Who do we mean?

Unlike in Austria, there are three different types of associations in Africa:

NGO (non-governmental organisation): international
CBO (community-based organisation): national
SHG (self-help group): national

As we at NADEUM (Nachhaltiges Denken Umsetzen, or ‘Sustainable Thinking in Action’) (Austria) have observed, many African states in the African Union are using this option to help their citizens get started on a future career path.

All associations are tax-exempt as long as they operate at cost. However, if they generate significant profits, they are subject to taxation.

This also appears to be a form of outsourcing of the state’s responsibility for providing jobs. This is because the African population does not believe in family planning. According to the UN, four billion Africans will inhabit the African continent by 2100.

The biggest challenge for all African countries is where to find jobs. The countries on this continent also face a major challenge in terms of ensuring sufficient food supplies.

On the one hand, they want to preserve nature reserves and national parks to attract tourists, but on the other hand, many countries have leased a considerable amount of fertile farmland to the industrialised countries of the North.

Enormous efforts are needed to build up the infrastructure and the entire transport logistics system. China is the partner in East and Central Africa. The interest on the loans is a heavy burden on the African countries. Some are already insolvent. NADEUM is eager to see how China will solve this problem.

NGO, CBO, SHG go to the next step [African union Assosiation]