May 13-19 Events

Continue reading for events taking place throughout the D.C. area next week.

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013
Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Conference: Bridging Rural and Urban Perspectives
Hosted by: George Washington University – Elliott School of International Affairs
Location: World Bank, Room MC2-8001818
1818 H St NW, Washington, D.C.
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Summary: The world is urbanizing rapidly, with cities today concentrating more than half the world's population. While it is widely accepted that development and urbanization go hand in hand, the expansion of cities gives rise to both opportunities and challenges, with countries urbanizing in quite different ways. Urbanization has been occurring at different times and different paces, and some countries have concentrated the urban populations in few mega cities, while others have spread the urban populations across many smaller towns. Particularly little is known about the relation between the pace and nature of the urbanization process and the evolution of inequality and poverty. This conference aims to initiate a dialogue among all stakeholders on the drivers and patterns of urbanization and their consequences for inequality and poverty to elicit key insights for policymakers, with special attention to Africas unfolding urbanization process.

This event will take place over the course of two days:
Monday, May 13th: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, May 14th: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

For more information or to RSVP, please visit:
 http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTPROGRAMS/EXTIE/0,,contentMDK:23403416~pagePK:64168182~piPK:64168060~theSitePK:475520,00.html

The Role of Local Institutions in Climate Change Adaptation
Hosted by: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Summary: Effective local institutions are central to society's ability to respond to the impacts of climate change. Our capacity to adapt is dependent on a wide range of factors with complex institutional arrangements: production strategies, land and water governance, social support systems, household and gender dynamics, availability of weather and climate information, and interaction with external actors, among others. The interaction between local and national institutions is also an important, and often complex, factor.

In the context of climate change, how can such institutions themselves adapt to be both materially and socially effective? How important is it that such institutions are transparent, democratic, and inclusive? How can national institutions create effective enabling environments for local institutions? In this event, presenters from Oxfam America will share new research, based on field work carried out in Ethiopia and Mali, on the role of local institutions in adaptive processes. Additional perspectives on the role of national institutions will be shared by Heather McGray, Co-Director of the Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative at the World Resources Institute.

The event will be followed by a reception at 4:30 pm.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-role-local-institutions-climate-change-adaptation

The U.S., China and Africa: Pursuing Trilateral Dialogue and Action
Hosted by: Brookings Institution
Location: Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Summary: With six of the ten fastest growing economies in world, sub-Saharan Africa is attracting both American and Chinese investors. The growing importance of sub-Saharan Africa to the global economy has made the region a focal point for the differing policies of the United States and China. China recently pledged significant financing to Africa over the three year period from 2012-2014, while the U.S. looks to extend the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act ahead of schedule. Despite the opportunities and growth in the region, the U.S., China and Africa all face shared and separate challenges in the areas of security, trade, investment, foreign policy, and natural resource extraction and management.

On May 13, the Africa Growth Initiative and the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings, with the Institute for Statistical, Social, and Economic Research at the University of Ghana and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, will host a discussion to examine the relationships among the U.S., China and African states. This forum will be the first in a series, which will bring a balanced perspective to the examination of the challenges and opportunities for trilateral dialogue and action.

For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.brookings.edu/events/2013/05/13-us-china-africa-trilateral?rssid=UpcomingEvents&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BrookingsRSS%2Ftopfeeds%2FUpcomingEvents+%28Brookings+Upcoming+Events%29

Can You Go Home? Unpacking the Diaspora
Hosted by: Peace Corps
Location: Peace Corps, Shriver Hall
1111 20th Street NW, Washington DC 20526
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Summary: Can You Go Home? Unpacking The Diaspora is an interactive panel that will attempt to unpack the term diaspora.  The event will focus on how and why diaspora communities engage with their communities of heritage through experience sharing and small group discussions. Featured panelists include Gabino Guerengomba (Founder, Integrated Solar Technology), Julian Kiganda (President, African Diaspora for Change), Paula Olson (Logistics Coordinator, Business Community Synergies), and Emira Woods (Co-Director, Foreign Policy in Focus). The session will be moderated by Pape Samb (President and CEO, Phelps Stokes).

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013
Africa's Emerging Energy Landscape
Hosted by: Center for Strategic and International Studies
Location: Russell Senate Office Building, Kennedy Caucus Room (SR-325)
Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE
Time: 9:00am – 10:45am
Summary: Africa's energy landscape will change dramatically in the coming decade, as massive new gas finds off the coast of East Africa and a surge of oil exploration across the continent expand the ranks of potential energy producers. The impending energy boom offers major opportunities for investment, growth, and development on the continent. But there are uncertainties around the speed with which new resources can be brought to market and whether African government will avoid the 'resource curse' and manage these resources to ensure broad-based, inclusive growth. Please join the CSIS Africa Program for a session that will examine how these new trends might influence geopolitical and governance dynamics on the continent; how the U.S. private sector is responding; and how the U.S. government might work with African governments and civil society to amplify development and growth opportunities. In a closing keynote, Senator Coons will offer his perspective on how U.S. engagement with Africa can maximize the many areas of common interest and mutual benefit that the continent's current growth surge and promising energy future afford.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://csis.org/event/africas-emerging-energy-landscape

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013
Global Media and Organizational Development in the Digital Age
Location: 1625 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036
Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Summary: The media play a crucial role in any global development effort – from improving the environment and health care to fighting corruption and electoral fraud. As media systems undergo a transformational shift in the digital age, many news organizations in the Global South are racing to adapt to new technology and new definitions of who is a journalist. At the same time, many of the most innovative new products and services aimed at improving the flow of information are coming from places like Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Patrick Butler is vice president of programs at the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), which works across the globe to help journalists (including "citizen journalists") better gather and disseminate information so that their audiences can make good decisions about everything from who will lead them to how they will spend their money to how they can fight devastating diseases. Butler will talk about how digital trends are transforming journalism and about ICFJ's media development efforts around the world, including organizational development for media outlets, training centers and associations.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://www.cbodn.org/sig_calendar?eventId=674244&EventViewMode=EventDetails

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013
The Geography of Terrorism
Hosted by: George Mason University — School of Public Policy
Location: George Mason University - Arlington Campus, Founders Hall, Room 134
3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Summary: On Friday, 17th May, The Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) is pleased to be hosting a talk by Dr. Richard Medina entitled The Geography of Terrorism.

Dr. Medina is co-author of a new book, The Geography of International Terrorism: An Introduction to Spaces and Places of Violent Non-State Groups, and his recent focus has been on global terrorist networks and activities in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Northern Africa, and the United States.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit:http://traccc.gmu.edu/events/upcoming-events/