to inform clean energy deployment and adoption in Senegal. With support from Global Affairs Canada, Développement international Desjardins and its local microfinance partners are applying an accompaniment model documented through IDRC-supported research pilot, with the aim of reaching 60,000 women and 6,000 young people. This example shows how research evidence can inform larger investments at the nexus of climate action, private sector development, and economic empowerment. 

Research can turn shared economic interests into mutual benefits

Canada and many francophone African countries have mineral and energy resources that are important to the global energy transition. Combined with Canada’s expertise in mining, clean technology and clean energy, these resources create opportunities for research-informed trade and investment partnerships. Scientific cooperation can help countries assess these opportunities, manage environmental and social risks and identify approaches that support inclusive green industrialization under the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

Leveraging economic opportunities also depends on ensuring that people can participate fully in economic life. Women’s health is important in its own right and it is also a key factor in women’s economic empowerment. Greater economic participation by women can contribute to productivity, market growth and investment attractiveness. IDRC’s legacy initiative Innovating for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA) shows how scientific cooperation can put these principles into practice. Through IMCHA, Canadian and African research teams, including from francophone Africa, worked together to improve maternal and child health and strengthen research capacity. Women’s health is an important component of human capital and economic empowerment.  

The potential for stronger economic relations is substantial

In 2024, Canada’s merchandise trade with African countries totaled CAD15.1 billion as highlighted in Canada’s Africa Strategy. The Foreign Policy Research Institute also highlights significant unrealized trade potential between Canada and Africa, including USD381.5 billion in exports and USD137.0 billion in imports. As a middle power, Canada has an interest in advancing a rules-based international system grounded in fairness, inclusion and mutual respect. Its economic partnerships with francophone African countries should reflect these principles.  

Canada should institutionalize evidence-based economic diplomacy by embedding scientific cooperation across its engagement with francophone Africa. This includes climate finance and Aid for Trade, covering areas such as trade policy and regulation, clean-energy infrastructure, agriculture and financial services. Research partners should be involved from the outset, and locally grounded evidence should be used to identify opportunities and manage risks. Canada can also draw on the trusted knowledge and scientific networks built through decades of cooperation.  

Trade agreements open doors, but research provides the knowledge and relationships needed for countries to trade, invest and prosper together.