Africa Think Tank Conference 2016
Building a Sustainable and Secure Future for the People and Institutions of Africa
In recent years several issues facing North Africa have become more and more comparable to the issues facing the rest of Africa. Additionally, the rest of Africa is experiencing economic growth, and the Mediterranean-facing countries are increasingly looking south for trade and investment opportunities.
Among the more frequently mentioned issues of common interest are the following:
- Economic issues: Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) issues and related trade opportunities; investment opportunities; infrastructure development; energy resources; industrialization; production value chains; innovation
- Social issues: poverty; gender equity; education and health services; employment; urbanization; social protection; migration and displaced populations; violence against women; cultural heritage
- Environmental issues: climate change; water resources; biodiversity; sustainable agriculture; natural resources management; endangered species
- Creating a sustainable future for think tanks in Africa: effective communication, resource mobilization, human resource management, research utilization and impact.
The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015 marked the initiation of a new global effort to eradicate poverty in all its forms. The 17 goals and 169 targets are now a global mandate for all nations to make life better for their people, and are designed to encompass the interrelated and interdependent actions relating to their achievement. They are also consistent with the vision spelled out in Africa’s Agenda 2063, endorsed by African Heads of State two years earlier. As such, it would be of great interest for countries facing similar challenges, for think tanks – organizations devoted to doing the deep thinking to help policy-makers make informed decisions – to share their challenges and successes so that all their countries can be smarter in designing their futures.
It will also be an excellent opportunity to explore how think tanks can implement the strategies developed in previous Summits to enhance capacity, increase impact and assure the long term viability of think tanks in the region. Much work has been done lately on the issue of making think tanks “fit for purpose”, in terms of quality, vibrancy, relevance and sustainability. More think tanks from across Africa would benefit from learning about and finding ways to introduce innovations and adaptations identified in other think tank fora.
| 2nd Edition - Africa Think Tank Conference 2018 |
AGENDA
| 14:00 – 17:00 |
Registration |
| 17:00 – 18:00 |
Welcoming Remarks - James McGann, Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania |
| 18:00 – 19:30 |
Policy Panel : Africa – Recent Developments and Common Perspectives This Policy Panel will gather Senior Policy Makers with deep expertise in the recent developments in Africa to address the role think tanks can play in helping Governments to address them. Suggested queries include: What are the key issues and challenges facing African Governments today? What are the experiences with think tanks in helping policymakers tackle these issues? Where are the areas of opportunity for think tanks to play a more influential role, including through collaboration? Moderator: John Yearwood, Vice Chair, International Press Institute, and Former World Editor, Miami Herald Panelists (60 minutes – 15 min. each): - Abdellah Saaf, Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center and Former Minister of Education, Morocco Open floor discussion (30 minutes) |
| 19:30 – 21:30 |
Welcome Dinner Reception – Participants and invited guests Remarks by reception (co-)sponsor(s) |
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Tuesday 3 May 2016 |
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| 08:30 – 09:00 |
Registration |
| 09:00 – 09:15 |
Background and overview of the conference (15 minutes) James McGann, Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) |
| 09:15 – 10:45 |
Thematic Panel 1: Implementing the SDGs/Agenda 2063 – How can think tanks, individually and collectively, support SDG programming, operationalizing and monitoring? The first of four panels addressing the conference topics – What are the key challenges and opportunities for think tanks with respect to achieving the SDGs in Africa? How can think tanks help? Can insights from the UN or other countries shed light on possible ways forward? Are there specific areas of opportunities relating to the issues mentioned – poverty, gender, social services, employment, urbanization, migration etc.? Moderator: Euphrasia Mapulanga, ZIPAR, Zambia Panelists (60 minutes – 15 min. each) : - Bartholomew Armah, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Ethiopia Open floor discussion (30 minutes) |
| 10:45 – 11:15 |
Photo Session; Coffee Break |
| 11:15 – 12:45 |
Thematic Panel 2: Climate Change – How can think tanks, individually and collectively, support COP22 preparations? The second of four panels addressing the conference topics – What are the key challenges and opportunities for think tanks with respect to helping prepare country and regional positions for COP22? Are there specific area of opportunities relating to the issues mentioned – climate change, water, biodiversity, sustainable production etc.? Moderator: Jean-Christophe Boungou Bazika, Center for Analysis and Political Economy Research (CERAPE), Congo Brazzaville Panelists (75 minutes – 15 min. each): - Badr Ikken, Institut de Recherche en Energie Solaire et Energies Nouvelles (IRESEN), Morocco Open floor discussions (15 minutes) |
| 12:45 – 14:00 |
Lunch; Networking |
| 14:00 – 15:30 |
Thematic Panel 3: Trade and economic exchanges – How can think tanks, individually and collectively, facilitate adoption of the Continental Free Trade Area? The third of four panels addressing the conference topics – What are the key challenges and opportunities for think tanks with respect to supporting the CFTA policy-making process? Can experiences from EAC-COMESA-SADC or elsewhere shed light on ways forward for facilitating negotiations for North, West and Central Africa? How can negotiations be supported by think tanks from all the regions present? Are there specific areas of opportunities relating to stimulating industrialization, production, competitiveness, infrastructure connectivity etc.? Moderator: Nassim Oulmane, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Sub-Regional Center North Africa Panelists (50 minutes – 10 min. each): - Amani Al-Taweel, Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, (ACPSS), Egypt Open floor discussions (30 minutes) |
| 15:30 – 16:00 |
Coffee Break |
| 16:00 – 17:30 |
Thematic Panel 4: Think Tank Sustainability – Sharing views and experiences from Africa and beyond The last of four panels addressing the conference topics –What could the future of think tanks in Africa be as they support the implementation of Agenda 2030 and 2063? What issues should be included in a “white paper” for building a sustainable future for think tanks in Africa? Moderator: Giuseppe Porcaro, Bruegel, Belgium Panelists (60 minutes – 15 min. each): - Tom Carver, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, US Open Floor discussions (30 minutes) |
| 17:30 – 18:00 |
Remarks and Announcements Remarks from Organizers |
| 19:30 – 21:30 |
Gala Dinner - Remarks by dinner (co-)sponsor(s) |
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Wednesday 4 May 2016 |
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09:00 – 11:00 |
Strategic Brainstorming Panels: Recommendations for Policy Actions Groups will be expected to consider the presentations and identify specific opportunities for think tanks to move the agendas forward, including leaders (“champions”) and preconditions for action Four Strategic Brainstorming Panels, one for each topic SBP 1: Implementing the SDGs/Agenda 2063 – How can think tanks support SDG/Agenda 2063 programming, operationalizing and monitoring? Chair: Maximilian Weylandt, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Namibia Speakers (5 minutes each) - Foly Ananou, L'Afrique des Idées, Senegal
Chair: Arthur Bainomugisha, Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Uganda Speakers (5 minutes each) - Thula Sizwe Dlamini, Swaziland Economic Policy and Research Centre (SEPRC), Swaziland
Chair: Walid Maaouia, Ifriqya, Tunisia Speakers (5 minutes each) - Hossam Hassan Mohamed Ibrahim, Regional Center for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Egypt
Chair: Aminata Diop, Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR), Senegal Speakers (5 minutes each) - Yahia Abou El Farah, Institut des Etudes Africaines (IEA), Morocco |
| 11:00 – 11:45 |
Coffee Break; Showcasing Participant Materials Participants visit presentation tables and interact with presenters Breakout chairs and rapporteurs prepare report back presentations |
| 11:45 – 12:15 |
Plenary – Report backs from the Strategic Brainstorming Panels Breakout SBP chairs present recommendations Moderator: James McGann, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP), US Panelists (30 minutes – 5 min each): - Arthur Bainomugisha, Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Uganda Open Floor discussions (10 minutes) |
| 12:00 – 13:00 |
African Think Tanks and Policy Making: What are the common challenges and opportunities facing African Stakeholders in implementing the SDGs/Agenda 2063, climate change and trade and economic exchanges? This session closes the conference, offering the thoughts of a panel of experts on previous conference topics, panels and discussions. Panelists should identify the insights from the deliberations to shed light on possible ways forward. Moderator: Lauren Gelfand, African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) Kenya Panelists (45 minutes – 10-15 min each): - Karima Bounemra, Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), ECA Open Floor discussions (15 minutes) |
| 13:00 – 13:30 |
Closing Remarks and Future Plans - James McGann, Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania |
| 13:30 – 14:30 |
Lunch and Think Tank Networking Event |
| 13:30 – 14:15 |
Press Conference |
| Afternoon and beyond |
Check out and transfers to airport |
Download the Agenda in PDF Format
Download Press Release in PDF Format
Download Closing Press Release in PDF Format
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