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One Day Conference

The Africa Agenda: Reviewing 2005, Looking to 2006

18 January 2006, London

The year 2005 was said to be the “make or break year” for Africa. The unprecedented number of international policy windows opened by the UK’s simultaneous presidencies of the G8 and the EU gave rise to new optimism that the UK’s strategic position at the very centre of international policy could be used to increase Africa’s profile on the international policy agenda. As such, 2005 was seen as the politically auspicious year in which international political will could be mobilised to generate new and more comprehensive policy approaches to effectively tackle Africa’s development challenges. However as we come to the end of 2005 and step into 2006, there is a need to critically reflect on the processes, gains and losses of 2005 as well as assess the challenges of the year ahead if we are to identify priorities and set a forward thinking strategy for 2006.

Was the optimism in 2005 justified? Did the outcomes of the events, initiatives and processes in 2005 meet expectations? What went right and what went wrong? What were the successes, challenges and failures on the UK’s EU-G8 Africa agenda? Has the UK used its strategic position effectively? In hindsight, how do we see the Commission for Africa, the Make Poverty History Campaign and Live 8 in terms of objectives, approach and impact? What role did the media play in shaping the policy discourse? Has 2005 changed the historical relationship between Africa and the UK? Has the international architecture been significantly modified? What has changed and what remains the same? What is the Pan-African take on these issues and what are the African Diaspora’s perspectives? What can we expect from AU-NEPAD, the EU and G8 in 2006 and how do we address the core issues of fostering growth, stability and development in Africa in the same year? Was 2005 really Africa’s year? What about 2006 and beyond?

This conference jointly organised by the Centre for African Policy and Peace Strategy (CAPPS), the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and African Diaspora Voices (ADVAD) brings together notable policymakers, key actors and stakeholders from the public, private and civil society sectors in Africa, its Diaspora and the UK to review the 2005 agenda and highlight priorities, challenges and objectives in 2006. Presentations will be analytically reflective in content and geared towards reviewing 2005, building on its successes and assessing its failures. They will also set priorities and strategies for Africa’s development in 2006 bearing in mind the lessons of 2005.

The one-day conference will take place at the Royal Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP on 18 January 2006 from 9.30-5.00. A drinks reception follows afterwards. Seats are limited so please be sure to register your attendance well in advance by sending an e-mail with your name, organisation/affiliation and contact details to events@thinkafrica.org. A nominal attendance fee of £10 will be charged at the door. ADVAD members please register through Mary Thompson - m.Thompson@advad.org and note that admission fee is £5 only (concession).

Should you have any enquiries, please call Sunniva Taylor at CAPPS on 0207 242 0780 or Dev Dasat the RCS: 0207 766 9202 or Mary Thompson at ADVAD on 020 7251 9118. For more information on CAPPS, RCS or ADVAD please see www.thinkafrica.org, www.rcsint.org and www.advad.org respectively.