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Securing Africa's
Future
A One Day Conference on the
Problems and Prospects for
Socio-Economic
Development and Poverty Alleviation in Africa
presented by United
Nations Association of Greater Boston
in
cooperation with The British Consulate in
Boston |
Space is Limited: Register Now
Online
Conference Details:
When - Saturday, September
30, 2006 8:45 am - 5:00 pm
Where - Kennedy School of
Government,
Harvard University Taubman Building,
Wiener Auditorium JFK Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Who - The
Conference will bring together development professionals,
members of the business community, civil servants,
academics, teachers and university students.
Conference Background:
Africa is a
continent of immense natural and human resources and great
cultural, ecological and economic diversity. Over the past 40
years, however, weak governance, poor leadership, corruption,
civil unrest and war have prevented Africans from capitalizing
on these resources. For Africa as a whole, per capita income
has stagnated, and poverty and lack of basic food security
remain priority concerns for most Africans. On the other hand,
about half of the sub-Saharan countries of Africa have
recently been experiencing economic growth rates of 5 percent
or more, and new leaders are emerging in some countries
committed to pressing ahead with economic, social, political
and civil service reforms. At the same time, Africa has taken
on new strategic geo-political and economic importance. The
United States and other countries of Europe and East Asia have
focused on Africa for its oil and other natural resources, its
potential as a breeding ground for international terrorism and
because of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other infectious
diseases that have broader global implications. This
Conference will focus on some of the critical needs facing
African countries and the corresponding requisites for longer
term sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Available
click here for information or
contact
Erica Sanger at 617-482-4587 or erica.sanger@unagb.org.
Conference
Schedule:
8:30
Registration
8:45 Welcome and
Introduction
Arthur Holcombe, President, United Nations Association of
Greater Boston
John Rankin, British Consul-General,
Boston
8:50 Morning Keynote - Why
Americans Should Care about Africa
Raymond Offenheiser, President, Oxfam
America
9:30 New Leadership and
Ideas in Africa: Promoting Conditions for National Development
and International Cooperation
New Leadership in Africa
James Bevan,
Director Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK,
2003-06
10:15 Break
10:30 Importance
of Women in African Leadership Roles
Moderator: Swanee Hunt, Director, Women and Public Policy
Program, JFK School of Government, Harvard University
Case Examples from Sudan, Liberia and Rwanda of Women
in Public and
Civil Society Leadership Roles Making a
Difference
11:30 Strategies for
Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation
Prospects for Africa's Small Holder Agricultural
Development Achieving Basic Food Security and Poverty
Reduction
Charles Mann, former Lecturer in Public
Policy, Center for International Development, JFK School of
Government, Harvard University
Increased Income Security: A Case of Win-Win
Relationships in South Africa
Jane Rosser, Senior
Program Officer, World Education
Armin Sethra World
Education Country Director for South Africa
Role of Science and Technology in Africa's
Development
Calestous Juma, Director, Science,
Technology and Globalization Project, JFK School of
Government, Harvard University
12:45 Light
Luncheon
1:15 Afternoon Keynote -
Implications for Africa of Economic Globalization
trends
Introduction
Ambassador Charles Stith,
President, African Presidential Archives Research Center,
Boston University
Keynote
Frederick Sumaye, Prime Minister of
Tanzania, 1995-2005 (invited)
2:00 International
Financial Partnerships for Economic and Social
Development
The Role of Private Equity Fund Investment in the
Commercial Banking Sector of Sub-Saharan Africa Wendy
Abt, President, WPA and Director, Africa International
Financial Holdings, LLC
Experience with International Private Equity
Financefor Large and Small Enterprise Needs in Africa
Kevin P. Johnson, Founding Partner, Liberty Global
Partners
2:00 Teacher Workshop:
Bringing African Studies and Development
Issues into the Classroom
A special workshop for teachers with Barbara Brown,
Director, Boston University African Studies Center Outreach
Program (runs from 2:00 to 3:30 concurrent with regular
conference program)
3:00 Requisites for Civil
Conflict Resolution and Social Reintegration in
Africa
Ways and Means to Cope with Civil Conflict in
Africa
John Prendergast, Advisor, International
Crisis Group
4:00 Concluding
Thoughts
Robert Rotberg, Director, Program on Intrastate Conflict,
Belfer Center, JFK School of Government, Harvard University
Arthur Holcombe, President, UNA-GB
Local Organizing
Partners:
- African Presidential Archives Research Center
- Angola Educational Assistance Fund
- Boston University African Studies Center
- Cultural Survival, Inc.
- Oxfam America
- Suffolk University International Law Students
Association
- Tufts University Africana Center
- US Fund for UNICEF, New England
- Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa
- Harvard Chapter
- Women and Public Policy Program, Kennedy School of
Government
- WorldBoston
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United Nations Association of Greater Boston