International konference: Det nye Afrika – ikke længere håbløshedens kontinent?

TIME: Friday, 2 November, 9 – 17

VENUE: IDA Meeting Centre, Kalvebod Brygge 31 – 33 (Københavns havnefront), Copenhagen K.

In recent years, many African countries have experienced remarkable economic growth, raising the prospect of a brighter future for the African continent.

TIME: Friday, 2 November, 9 – 17

VENUE: IDA Meeting Centre, Kalvebod Brygge 31 – 33 (Københavns havnefront), Copenhagen K.

In recent years, many African countries have experienced remarkable economic growth, raising the prospect of a brighter future for the African continent.

However, much of the growth is attributable to rising commodity prices, and it is still an open question if the export of natural resources stimulates an economic transformation that benefits the population at large.

The combination of rising mineral wealth and continuing poverty could be explosive, and the situation poses many questions for development agencies and the civil society.

However, it also opens up opportunities for business development for national and international enterprises.

The focus of the conference will be on ‘The new Africa’ – the challenges of inclusive growth and job creation, and the opportunities presented by factors such as the falling costs of communication technology.

Talks will be given by invited key national and international experts on Africa, in an interaction between academia and industry with the aim of highlighting the myths and realities behind the new Africa.

The conference is of interest to participants working with inclusive and sustained growth in Africa – whether for development agencies and civil society organisations or industry.

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NB! The conference will be conducted in English.

TILMELDING er nødvendig og sker på http://ida.dk/ArrNr?EID=995425

Obligatory registration on http://ida.dk/ArrNr?EID=995425

Fee: DKK 200 for members of the Danish Society for International Development; others DKK 400; DKK 100 for students.

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Chairperson: Holger Bernt Hansen, Professor Emeritus, University of Copenhagen

PROGRAMME

08:30 – 09:00
Registration

09:00 – 09:10
Welcome – Anne Christensen, Chairperson, the Danish Society for International Development.

09:10 – 10:00
The new Africa, achievements and challenges. – Professor Stephen Ellis, University of Amsterdam

10:00 – 10:20
Coffee break.

10:20 – 10:50
Africa and Maersk can grow together. – Jens Munch Lund-Nielsen, Lead Group Advisor, CSR Group Sustainability, A.P. Moller – Maersk.

10:50 – 11:30
Aid, Growth and Development. – Professor Finn Tarp, The World Institute for Development Research (WIDER) / United Nations University (UNU), Helsinki.

11:30 – 12.00
Sustainability in the water sector through private sector innovations and partnerships. – Louise Koch, Programme Manager, Global Business Development & Communication, Grundfos.

12:00 – 12:30
The role of the diaspora (afrikanere på andre kontinenter) and its contribution to development in Africa. – Dr Bevlyne Sithole.

12:30 – 13:30
Lunch.

13:30 – 14:15
Transition or transformation? (tentatively). – Professor Thandika Mkandawire, London School of Economics, Chair in African Development, Former Research Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.

14:15 – 15:30
China’s Aid and Soft Power in Africa: The case of human resource development. – Professor Emeritus Kenneth King, Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh.

15:30 – 15:50
Coffee break.

15:50 -16:30
The information society and the role of female entrepreneurs in Western Africa. – Coura Fall, Coordinator for GOREeTIC and member of the multi-stakeholder advisory group in the UN Internet Governance Forum, Dakar Senegal.

16:30 – 16:50
Doing business in Africa. – Ib Albertsen, Senior Investment Manager, IFU – The Investment Fund for Developing Countries.

16:50 – 17:00
Closing and presentation of conclusions. – Stig Jensen, Director of Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen.