A blog of the Africa Program
Weekly Events for November 9 - November 15
Continue reading for events concerning Africa happening in D.C. next week
Monday November 10, 2014
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Breakfast Briefing: Ebola, Fragility and Human Rights
Hosted by: Search for Common Ground
Location: 1601 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 United States
Summary: Please join Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and two of our experts from the region for a discussion on the impact of the Ebola crisis on conflict and fragility. Oscar Bloh, Country Director for SFCG Liberia, is also the co-chair of the Liberian Civil Society Taskforce on Ebola. Béatrice Abouya, Country Director for SFCG Guinea, is leading efforts to raise awareness of the Ebola virus in communities throughout the country. The discussion will provide insight into the Ebola outbreak from the perspective of peacebuilding experts on the ground, and explore the role of the international community – including peacebuilding organizations like SFCG – in addressing the current outbreak and building more stable, peaceful, and accountable societies that will better manage future crises.
https://www.sfcg.org/events/breakfast-briefing-ebola/
Monday, November 10, 2014
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Peacebuilding in Central African Republic: The Views of Top Religious Leaders
Hosted by: United States Institute of Peace
Location: 2301 Constitution Ave, NW Washington D.C. 20037
Summary: Please join USIP for a discussion with the highest-ranking Muslim, Catholic and Protestant leaders in CAR, Imam Omar Kabine Layama, Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga and Reverend Nicolas Guérékoyame Gbangou. They will discuss their efforts to foster dialogue and social cohesion across religious dividing lines, and lay out a strategic vision for the future of the country. Their Interfaith Peace Platform works tirelessly to spread peaceful messages in villages nationwide advises political leaders and shares a Central African vision of peace with the international community.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Growth, Regional Integration, and Conflict in the East African Community
Hosted by: Great Lakes Policy Forum (GLPF)
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Choate Room, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 United States
Summary: As the East African Community marks the 15th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty for its establishment, the regional bloc has experienced a period of economic transformation. A recent IMF working paper found that growth in GDP exceeded 6% annually over the course of the past decade across the region, the rise in investment and transformation of economies throughout the region. Regional integration holds particular promise for many of the region's post-conflict countries as they seek to meet the aspirations of their society.
Please join SFCG for a frank discussion with four East African experts who will share their perspectives on the intersection of economic growth and conflict in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania and its impact on the Great Lakes region.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Critical Opportunities to Consolidate Gains in Madagascar
Hosted by: Search for Common Ground in Madagascar
Location: 1601 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 United States
Summary: Madagascar is at a critical stage in the consolidation of peace, sustainable democratic institutions and the promotion of reconciliation, both at the national and local level. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has endured a series of recurring political crises, resulting in political instability, and constantly disputed elections.
Please join SFCG and international experts for a discussion on how to consolidate peace in Madagascar, both at the national and local level, and some of the key challenges and opportunities for the country in the post-election context. The discussion will provide insight of peacebuilding experts and explore the roles of all stakeholders to improve collaboration between the government, civil society organizations, and private business, including extractive industries to support accountable, participative, and responsible governance.
https://www.sfcg.org/events/opportunities-madagascar/
Thursday, November 13, 2014
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Electoral Commissions and the Consolidation of Democracy in Africa: Progress, Challenges and Prospects for the Future
Hosted by: The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: 4th Floor, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Summary: Despite back-sliding in some countries, Africa's path to democracy has been on an upward trajectory over the last 25 years. During this time, many African countries have taken steps toward institutionalizing and consolidating democracy, including holding regular elections.
As nineteen African countries prepare to go to the polls in the upcoming year, please join us for a panel discussion exploring the progress that Africa has made with consolidating democracy, the role that electoral management bodies have played, the challenges faced by electoral commissions, lessons learned and the prospects for enhanced management of elections in Africa.
Friday, November 14, 2014
1:30PM – 3:30 PM
Ending the Use of Child Soldiers from a Preventative Security Sector Perspective
Hosted by: The Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict (WNCAC)
In every aspect of its work, the Dallaire Initiative seeks to collaborate with concerned governments, security sector actors, academics, humanitarians and civilian communities. In particular, its unique approach working with soldiers, police, prison personnel and private security operators – many of whom are the first point of contact for child soldiers outside of their armed force or armed group – is both groundbreaking and critical to the interruption of children's recruitment.
The Dallaire Initiative will share some of the key findings from their research and training efforts from key hotspots such as Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
http://www.inclusivesecurity.org/
Related Program
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more
