2018 Africa Think Tank Summit
Rabat, Morocco
By Invitation
OCP Policy Center and the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania are hosting the 2018 Africa Think Tank Summit under the theme “Deeepening Expertise and Enhancing Sustainability: Insight into Contemporary Challenges Facing African Think Tanks”. The summit will be held in Rabat, May 9-10th.
The most influential and innovative think tanks in Africa and beyond will gather to discuss contemporary issues they are facing, pertaining to the challenges of expertise deepening, the role of the media and the press in propelling the African agendas, the role of think tanks in driving the African diaspora and in building an inclusive policy dialogue and more.
The Summit will also be an excellent opportunity to explore how think tanks can implement the strategies developed in previous Summits to enhance capacity, increase impact and assure the long term viability of think tanks in the region. Much work has been done lately on the issue of making think tanks “fit for purpose”, in terms of quality, vibrancy, relevance and sustainability. More think tanks from across Africa would benefit from learning about and finding ways to introduce innovations and adaptations identified in other think tank fora.
Related Report Event : 2018 Africa Think Tank Summit Report : Deepening Expertise and Enhancing Sustainability: Insights into Contemporary Challenges Facing African Think Tanks
Related Blog Event : African think tanks Summit: a common view for the challenges ahead
Agenda
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Wednesday, May 09 |
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14:30 – 15:30 |
Registration of participants |
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15:30 – 16:00 |
Welcome Remarks |
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16:00 – 17:00 |
Keynote Address: H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria and Board Member, Africa Progress Panel: Think tanks and regional integration: Bold strategies for long term Impact |
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17:00 – 18:30 |
Opening Session (Think Tank Presidents’ Panel) Deepening Expertise and Enhancing Sustainability and Security: Insight into Contemporary Challenges Facing African Think Tanks Chair: Awad Ibrahim, Chairman, Lybian Organization of Policies and Strategies Thula Sizwe Dlamini, Executive Director, Swaziland Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (SEPARC) |
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18:30 – 19:30 |
Break |
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18:30 – 19:00 |
Dinner and Keynote Address: H.E Ambassador Mohammed Methqal, Director General, Moroccan International Cooperation Agency (AMCI) |
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Thursday, May 10 |
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08:30 – 09:00 |
Registration |
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09:00 – 09:30 |
Welcome Remarks |
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09:30 – 10:00 |
Keynote Address: Mr. Abdou Diop, President, African and South South Relations, Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises: Roadmap to building bridges between think tanks and the private sector |
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10:00 – 10:15 |
Coffee Break |
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10:15 – 11:30 |
Plenary Session: The Think Tank Sustainability Crisis In Africa and Its Potential Impact on Think Tanks, Policy Makers and the Public Keynote Address: James G. McGann, Senior Lecturer and Director Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania in conversation with Patrick Malope, Professor, Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) and Landry Signé, Fellow, Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution and Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center In 2014, Dr. Frannie Leautier, former Executive Secretary of the ACBF, reported that 30% of Africa’s think tanks may close or be in serious crisis. If this crisis is not addressed immediately, it may be too late to reverse the damages it will create by the time its full magnitude is understood. This panel will start the Summit off by exploring the reasons why this crisis is occurring and the effects it has and will have on think tanks, policy makers and the public. The purpose of this panel is to bring together a group of leading scholars and think tank executives to share their views on how the current policy and funding environment is impacting the research, and operations of think tanks, as well as their ability to recruit and retain key staff. This panel will also be expected to discuss the current and future impact of the crisis on think tanks and on the countries and people they serve. It is also intended to preview the central issues to be explored at the Summit. |
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12:00 – 13:15 |
Break Out Sessions (A) Break Out Session I: Agenda for Enhancing Research on Agricultural Productivity in Africa Chair: Adebisi Araba, Co-Chair, International Center for Tropical Agriculture/Malabo Montpellier Panel Tadesse Kuma Worako, Director of Agricultural and Rural Development Research Center, Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) Break Out Session II: The Role of Think Tanks in Advocating for Green Energy in Africa Chair: Aziz Mekouar, Ambassador to Multilateral Negotiations of COP22 Rachid El Mrabet, Director, Projects and innovation, Research Institute for Renewable and New Energy Break Out Session III: The Quality-Capacity Conundrum: How to Enhance Capacity and Maintain Quality and Independence with Limited or No Institutional Support The purpose of this session is to bring together a group of think tank executives to share their views on how to meet the challenge of how to raise funds and produce quality research while also maintaining institutional independence. This requires a delicate balancing act that think tanks around the world must manage on a daily basis. Chair: Lea Metke, Project Officer to the Director, French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) Ufo Okeke Uzodike, Executive Director, AfriHeritage Break Out Session IV: Why Think Tanks Matter in Africa: Forging Strategic Partnerships with Policy Makers, Donors and the Public The purpose of this session is to bring together a group of think tank executives to share their views on how think tanks can more effectively engage policymakers and the public in policy issues that are key to Africa’s development. Think tanks are critical in supporting the implementation of key economic, social and good governance policies and programs, but they could do a more effective job in reaching key audiences and stakeholders. This session will explore how think tanks can utilize strategic communications, strategic partnerships and new technologies to increase revenue, reach and impact. Chair: Monde Muyangwa, Director, Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Mounsif Aderkaoui, Director of Studies and Financial Forecasts, Ministry of Economy and Finance |
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12:45 – 13:30 |
Break Out Session A Highlights with Round Table Discussion |
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13:30 – 15:00 |
Networking Luncheon |
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15:00 – 16:15 |
Break Out Session (B) Break Out Session V: Women and Think Tanks: How to Provide Better Representation in Policy Making Dialogue Chair: Monde Muyangwa, Director, Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Amal Sakr, Deputy Director for Executive Affairs, Future for Advanced Research and Studies (FARS) Break Out Session VI: Think Tanks and the African Diaspora: Bringing Brilliant Minds Back Chair: Landry Signé, Fellow, Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution and Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center Landry Signé, Fellow, Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution and Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center Break Out Session VII: Rethinking Institutional Partnerships for Policy Impact, Resource Mobilization and Sustainability Chair: Amira Kridagh, Legal and Advocacy Officer, Solidar Tunisie Laoye Jaiyeola, CEO, Nigerian Economic Summit Group Break Out Session VIII: Realizing Sustainable Future for Africa’s Think Tanks: An Action Agenda for a Comprehensive Security Dialogue This Session is meant to bring together ideas and issues discussed at the Summit and formulate some possible conclusions and concrete recommendations for action that will help alleviate the think tank sustainability crisis in Africa. The Panel is expected to help participants generate a plan of action that will focus on realizing a sustainable future for Africa’s think tanks, while building expertise to assess security threats. Chair: Jalal Abdel Latif, Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center Richard Fonteh Akum, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies |
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16:15 – 17:00 |
Break Out Session B Highlights with a Round Table Discussion |
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17:00 – 18:00 |
Coffee Break |
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18:00 – 18:30 |
Keynote Address: Her Excellency Mrs. Mounia Boucetta, Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kingdom of Morocco: Rethinking Strategic Partnerships between the Public Sector and Policy Oriented Institutions |
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18:45 – 19:30 |
Bus Transfers |
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Friday, May 11 |
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09:15 – 10:15 |
Open Discussion with the press: Think Tanks and Media Relations Chair: Sabine Cessou, Independent journalist |
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10:15 – 10:30 |
Coffee Break |
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10:30 – 11:30 |
Closing Round Table Discussion: How to Make Africa’s Think Tanks Fit for the Future: Strategies for Reform, Innovation, and Adaption |
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11:30 – 12:00 |
Closing Remarks • Karim El Aynaoui, Managing Director, OCP Policy Center |
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12:00 – 13:00 |
Farewell Lunch (departure of international participants) |
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