The Forum seeks to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the targets of the SDGs by bringing together national governments, the international community, civil society, the private sector and other actors /Photo: AfricanCourierMedia

International conference on African development holds in Tübingen, Germany

The 2019 Global Partnership for Africa’s Development (G-PAD) Forum holds on 22-23 November in the German city of Tubingen. Organised by Lead Africa International e.V., a global non-governmental organization dealing with development issues, G-PAD Forum promotes “shared knowledge of development policies that impact Africans and people of African descent and facilitate effective global partnerships towards achieving sustainable development” in Africa.

The 2-day event, featuring keynote speeches, plenary sessions, debates, case studies’ presentations, among others, will deliberate on strategies for mutually beneficial cooperation between Africa and its global partners towards reducing aid dependency in the continent.

Victor Harrison, Commissioner for Economic Affairs of the African Union, will be one of the keynote speakers at the Forum/Photo: TAF

 

The welcome address at the G-PAD Forum 2019 will be delivered by Timi Olanrewaju, Executive Director of Lead Africa International.

Keynote speakers at the conference include Victor Harrison, Commissioner for Economic Affairs of the African Union; HE Igor Cesar, Rwanda’s ambassador to Germany; Luckystar Miyandazi, Policy Officer, European Centre for Development Policy Management; Momodou Jallow, member of the Swedish Parliament; and Tapera Chitiyo, Associate on Africa Programs, Chatham House, London.

Other speakers include HE Kehswar Jankee, Mauritius’s ambassador to Germany; Phillipp Keil, Executive Director, SEZ; Andry Ravalomanda, General Director, Economic Development Board of Madagascar; Joy Alemazung, Project Manager, Engagement Global gGmbH; and Chioma Nwafor, a lecturer at the Caledonia University, Glasgow.

READ ALSO African diaspora challenged on African development at G-PAD Forum in Tübingen

Entrepreneurs will also talk about their ventures at the conference, which offers networking opportunities. Among them are Femi Olayebi, Chief Creative Director, Femi Handbags (Nigeria); Ogochukwu Ifeanyi, Chief Technology Strategist, Debbie Mishael Consulting (South Africa); and Susan Tatah, CEO, German African Business Services (Germany).

Timi Olanrewaju, Executive Director of Lead Africa International /Photo: Lead Africa International

In March 2019, the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a new Africa policy which focuses on five key areas; namely, Peace Building, Sustainable Economic Development, Migration, Working with African Partners and More Cooperation with Civil Society.

G-PAD Forum 2019, whose theme is “Africa’s Development Landscape: From Policy to Practice”, seeks to promote a greater stakeholders’ awareness and understanding of the new German Africa Policy while highlighting the active role of the African diaspora in the continent’s development.

“The Forum is aligned with Goal 17 of the SDGs which seeks to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the targets of the 2030 Agenda by bringing together national governments, the international community, civil society, the private sector and other actors,” Lead Africa International said in a press statement.

The conference will be attended by participants from across Europe and Africa. Participation is free but registration is required.

Femi Awoniyi

  • G-PAD Forum 2019
  • Date: 22-23 November
  • Venue: University of Tübingen, Musikwissenschaftliches Institut,
  • Schulberg 2, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
  • Registration: https://www.myleadafrica.org/GPAD2019/

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