As the first document of the Mattei Plan is about to be discussed in Parliament after a development phase within the Steering Committee, a new vision of Italian cooperation in a commercial key emerges at Codeway Expo 2024 – Business for Cooperation, the trade event dedicated to the role of the private sector in international cooperation. The recent three-day fair in Rome represented a unique opportunity for the actors of the Italian system, which the Mattei Plan intends to involve, and an incubator of possible collaborations between institutions, businesses, universities, and the third sector. The Third Sector saw only a modest representation of Italian NGOs through Focsiv and one NGO: us, BnD, and the Cinéma du Desert project.
The expectations raised by the Mattei Plan are attracting the attention of a wide range of actors who, until recently, considered Africa a difficult and unprofitable market, and who had little, and probably still have little, knowledge of the world of development cooperation. From a continent in need of aid, Africa is now presented as a land of commercial opportunities thanks to its market potential and natural as well as human resources. This new perspective shakes up the old narrative of poverty and resignation, no longer corresponding to the reality of many African countries in full development, and needs to be modified to show the public the true face of contemporary African societies. Therefore, a commercial approach is welcome, but always within the framework of development cooperation, which must maintain well-defined sustainability goals within Agenda 2030. The new cooperation promoted by the Mattei Plan must remain faithful to these goals to avoid being confused with a simple plan for the internationalization of Italian businesses in Africa.
At Codeway, as in other recent discussions, this risk is evident and could compromise the dialogue and collaboration between the various actors of the “Sistema Italia.” The numerous meetings and plenary conferences of the fair did not sufficiently address the key issues that, even internationally, guide the debate on the role and commitment of the private sector in development cooperation. Corporate social responsibility and the environmental, social, and governance impact of a company operating in the African market should be at the center of the debate, as it is on these aspects that their contribution to sustainable development goals is measured. These issues are even more crucial since the Mattei Plan is based on a “non-predatory” and equal approach with partner countries. This is also the ideal ground for partnerships between the private sector and civil society organizations, essential for the success of the Mattei Plan, which will be primarily funded with public development aid resources and thus subject to OSCE criteria. These criteria outline guidelines for compliance with international standards on corporate social responsibility and human rights, obliging companies to respect them. For a new way of conceiving and practicing cooperation, it is necessary to evolve the narrative, without hiding or denying the difficulties.
