Sustainable Social Security in Euro-African Business Relations: Towards Decent Work, Inclusive Investment and Shared Prosperity

Abstract

The expansion of trade, investment and enterprise relations between Europe and Africa has created significant opportunities for economic transformation, employment creation and private-sector development, but it has also raised questions about the social sustainability of cross-continental business relations. This article examines sustainable social security as a strategic dimension of Euro-African business relations, focusing on the relationship between investment, decent work, social protection, enterprise development and inclusive growth. The study adopts a qualitative documentary research design, drawing on scholarly literature, policy documents, institutional reports and official materials from European, African and international organisations. The analysis finds that sustainable business relations cannot be assessed solely through trade volumes, investment flows or infrastructure delivery; their durability also depends on the extent to which economic activity produces decent employment, strengthens social protection, develops local capabilities and distributes productive opportunities. The article further finds that the European Union's Global Gateway and Africa-Europe investment architecture provide significant opportunities for linking infrastructure, private investment, enterprise development and social outcomes, while African frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area provide complementary foundations for continental economic transformation. However, informality, limited social-protection coverage, skills gaps, weak local value addition, uneven investment capacity and insufficient measurement of job quality remain important constraints. The article proposes a social-security-centred approach to Euro-African business that integrates decent work, inclusive enterprise, social protection, skills development and accountable investment