Date: 19 July 2025  Author: Mateusz Jedliński

Solidarity Beyond Borders: Poland’s Humanitarian and Development Efforts in Africa

When discussing Poland, we seldom consider its role in global development aid. We have grown accustomed to seeing our country only as its recipient. But throughout history, our solidarity has often gone beyond the borders of both our country and continent. Today, it resurfaces as a strategic lever in politics, diplomacy, and responsible governance, particularly within Africa.

Map: (Countries supported through Polish Aid initiatives)

 

Poland’s Tradition of International Solidarity in Africa

Shortly after the first African countries gained independence in the 1950s, the Polish People’s Republic contributed to their development by sending medical staff, engineers, and educators, particularly to Tanzania, Mozambique, and Angola. Around the same time, Polish universities began to open their doors to students from these countries. Poland sought to project an image beyond anti-colonial support, one that also embraced African immigrants as welcomed guests. Such was a narrative then widely shared across the Eastern Bloc––and one that Russia continues to invoke today. To support this effort, the Polish People’s Republic even funded the magazine The Polish Review.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Polish People’s Republic supported independence movements in Portuguese-speaking countries as they fought national liberation wars against colonial powers. Driven by its ideological alignment with anti-colonial movements in the Global South, it offered political asylum, training, and logistical aid to activists from groups like FRELIMO and SWAPO.

Following the political changes of 1989, Poland emerged as a recipient of international aid while simultaneously contributing to UN peacekeeping operations in the 1990s. At the Millennium Session of the UN General Assembly in 2000, Władysław Bartoszewski— a Polish diplomat, former resistance fighter, and Auschwitz survivor — underscored a timeless truth: Si vis pacem, para solidaritatem — ‘If you want peace, prepare for solidarity.’ This statement is now at the heart of Poland’s current aid policy.

 

“Polish Aid” in Africa

Poland’s accession to the EU signaled its transition from being just an aid recipient to a committed partner in worldwide development initiatives. The Development Cooperation Act, adopted on September 16, 2011, became the cornerstone of the program now known as Polish Aid. From that point on, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopted a unified strategy that outlined clear objectives, targeted regions, and a defined budget. More than a mere diplomatic tool, Polish Aid embodies a powerful example of transformative solidarity: a country that has undergone colonization and profound transformation, offering its hard-won insights to others.

From 2012 to 2015, Poland’s focus was largely on the Eastern Partnership countries, but it gradually deepened its ties with African countries eager to engage, notably Tanzania, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Among the projects were well construction, school upgrades, public health initiatives, and efforts to foster local businesses. By joining the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2013, Poland secured its status as a recognized donor.

The years 2016 to 2020 saw a surge in focus on global education and humanitarian aid. Poland provided assistance in areas badly affected by drought, conflict, and migration. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs played a pivotal role in funding personal protective equipment, preventive public health campaigns, and medical support for hospitals in Africa.

Photo: (A school in Mathare – Polish development aid for Africa by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland)

Real People

Beyond every statistic, graph, and aid project are the people whose efforts make it all possible and lie at the very heart of our presence in Africa. Such grassroots initiatives rarely make headlines, yet they build trust, forge lasting bonds, and tangibly improve the lives of thousands.

For many years, the Redemptoris Missio Foundation has worked in areas where basic healthcare is still out of reach for most. In 2024, the organization committed upwards of PLN 4 million to humanitarian projects spanning Cameroon, Zambia, Tanzania, and Senegal. The foundation’s volunteers organize vaccination campaigns, offer postpartum support, run pediatric eye clinics for cataract patients, and help develop local clinics. Their presence often proves crucial to saving lives in these underserved areas of healthcare.

Polish Aid is working alongside the Dobra Fabryka Foundation and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary to set up vocational schools for girls in Senegal. The initiatives in Joal and Dakar teach young women skills like sewing and entrepreneurship while also helping them achieve financial independence and a better future.

The urgent need for Polish aid is most visible in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where civil war has triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent years. Caritas Polska aids in rebuilding infrastructure, facilitates access to water, and offers psychological support. In an area where 88 percent of schools lie in ruins and half the children have dropped out, it is these seemingly small yet impactful actions that inspire hope for a normal life. “In many cases, it is the lack of a toilet that keeps children from going to school,” says Ireneusz Krause (Caritas Polska).

These are genuine people, not just numbers. Their stories illustrate that Polish aid in Africa is not just support, but a true expression of presence, solidarity, and joint responsibility. For this relationship to go beyond one-sided support, we must reflect on what Africa can contribute to us and whether we are prepared to see it not only as a land of need, but as a partner of equal standing.

 

Mutual Solidarity

Too often, Poland’s engagement with Africa is framed solely as aid, without recognizing the potential for reciprocal benefits. Today’s multipolar landscape highlights that Africa is more than a beneficiary; it is a partner with valuable offerings beyond what Poland alone can provide. Africa is poised to be a meaningful partner, not just in economic terms, but also geopolitically and socially.

The Multiannual Development Cooperation Programme 2021–2030 states that aid efforts are designed to build stronger, mutually beneficial political, economic, and social ties with Polish Aid’s partner countries (p. 7). The term ‘mutual,’ long taken for granted, now holds fresh meaning. Poland is indeed increasingly positioned to benefit from its ties with Africa––as African representation is becoming more prominent across the UN and international bodies.

As multilateral agreements define the global landscape, partnerships with African nations have the potential to reinforce Poland’s strategic role. Moreover, the significance of demographic and educational issues continues to grow. Young, educated, and mobile Africans are now seeking fresh development prospects beyond English- and French-speaking countries. With its stability, moderate cost of living, and scholarship programs, Poland could emerge as a compelling destination for students and migrants.

In addition, Africa is also a dynamic and diverse market, yet largely untapped by Polish companies. Africa’s role as a source of crucial raw materials for the energy transition, along with its economic potential, calls for increased attention in Warsaw.

That does not mean everything runs smoothly, though. The Supreme Audit Office of Poland revealed that during the audit period, no development cooperation strategies were devised for any priority countries (p. 34), and many initiatives were either delayed or left unfinished.

 

Supporting Those Who Serve

No longer viewed as a continent simply awaiting aid, Africa is increasingly a partner setting its own agenda and forging its own path. This calls on Poland to shift from being just a donor to playing a more collaborative role. Effective development cooperation is built not on one-sided acts but on mutual trust, genuine dialogue, and enduring partnerships. Treating Africa as an equal partner would earn us not only prestige and influence but also access to new markets, innovative ideas, and people who can help shape our future. In today’s world, solidarity has to be a two-way street—it is as much a strategic need as a moral one.

 

References

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The „Dumni z Polski/Proud of Poland/Stolz auf Polen” project was funded by the National Institute of Freedom – Centre for Civil Society Development as part of the Government’s Youth Fund Programme 2022-2033.

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