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Academic Conference on Africa

Theme: Redefining African Futures: The State, Resilience, and Pathways to Progress

Conference Website: /osaa/academic-conference-2023

Registration Link:

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Closing Press Release

 

Academic Conference on Africa

 

Summary

To strengthen African representation in global development scholarship and ensure that African voices are heard in the debates that help to shape the continent¡¯s future, the Office of the Special Adviser has launched an annual academic conference, to provide a platform for African scholarship that addresses the wide-ranging scope of Africa¡¯s development, with particular emphasis on the quadruple nexus of development, peace and security, humanitarian work and human rights.

The academic conference will convene African scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from different sectors and disciplines. It will feature keynote speeches from leading experts and panel discussions on the most pressing issues facing African communities. There will also be an opportunity for select scholars to present their research, allowing them to share their findings and insights with a wider audience.

The 2023 iteration of the conference will address critical themes, particularly:

  • African Governance: Assessing the State of the State
    The discussion will focus on the critical role of the state in Africa's development and security, aiming to delve into historical contexts, the efficacy of prevailing democratic models, and strategies for effective governance.
     
  • Complexities of Resilience in Africa: Expanding the Perspective
    Resilience, a linchpin in development, peace, security, and humanitarian efforts, will be examined comprehensively, extending beyond governmental approaches to encompass the multifaceted dimensions of resilience embedded in African culture and society.
  • Looking to the Future: The Role of African Academics in Building the Africa and the World We Want
    The discussion will center on the unique role of African academics in influencing global narratives, fostering cultural context, and establishing continental and global agendas.