THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
A bold new initiative led by the African diaspora in Germany is set to reshape how skilled labour migration between Africa and Europe is managed. The 360° Labour Mobility programme, launched recently in Ghana and Nigeria, creates a structured pathway for African professionals to access job opportunities in Germany.
Germany faces a looming demographic crisis. According to the Institute for Employment Research, if prompt action is not taken, Germany could face a deficit of 7 million urgently needed skilled workers by 2035. Critical shortages exist already in health care, construction, education, IT and skilled trades. Without immigration, experts warn, Europe’s largest economy will struggle to maintain growth.
In response, Germany has reformed its immigration laws to attract workers from non-EU countries. But the reality for African jobseekers has often been much more complex due to challenges such as language.
This is where the 360° Labour Mobility initiative comes in. Spearheaded by Giving Africa a New Face (GAaNF), a diaspora-led organisation in Germany, and funded by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the programme offers a holistic approach to labour mobility.
The project is being collaboratively implemented by the 360° Alliance, a network of more than 20 primarily Diaspora-led organisations with extensive expertise and experience in labour migration and Diaspora advocacy.
Its uniqueness lies in being designed and driven by the African diaspora, who bring first-hand experience of migration challenges and a commitment to building ethical, sustainable pathways.
The initiative provides end-to-end support:
- Pre-departure preparation, including providing information about prospects, German language and intercultural training
- Administrative Support, such as CV coaching, skills matching and recognition of qualifications
- Legal guidance on visas, contracts and workers’ rights
- Networking & Matchmaking with potential employers
- Mentorship and integration support after arrival in Germany
- Reintegration assistance for those who later choose to return home
This 360-degree model ensures that migration is not just about departure but about sustainable careers and cultural adaptation and mutual benefits for both Germany and the sending countries.
For Germany, the programme delivers skilled and well-prepared workers to fill critical labour shortages. For African migrants, it opens a structured, safe and dignified pathway into Europe’s labour market. And for home countries, it means remittances, skills transfer and the strengthening of diaspora–homeland ties.
By rooting the programme in the diaspora community, the 360° Labour Mobility initiative ensures that Africans themselves take the lead in shaping migration narratives — turning labour mobility into a force for empowerment rather than exploitation.
As governments in Africa and Europe seek solutions to the global skills crisis, this diaspora-led model could become a blueprint for future cooperation, showing how dispora communities can transform migration into opportunity.
Femi Awoniyi
For more information on how 360° Labour Mobility can support you or to inquire about the programme, please contact GAaNF at: info@gaanf.org.
