Conference Background and Targets
The Center for Global Africa (CGA) and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) of the African Union (AU), held our (virtual) 2nd Annual CGA-APRM Pan-African Development Conference, November 12-14, 2020 under the theme “Creating the Africa We Want, Creating the Sixth Region We Want.”
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Conference Participants
The Opening Address delivered by H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, confirms the high-level significance of the conference to enrich Africa-Diaspora relations and engagements. Participants came from 17 countries; 29 African and Diaspora academic institutions including Thurgood Marshall College Fund which represents 47 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Association of African Universities which represents 340 universities from 46 countries; while over 23,500 viewers watched the conference on multiple media platforms (our 2019 Conference has drawn well-over a half-million viewers).
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Among distinguished presenters were: CEO of APRM, Professor Eddy Maloka, US Senator from Delaware, Chris Coons, US Ambassador to the AU, Jessica Lapenn, APRM Focal Point Chairman, Senzo Mchunu s Chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, Professor Fatma Karadja, APRM Panel of Eminent Persons, Ombeni Yohana Sefue, APRM Focal Point of Sierra Leone, Mohammed Foday Yumkella, Founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Dr. Joyce Payne, Dr. John Boyd and Kara Boyd, National Black Farmer's Association and Assoc. of American Indian Farmers, Founder of the African World Heritage Museum, Honorable Kojo Yankah, Kool-Baker Global (Renewable Energy) Founder and Manager of the Houston Astros, Dusty Baker.
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Systems Approaches and Collaborations
Along with highlighting Agenda 2063 and roles of the Sixth Region, the conference focused on establishing systems approaches and official 2-way structural designs for Africa-Diaspora development in enterprising ways that are solution oriented, capacity building, revenue generating, and mutually beneficial. Panelists identified ways of institutional integration to harness joint expertise and resource potential in 3 areas:
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Food and Seed Security and Agricultural Value Chains
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Good Governance and Economic Productivity during COVID-19 Challenges
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Reimaging Africa and Bridging Africa-Diaspora Divides via Youth and Media Platforms
Common Clarity and Agreed Starting Points
For “common clarity” of information and “agreed starting points” for Africa-Diaspora progress, presenters uniquely defined functions, explained opportunities, and outlined the intersectional importance and associations of and between the AU, APRM, and HBCUs; Agenda 2063 and the Sixth Region. This clarity and these starting points form the basis upon which Action Steps are now being pursued and implemented by the CGA, APRM, TMCF, and other public-private partners.
Tribute to Dr. Martin Delany
Special tribute was paid to Dr. Martin Delany and his 1861 publishing of his Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party, which is arguably and comparatively a progenitor version of contemporary APRM reports. (Download complimentary copy with Special Introduction written by Professor Ezrah Aharone).
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