The Obama Administration, Africa and the Diaspora: Promises, Prospects, and Realities

January 25, 2010

The Obama Administration, Africa and the Diaspora: Promises, Prospects, and Realities

A One-Day Conference Organized by: TransAfrica Forum In Cooperation with The U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs And the Center for Economic Policy Research

Hosted by The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society

Date and Time: January 25, 2010, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Venue: United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, NE, Conference Rooms 1-4, Washington, DC 20002

Details: Please join TransAfrica Forum for a dynamic discussion of U.S. policy toward Africa and the Diaspora. Speakers will present and analyze the Administration's emerging focus on Africa, including discussions on crisis countries and the continuing controversy over the U.S. Africa Command. Panelists will also discuss ongoing barriers to Africa's economic development as well as emerging trends from Latin America and the Caribbean.

This event is organized in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs and the Center for Ecomomic and Policy Research. The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society is our host.

Keynote Address by Sue K Brown, Director Southern Africa Division, U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs

Schedule:

9:00 -10:00 am Conference Welcome and Introduction:

Mark Harrison, United Methodist Church

Nicole C Lee, TransAfrica Forum

Keynote Address: Sue K Brown, Director Southern Africa Division, U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs

10:00 am-12:15 pm
Plenary Panel: Multilateralism, Human Rights, Democracy and Governance: Promises and Realities

Case Studies:

Sudan and the Horn of Africa Sulayman S. Nyang, Howard University

Zimbabwe Imani Countess, TransAfrica Forum

Ethiopia and Uganda, Weapons Transfers and AFRICOM Daniel Volman

12:30 - 1:45 pm
Lunch Address

Africa in 2010: A
Gendered Perspective

Pearl-Alice Marsh, Ph.D. Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives

Lunch provided by The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society

Strategy Sessions 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Haiti in Conference Room 3: Haiti: Prospects for Development in the Wake of the January 12 Earthquake

Discussion: Prior to the
January 12, 2010 earthquake, the State Department was poised to launch
a new Haiti development strategy. In light of the earthquake's
catastrophic impact, what should a long-term development plan include?
How can the interests and needs of Haiti's grassroots and poor
communities be advanced?

Discussion Leader: Nicole Lee, TransAfrica Forum

Panelists: Donna Barry, Partners in Health

Mark Weisbrot, Center for Economic and Policy Research

Melinda St. Louis, Jubilee USA Network

Africa in Conference Rooms 1 & 2: Challenges to Africa's Economic Development

Discussion: Multiple barriers to African development exist, including
the global recession, international financial institution policies, debt and vulture funds. What civil society strategies will produce effective structural reform and fairer trade policies?

Discussion Leader: Briggs Bomba, Africa Action

Panelists: Abdul Bangura, Howard University

Anita Wheeler, Howard University

Tamara Gaw, TransAfrica Forum

Latin America in Conference Room 4: Latin America's Emerging Models of Partnership

Discussion: ALBA, Bank of the South, fair trade initiatives --Latin America has fostered several models of alternative trade and development, often in conflict with U.S. approaches. In light of this reality how can civil society foster collaboration and partnership between the U.S. and our neighbors throughout the hemisphere?

Discussion Leader: James Pope, TransAfrica Forum

Panelists: Alexander Main, Center for Economic and Policy Research

Geoff Thale, Washington Office on Latin America

Aisha Brown, Global Awareness Project Consulting