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The Africa We Want and the UN We Need: A Regional Dialogue for the Summit of the Future

Event Summary

Contributed by Global Governance Innovation Network, The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development

Posted 15 March 2024

   

Co-Sponsors: Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development, the Stimson Center, One Earth Future Foundation, U.S. Institute of Peace, Humanity United Foundation, the Global Challenges Foundation, Olof Palme International Centre, Foundation for European Progressive Studies, and the Max van der Stoel Foundation, in collaboration with the following partner organizations: Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa, Global Governance Innovation Network, Kofi Annan Foundation, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Center for Democracy and Development, SDGs Kenya Forum, Global Institute for Strategic Research, Synergos Institute Nigeria, UN University Centre for Policy Research, European Institute of Peace, Institute for Economics and Peace, and Oxfam International

📖 Read the outcome report here.

Background

To prevent recurring global and regional crises in the aftermath of the First and Second World Wars and help to advance human development worldwide, the United Nations was founded in 1945, with only Ethiopia and Liberia qualifying from Africa as original Member States. With political independence, Africa’s UN membership rose over time to fifty-four.

Today, many African countries are struggling to meet their development goals due to the impact of severe and mutually reinforcing socioeconomic, environmental, and political shocks. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, economic growth dwindled from 4.6 percent in 2021 to 3.6 percent in 2022, helping to push 18 million more persons into poverty on a continent already dealing with a substantial poverty problem. Compounding this situation, nearly 600 million Africans do not have access to sustainable energy. In addition, across Africa today, many intrastate conflicts are being exploited by international state and non-state actors, fueling human suffering and helping to reverse a long-term, global decline in political violence since the end of the Cold War. 

More than ever, and in the run-up to the September 2024 Summit of the Future, African perspectives and innovation priorities need to be heard in policy debates on improving the performance of today's global institutions (including the UN system) and African regional institutions (including the African Union, ECOWAS, and other sub-regional organizations), so as to better address the critical issues of sustainable development, peace and security, climate governance, democratic and digital participation, and human rights and humanitarian action.

Objectives

  • To convene leading policy researchers, practitioners, and advocates from Africa and around the world to debate and recommend specific regional and global institutional, policy, legal, normative, and operational innovations that could inform the agenda—and help to raise the ambition—of the Summit of the Future, giving special attention to African perspectives and innovation priorities.
  • To establish a new platform for African policy researchers and advocates to critically discuss and advance policy research on “What Africa Wants” and the type of relationship the Continent needs to have with the UN, World Bank, IMF, WTO, and regional (including African Union and African Development Bank), and sub-regional institutions (e.g., ECOWAS).
  • To strengthen African Union, ECOWAS, and UN collaboration, including through the New Agenda for Peace, Global Digital Compact, and Declaration on Future Generations.

Outcomes

The outcome report will be shared soon, with an overview summary, and key recommendations from the five thematic breakthrough groups:

  1. Peace, Security & Defence 
  2. Sustainable Development and Democratic Governance 
  3. Human Rights and Humanitarian Action
  4. Climate Governance
  5. Rules-Based World Order and the Place of Africa in Global Governance

**with gender, youth and technology as cross-cutting issues in all breakthrough groups.

Read the outcome report here.

Participants

  • Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, The Aroyinkeye 1, The Orangun of Oke ila, Oke ila, Osun State
  • Eugenia Abu, The Eugenia Abu Media Team Abuja
  • Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, Research Analyst, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
  • Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner PAPS, African Union Commission, Rep of AUC Chairman
  • Aver Akighir, Executive Director, Quest Aid Foundation AKA Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative
  • Fonteh Akum, Executive Director, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), South Africa
  • Abdullahi Usman Aliyu, President, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities
  • Sam Amadi, Former Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
  • Nella Andem-Rabana, Principal Partner/Legal Practitioner, LEXGlobal Partners
  • Dengiyefa Angalapu, Research Analyst, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa)
  • Cleophas Angwenyi, Head of Office & AU Representative, Oxfam AU Liaison Office, Ethiopia,
  • Louis Mary Auta, Ceder Seed Foundation
  • Bose Awodola, Director, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR)
  • Hope Ayabina, Heddas Diplomatic Career Mentorship Centre
  • Sani Bala, Executive Director, Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development
  • Saleh Bala, CEO, White Ink Consult Limited 
  • Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, former President of the UN General Assembly and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations
  • Emmanuel Bensah, Executive Director, AfCFTA, Ghana
  • Linda Bruenius, Head, Development, Global Challenges Foundation, Sweden
  • Usman Bugaje
  • Juliet Chinemelu-Okeke, AU ECOSOCC-Nigeria
  • Yusuf Daya, Director in Charge, AU/AfCFTA Relations & Trade Policy
  • Sam Dabeng, Head of Training and Conferences, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy, & 
  • Development
  • Solomon Dersso, Founding Director, Amani Africa
  • Susan Johnson Dibal, The Commanding Officer, First Nigerian All Female Battalion
  • Cordelia Egwu
  • Mohamed El Nokkaly, Executive Director, Egyptian European Council, Egypt
  • Usie, Charles Emmamuzou, Country Director, Plan International
  • Gerald Esambe, Regional Coordinator, Climate Change for West Africa Office (ADB), Cote’d’voire
  • Victor Fodeke, Expert on Climate Governance
  • Ibrahim Gambari, Founding Chairperson, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & 
  • Development and former Co-Chair, Gambari-Albright Commission
  • Rasoloniaina Herintsoa Gabriel, Ministry of Armed Forces of Madagascar, Madagascar
  • Salah Siddique Hammad, Head, AU African Governance, Sudan
  • Ayan Harare, Climate Justice Lead, Global Programs, OXFAM in Africa (OiA)
  • Idayat Hassan, Director, Centre for Democracy and Development  (CDD), Nigeria
  • Aissatou Hayatou, Head of the NEPAD Coordination Office, African Union Commission
  • Ambroise Houdart, Senior Program Manager, West Africa and the Sahel, European Institute of Peace
  • Hauwa V. Ibrahim, Lecturer, NSUK
  • Otive Igbuzor, Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CSLD)
  • Jeggan Grey Johnson, Communication & Advocacy Officer, Afri-MAP-Open Society Foundations,
  • South Africa
  • Donald Kaberuka, Member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective 
  • Multilateralism, Special Envoy on COVID-19, Former President, African Development Bank,
  • Rwanda
  • Cheruiyot Stanley Kiprono, Office of The Eminent Personalities; Directorate of National Values;
  • Central Bank, Kenya
  • Kido Koenig, Director of the Max Van Der Stoel Foundation & Foundation for European Progressive
  •   Studies (FEPS) Bureau Member, The Netherlands
  • Farihaman Kone, Sahel Project Manager, Senegal
  • Mikatekiso Kubayi, Institute for Global Dialogue (Think Tank 20; T20), South Africa
  • Chris Kwaja, Country Director for Nigeria, United States Institute of Peace (USIP), 
  • Sanata Elisabeth Lahami, Coordinatrice des services a la Direction de la Strategic et de la politique
  • international Au, Ministere des Affaires Estrangeres, The Republic of Benin
  • Ann Linde, Former Swedish Foreign Minister and FEPS Special Advisor for International Affairs,
  • Sweden
  • Anna Moeller Loesick, Head of Common Security, Global Challenges Foundation, Sweden
  • Khabele Matlosa, Political Economist, University of Witwatersrand, Centre for African Diplomacy
  • and Leadership Humanities, South Africa
  • Safiyat Muhammad, PA-President, JONAPWD
  • Tim Murithi, Professor and Head, Peacebuilding Interventions Program, Institute for Justice and
  • Reconciliation, South Africa
  • Hadiza Mustapha, Special ADviser of the LCBC Special Envoy to Chad.
  • Ambrues Monboe Nebo, Commissioner of Police, Administration, Liberia National Police, Adjunct
  • Faculty, Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology, University of Liberia, Liberia
  • Sabinah NForba, Digital Innovation Lead-Cabinet of Chairperson, African Union Cabinet (AUC),
  • Ethiopia
  • Sani Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to The Economic Community of West African 
  • States (ECOWAS)
  • Ozo Nwobu, Columnist, Huff Post, Abuja
  • Milton Nyamadzawo, Director for Africa, Institute for Economics and Peace, South Africa
  • Nnamdi Obasi, Nigeria Senior Adviser for Nigeria, International Crisis Group
  • Obinne Obiefuna, Lecturer, International Law-Jurisprudence, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)
  • Alice Odingo, Global Environment Specialist, University of Nairobi and Vice-President, Academic 
  • Council on the UN System, Kenya
  • Chris Ogunmodede, Editor, The Republic; Former Editor, World Politics Review, Senegal
  • Abbey Ogunwale, Vice President, Strategic Growth & Business Development, One Earth Future
  • Kemi Okenyodo, Partners West Africa-Nigeria
  • Ibironke Favour Olubamise, National Coordinator, Global Environment Facility Small Grants
  • Program, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • Benson Olugbuo, Benson Olugbuo & Company
  • Abdullahi Omaki, Founder, Abdullahi Omaki Community Peace Initiatives (AOCPIN),
  • Pioneer Executive Director Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development
  • Onyinye Onwuka, Agricultural Director, Office of the VP of The Economic Community of West 
  • African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Abuja
  • Zakaria Ousman, Former Director-General, National Strategic Centre, Chad
  • Anja Olin Pape, Head, Strategy, Global Challenges Foundation, Sweden
  • Richard Ponzio, Senior Fellow and Director, Global Governance, Justice & Security Program, 
  • Stimson Center and Co-Director, Global Governance Innovation Network, USA
  • Harime Sylvia Randrianarivo, Public Administration Communication Director and Leader, African 
  • Young Women, Madagascar
  • Naila Salihu, Senior Research Fellow, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre,
  • Ghana
  • Christian Salm, Head of Office of the President, Foundation for European Progressive Studies
  • (FEPS), Brussels
  • Abdullahi Shehu, Former Director General, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money
  • laundering in West Africa (GIABA)
  • Florence Syevuo, Executive Director, SDGs Kenya Forum and Co-Chair, Coalition for the UN We 
  • Need, Nairobi
  • Usman Tar, Professor, Security and Defence Studies, Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA)
  • Nkoyo Toyo, Former Member, House of Representatives, and Amb. to Ethiopia and Djibouti
  • Nudhara Yusuf, Executive Coordinator, Global Governance Innovation Network, Stimson Center and 
  • Co-Chair, United Nations Civil Society Conference on the Summit of the Future, India
  • Istifanus Z. Zabadi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nigeria
  • Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd), Former National Security Adviser, Nigeria
  • Air Vice Marshal Sunny Eberevier (Rtd), Former Commandant Armed Forces Command and  Staff College
  • Mr/ Segun Adeniyi, Chairman Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper
  • Air Vice Marshal Anene Okafor (Rtd) 
  • Maj. Gen G. A. Umelo (Rtd)
  • Amb. John Shinkaye, President, Association of Career Ambassadors
  • Maj. Gen. G. Adebayo (Rtd) Former Chief of Defence Intelligency 

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