FEEEDS Highlighted in Allafrica.com for White Paper on Upcoming US-Africa Summit

A FEEEDS BlogSpot

As published on Allafrica.com - 30 July 2014

FEEEDS Initiative (Washington, D.C.)

Africa: White Paper on 'Africa Forum' Pre-Summit Dialogue Released 

                       

                 

FEEEDS CEO Ambassador Robin Sanders (center) moderating 'Africa Forum' session on trade with Botswana Ambassador Tebelelo Mazile Seretse (left) and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Florie Liser.

               

Press Release

Washington, DC — Sponsors of the Africa Forum on July 10, 2014 have released their White Paper Report on the Forum - a Dialogue on Key African Issues prior to the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit event August 4-6, 2014.

 

The partner organizations include FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative, Gallup, The Africa Society, AllAfrica, and Operation Hope.

The White Paper summaries the discussions and recommendations by the Forum's panel of experts for the African leaders heading to Washington to meet with the U.S. President.

 

The Forum highlighted the importance of Africa Trade; Key Sectoral Developmental areas such as power, agriculture and the importance of SMEs and the Diaspora; and, emphasized next steps on African Governance Issues.

 

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Over 250 invitees attended The Africa Forum at Gallup's headquarters in Washington D.C.

White Paper Report: The Africa Forum - a Dialogue on Key Issues in Africa PDF

 

FEEEDS-Gallup-Africa Society DC 'Africa Forum' Kicks off Issues for the US-Africa Leaders Summit
Press Release (July 12, 2014)

Also see CEO-FEEEDS article in Huffpost on need for the US to consider holding meetings at the regional level with the 50 Heads of State or Government that will be attending the upcoming US-Africa Leaders Summit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amb-robin-renee-sanders/usafrica-leaders-summit-l_b_5602668.html

US-Africa Leaders’ Summit: Let’s Ensure it’s on the Positive Side of History

A FEEEDS Blog Series

If you are an Africa-hand (government or non-governmental) activist or development partner focused on Africa  you are either directly or indirectly involved with the upcoming Washington, D.C. August 4-6, 2014, US-Africa Leaders' Summit. Fundamentally, the event is incredibly historic as it will be the first time that a sitting U.S. President has invited all the Heads of States and Governments of the Africa Region to a single event, with the exceptions of (Zimbabwe, Central Africa Republic, Eritrea, and Western Sahara), to discuss key Continent issues and the macro U.S.-Africa relationship. The four overarching themes for the Summit are: Investing in Africa’s Future; Peace and Regional Stability, and Governing for the Next Generation.

There is some griping, of course, about some aspects of the Summit, but overall the event is a step in the right direction for the United States, even if some parts of the program rankles both Africa-hands and activists on both sides of the Atlantic and bothers many African Leaders. They are all pondering the single most asked question: Why are there no individual heads-of-state meetings with the 50 Leaders attending? China, France, Japan, India all have gotten this right -- holding  one-on-one meetings even if they last a few minutes. So the U.S. approach to not doing this does bother many. But this article is not arguing for individual meetings.

However, here is a new thought or one possibly considered but dismissed: How could having five sub-regional meetings –  short presidential sessions with leaders of West, Central, East, South, and North Africa  – be too much for us to do? This option would not require an excessive amount of time (seemingly the reason for no one-on-ones).  But, considering the cost, distance, respect-balance ratios at stake as these Leaders travels to the US with probably no less than 20 of their senior government officials, we should be able to manage five meetings. Moreover, the U.S.’s sound policy direction to encourage  more regional integration and cooperation on the very issues the Summit will be discussing (peace and security; governance, investment, and the Young Africa Leaders Initiative, aka YALI)  would all be further advanced by having regional discussions with the President of the United States.

Some factoids which can help put why the misstep on this sole point could not only be strategically wrong for the U.S., but unfortunately further play into the notion by some that the U.S.’s approach is not on par with China, India et al. are: Africa’s population is reportedly 1.5 billion and is on course to reach a population of 2.4 billion people by 2050; and, its average growth rate  of 2.45% is likely to remains constant over the next decades.  This scenario will move Africa from the third most populated region to the largest; with most people remaining below the poverty level unless we all do some additional things correctly, now.

Arguing that demographics and population are strategic issues for the U.S. as it looks forward in the 21^st Century for new allies, partners on policy, business, or counterterrorism – Africa is key to the United States; it large current and future demographics makes it more so. The Summit themes are great, the U.S. interest is historic, but we may need to show something else based more on Africa’s perception (not ours) of appropriateness – thus, the suggestion being made here is to consider or re-consider the sub-regional meeting approach. This could further concretize, and synergize our positive rhetoric about raising the US-Africa relationship in an unprecedented  manner. We talk about stemming views that the U.S. is not as serious about Africa as China, India, and newcomer Brazil, but the Summit is an opportunity to really do this. Hence calling the Summit historic should not be hyperbole!

However successfully the Summit is laid out, the fact that there are no heads of state meetings, even at the sub-region level might be what is remembered most, and that would be a shame. The Summit themes are on target, and the various events such as the recent FEEEDS-Gallup-Africa Society of National Summit-Allafrica Africa Forum, the first to launch, and the array of July 31-August 5, 2014, unofficial and official events will all address key related topics.

Interactive dialogue, engagement, and partnership are reportedly the Summit's goals. Again, all good! Although I am cheering for and confident that the Summit in so many ways will be a success, this one issue – not managing the notion of sub-regional meetings with the U.S. President – is an issue many of us cannot understand even if they are tied to a single theme. For example, a West or Central Africa session could focus on peace and security, given the challenges in Mali, Northern Nigeria, Niger, and Central African Republic and terrorism threats to U.S. national interest as a result. A East Africa topic could be the great efforts of U.S. EXIM Bank, Commerce, USAID,  USTDA’s, and African Leaders to see what more can be done to bring energy to the 550 million Africans without it. 

The last three U.S. Administrations – politics aside - have done a tremendous job of both changing the US-Africa post-Cold War paradigm -- creating out of the box, or next to the box signature initiatives from AGOA-to-PEPFAR-to-MCC-to-FEED the Future-to-YALI.  All in which FEEEDS-CEO, during diplomatic and non-diplomatic years, has had an opportunity to be involved.

In sum, as an American and long-time Africa hand, FEEEDS-CEO is proud of all these things, and proud that the U.S. is having this Summit --hopefully the first of many. Interestingly enough, a  Summit-like vision was originally called for in the 2000 Africa Growth and Opportunity Act Legislation; it has taken us 10 years to make it happen.  Indeed, it will be important for this first one to be remembered in good light.  However, even if the Summit is a success on all fronts, it might be footnoted everywhere that we couldn’t find time to hold, at a minimum, 5 sub-regional meetings. It is not like we haven’t had more than 5 meetings before. If one recalls, and I do, as I was there and attended one, the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit  had about the same number of world leaders, 49. According to various official U.S. scheduling reports, there were at least 9-10 bilaterals -- anyway, it was more than 5.

In the end, I am voting for this historic Summit to be remembered for all the things we did right, not for the one thing we didn’t do right.  Let’s reconsider and at least put sub-regional meetings on the agenda.

US-Africa Leaders' Summit - Aug 4-6, 2014 Public Schedule

  Take A Look @ the Current US-Africa Leaders' Summit Schedule

Monday, August 4, 2014
0830-               Civil Society Forum 1200 hrs        National Academy of Sciences   0900-               Africa Growth And Opportunity Act 1500 hrs           (AGOA) Forum The World Bank   1200-               Power Africa Event 1400 hrs      Grand Hyatt Hotel Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa   1230-               Investing in Women, Peace, and Prosperity 1400 hrs          Working Luncheon National Academy of Sciences   1230-               Investing in Health: Investing in Africa’s F 1400 hrs          Future Working Luncheon National Academy of Sciences   1415-               Resilience and Food Security in a 1545 hrs          Changing Climate National Academy of Sciences   1415-                Combating Wildlife Trafficking 1545 hrs         National Academy of Sciences   1600-                Congressional Reception for African Leaders 1800 hrs         Kennedy Caucus Room, Capitol Hill

Tuesday, August 5, 2014
0800-           U.S.-Africa Business Forum 1500 hrs      Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the U.S. Department of Commerce   1800 hrs                    White House Dinner on the Occasion of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit The White House           Wednesday, August 6, 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Sessions (all meetings at the U.S. Department of State, Harry S Truman Building)   1000-            Session 1: Investing in Africa’s Future 1200 hrs   1200-            Family Photo for Heads of Delegation 1230 hrs   1230-            Session 2: Peace and Regional Stability 1400 hrs   1430-            Session 3: Governing for the Next 1630 hrs         Generation   1700-             The President’s Press Conference 1745 hrs

RSVP JULY 10:FORUM 4 US-Africa Leaders' Summit:FEEEDS,GALLUP,Africa Society, Allafrica.com,OperationHOPE R Hosting

THE AFRICA FORUM!

July 10, 2014, 2:00 -4:30, Gallup Headquarters 901 F St., Washington, DC

An Africa Forum Event of the FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative, Gallup Poll, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, AllAfrica.com, and Operation Hope

 

In Partnership with the Ambassadors of Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana, Senegal, & Tanzania

 

The “Africa Forum’s” primary objective is to foster further dialogue and collaboration in advance of the upcoming US-Africa Summit for African Heads of State and Government.

 

Program 2:00 – 4:30 pm

Welcome Remarks: Managing Director Gallup World Poll, Mr. Jon Clifton and His Excellency Ambassador Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S.

Panel One – Africa Trade -The US and African Perspectives: The Honorable Florie Liser, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for Africa;  Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, President & Chairman Board of Directors, Africa Export-Import Bank;  Her Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, Botswana Ambassador to the U.S. Moderator:  Ambassador Robin Sanders, CEO FEEEDS

Presentation - Managing Director Gallup World Poll, Mr. Jon Clifton “African Well Being”

Panel Two – The Future of Africa: Key Sectoral Development & Recommendations:  Power Africa, SMEs/Diaspora Development, & Agriculture: Mr. Rick Angiuoni, US EXIM Bank; Ngozi Bell – Small Business Administration (SBA); Her Excellency and Deputy Dean, Ambassador Faida Mitifu, DRC Ambassador to the U.S.; Her Excellency Liberata Rutageruka Mulamula, Tanzanian Ambassador to the U.S. Moderator: The Honorable Hank Cohen, CEO Cohen & Woods International, Inc.

Panel Three – Africa Governance – The Positives & Challenges, and What Next?: Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang,  Chairman, African Studies Department, Howard University; Dr. Ray Gilpin, Academic Dean, Africa Center for Security Studies (ACSS),  His Excellency Cheikh Niang, Senegalese Ambassador to the U.S. Moderator:  Bernadette Paolo, Esq. President, The Africa Society

Presentation – Africa’s Youth & Financial Literacy Ambassador Sanders & Ms. Jena Roscoe, Senior VP for Government Affairs, Operation HOPE

Closing Remarks – Managing Director of the Gallup World Poll, Mr. Jon Clifton & Nigerian Ambassador Adefuye 

RSVP! JULY 10, 2-4:30pm: AFRICA FORUM @ GALLUP DC HQ ON ISSUES 4 US-AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT

  CLICK HERE RSVP TO AFRICA FORUM @ GALLUP HQ http://registration.gallup.com/default.aspx?O=FZC1145AJQ818229RS

      SAVE THE DATE - SPEAKER & TOPICS

 The Africa Forum

July 10, 2014, 2:00 -4:30, Gallup Headquarters 901 F St., Washington, DC

An Africa Forum Event of the FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative, Gallup Poll, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, AllAfrica.com, and Operation Hope

In Partnership with the Ambassadors of Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana, Senegal,& Tanzania

 

The “Africa Forum’s” primary objective is to foster further dialogue and collaboration in advance of the upcoming US-Africa Summit for African Heads of State and Government.

                                          

 

PROGRAM 2:00-4:30 PM

Welcome Remarks: Managing Director Gallup World Poll, Mr. Jon Clifton and His Excellency Ambassador Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S.

 

Panel One – Africa Trade -The US and African Perspectives: The Honorable Florie Liser, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for Africa;  Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, President & Chairman Board of Directors, Africa Export-Import Bank;  Her Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, Botswana Ambassador to the U.S. Moderator:  Ambassador Robin Sanders, CEO FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative

Special Presentation - Managing Director of Gallup World Poll, Mr. Jon Clifton “African Well Being”

Panel Two – The Future of Africa: Key Sectoral Development & Recommendations:  Power Africa, SMEs/Diaspora Development,& Agriculture: Mr. Rick Angiuoni, US EXIM Bank; Ngozi Bell – Small Business Administration (SBA); Her Excellency and Deputy Dean, Ambassador Faida Mitifu, DRC Ambassador to the U.S.; Her Excellency Liberata Rutageruka Mulamula, Tanzanian Ambassador to the U.S. Moderator: The Honorable Hank Cohen, CEO Cohen & Woods International, Inc.

Panel Three – Africa Governance – The Positives & Challenges, and What Next?: Dr. Sulayman S. Nyang,  Chairman, Department of African Studies, Howard University; Dr. Ray Gilpin, Academic Dean, Africa Center for Security Studies (ACSS),  His Excellency Cheikh Niang, Senegalese Ambassador to the U.S. Moderator:  Bernadette Paolo, Esq. President, The Africa Society

Special Presentation – Africa’s Youth & Financial Literacy Ambassador Sanders & Ms. Jena Roscoe, Senior VP for Government Affairs, Operation HOPE

Closing Remarks – Managing Director of the Gallup World Poll, Mr. Jon Clifton & Nigerian Ambassador Adefuye