Africa Up Close

Please continue reading for events related to Africa, leadership and peacebuilding occurring throughout Washington D.C. for the week of March 11-18, 2013

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013
Understanding Who’s Who in Northern Mali: Terrorists, Secessionists and Criminals
Hosted by: Johns Hopkins SAIS
Location: 1619 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., Rome Auditorium
Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Summary: Events in northern Mali are complex and sometimes confusing. Attempts to oversimplify the situation have resulted in much imperfect analysis. A product of both the Arab Uprisings and security concerns unique to the Sahara and Sahelian Africa, the crisis in Mali has deep, local and regional roots. While al-Qaeda steals the headlines, it is vital that we develop a better understanding of all the groups in place, as well as the distinct nature of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Labelling all parties terrorists not only confuses the picture, but also prevents any chance to create a meaningful strategy for dealing with the multi-faceted issues, both now and in the long term. Terrorists, Secessionists and Criminals will present a guide to Who’s Who of the various groups and their leaders.
For more information, please visit: http://www.sais-jhu.edu/events/2013-03-11-163000-2013-03-11-180000/understanding-who%E2%80%99s-who-northern-mali-terrorists

Foreign Policy for the Information Age
Hosted by: New America Foundation
Location: 1899 L St., N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Summary: From Wikileaks to the aftermath of the Middle East and North Africa uprisings, the thorny ramifications of ubiquitous global information flows are confronting today’s policymakers. Two key phenomena have emerged as the new hallmarks of international relations: heightened transparency and increased volatility. They require us to refocus the lens through which we view international affairs, and present both challenges and opportunities for traditional nation-state representatives, as well as freelancers.?

A new collection of essays, “Diplomacy, Development and Security in the Information Age” (Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University) explores these themes. Featuring contributions on issues ranging from cybersecurity to diplomacy and fragile states, the collection points toward a foreign policy strategy of resilience, credibility and adaptability in order to harness opportunities in the information age.

Please join New America’s Open Technology Institute as we discuss Diplomacy, Development and Security in the Information Age? and explore how to navigate foreign policy in the information age.

On Twitter? Follow @NewAmericaOTI for updates..
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2013/foreign_policy_information_age

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013
Developments in Mali and DRC
Hosted by: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Location: 1800 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
Fourth Floor Conference Room
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Summary: Please join the CSIS Africa Program for an off-the-record discussion with Comfort Ero, Africa Program Director at International Crisis Group (ICG). Ms. Ero will provide analysis and policy recommendations on the unfolding situations in both Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She will discuss the French intervention in Mali, the necessary political strategy to achieve an inclusive legitimate government in Bamako, and the need for a parallel military strategy to deal with the armed (transnational and criminal) groups that threaten both domestic and regional peace and security. Ms. Ero will also discuss the troubling political and security conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including next steps after the February 24th signing of the Peace, Security, and Cooperation Framework.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://csis.org/event/developments-mali-and-drc

Locating Social Entrepreneurship in the Global South: Innovations in Development Aid
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Summary: Social Entrepreneurship blurs the boundaries between civil society, the state, and the market. The term embraces a range of activities, organizations, and individuals including non-governmental organizations, commercial enterprises, and entrepreneurs that aim for social and economic value creation.This conference will showcase the latest in practice and academic research on the role that social entrepreneurship can play in meeting international development goals and empowering the poor.

Leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers will highlight innovation and alternative solutions to the worlds most pressing social problems. Panel discussion will focus on international development aid and innovation, financing of social enterprise, and local context and social economic empowerment. Through dialogue and debate, the conference will advance the theoretical understanding of the concept of social entrepreneurship as well as explore its practical applications in the global south.

This conference is organized as a part of the International Research Network on Social Economic Empowerment (IRENE|SEE) initiated and sponsored by Siemens Stiftung and coordinated by Zeppelin University.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/locating-social-entrepreneurship-the-global-south-innovations-development-aid

BloomScreen Presents: Batuque, the Soul of a People
Hosted by: BloomBars
Location: 3222 11th Street NW, Washington, DC 20010
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Summary: Batuque, the Soul of a People (2005, 52 min) is director Julio Silvão Tavares’ documentary on the Batuque; a dance and music art form of Cape Verde. (http://tinyurl.com/batuque-trailer).

Batuque was forbidden and devalued during colonization, as it was considered subversive and immoral. Its origins go back to the arrival of the first enslaved Africans on the Cape Verdean islands, in 1462. The rhythms and movements of Cape Verde’s most ancient cultural manifestation are now at the core of its popular music revival. (Portuguese with English subtitles).

After the screening, we’ll talk with Julio Silvão Tavares – all the way from Cape Verde – via Skype!

Thanks to our association w/ the Embassies of Cape Verde, Brazil and Portugal, the Instituto Camões and the Washington Portuguese Language Meetup, BloomBars is proud to present monthly Portuguese language film screenings.For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/294470370678689/

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013
Causes and Consequences of Post-Conflict Violence: Examining Gender Dimension
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 1:00pm – 4:30pm
Summary: USAIDs Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation and the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center Cordially Invite You To A Symposium

Panel 1: 2:00 p.m.
What Causes The Violence Spillover Post-Conflict For Men And For Women?

Panel II: 3:30 p.m.
How Do Stakeholders In Post-Conflict Reconstruction Prevent And Address Violence Against Each Gender?
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/causes-and-consequences-post-conflict-violence-examining-gender-dimension

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013
“Living Where We Don’t Make the Rules”
Hosted by: Rumi Forum
Location: 1150 17th St. N.W., Suite 408, Washington, D.C. 20036
Room 408
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Summary: Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool is South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America.  Before joining the Embassy, his most recent positions have included Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, Special Advisor to the State President of the Republic of South Africa and Premier (governor of the Western Cape Province).

Ebrahim Rasool has a long history of involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle starting at High School and including leadership in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the African National Congress (ANC). He has had to make sacrifices like spending time in prison and being under house arrest. For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.rumiforum.org/upcoming-events/living-where-we-dont-make-the-rulesq-his-excellency-ibrahim-rasool.html

Building Youth-Inclusive Democracies: Lessons from Kenya
Hosted by: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Location: 1800 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
B1 Conference Room
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Summary: Young people have historically been at the forefront of social and political movements. In Kenya, youth make up nearly 30% of the population, and are a source of great promise. Yet fueled by disenfranchisement, inequity, and rampant unemployment, youth were at the center of the violence following the 2007 Presidential elections. To begin to address the challenge of disaffected youth, USAID initiated its largest-ever youth program – Yes Youth Can!. Implemented by Mercy Corps and led by Kenyan youth, the Yes Youth Can! project is forging new ground in understanding and advancing youth inclusive democracy and governance.

Following the March 4th elections, please join us for a timely conversation on project, policy and comparative experiences, perspectives and lessons learned from Kenya in building youth inclusive democracies.

Follow
@CSIS
and #CSISyouth for live updates

In partnership with the International Youth Foundation
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://csis.org/event/building-youth-inclusive-democracies-lessons-kenya

Cry the Beloved Country: South Africa’s Future under the ANC
Hosted by: Cato Institute
Location: 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001
Hayek Auditorium
Time: 4:00pm
Summary: South Africa is sliding downhill while much of the rest of the continent is clawing its way up, wrote The Economist recently. For close to two decades, South Africa has basked in the glow of a peaceful transition from apartheid to majority rule, but the countrys endemic corruption, violence, and failing public services can be ignored no longer. Some even wonder if the misrule by the African National Congress could turn South Africa into a Zimbabwe-like failed state. With comments by Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, John Kane-Berman will discuss the likely future of political and economic developments in South Africa.

If you cant make it to the Cato Institute, watch this event live online at www.cato.org/live and follow @CatoEvents on Twitter to get future event updates, live streams, and videos from the Cato Institute.

Featuring John Kane-Berman, CEO, South African Institute of Race Relations; with comments by Ebrahim Rasool, Ambassador, Republic of South Africa; moderated by Marian L. Tupy, Policy Analyst, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.cato.org/events/cry-beloved-country-south-africas-future-under-anc

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013
The Social Dimensions of Resilience
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 10:00am– 11:30am
Summary: From the Haitian earthquake to Superstorm Sandy, recent years have presented many teachable moments about the need for greater resilience in the face of disaster. To date, much of the conversation on resilience has focused on making infrastructure more robustby, for example, building seawalls to protect against storm surges. But resilience has social dimensions that are at least as important. Social factors largely determine the extent to which people and communities respond to and recover from changes in the environment, whether gradual (such as climate change) or more abrupt (such as hurricanes). This panel will explore the social dimensions of resilience, including the role of equity–especially gender equity–and inclusive governance. Panelists will present research and initiatives that link reproductive health to climate adaptation, and showcase current projects in Malawi, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the Caribbean that take a holistic approach to cultivating resilience.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-social-dimensions-resilience