Young Leaders´ Forums

Cultural Diplomacy in Africa

April 2013
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Introduction

Cultural Diplomacy in Africa: A Forum for Young Leaders (CDA) is a network of young individuals from across the world, who shares an interest in the African continent. The program is founded on the philosophy that Cultural Diplomacy can be an important tool in helping Africa to address the multitudes of issues it currently faces. The CDA conducts constant activity aimed at supporting development while also strengthening the fractious relationships between African states.

The conference was started and introduced by Mark Donfried, Director and Founder of the ICD, who gave a lecture introducing the role that Cultural Diplomacy can play in African development. One of the overriding themes of the conference was a focus upon development. H. E. Amb. Félix Ndayisenga (Ambassador of Burundi to the EU) gave one of the keynote lectures on the topic of, How Democracy, Human Rights and Peace Building is developing in Africa: Burundi's Experience.

The ICD also played host to a number of social and cultural activities during the conference period. The Intention of these events was give participants an opportunity to relax in a more social atmosphere while at the same time allowing them to explore the cultural side of Brussles. On the first day participants were given a guided tour of the old town of Brussels, with visits toLa Grand' Place, Les Sablons and the Manneken Pis. There was also a Jam Session at the Lava Café, where participants could come and enjoy the music of local artists while sipping a Belgian beer or a cocktail.

Timetable

Cultural Diplomacy in Africa - A Forum for Young Leaders
"Enhancing Inter-cultural Dialogue between Europe and Africa"
(Brussels, International Conference, April 16th - 19th, 2013)
  Tuesday,
16th April 2013
Wednesday,
17th April 2013
Thursday,
18th April 2013
Friday,
19th April 2013
09:30
Tea, Coffee & Refreshments/Registrations Tea, Coffee & Refreshments Tea, Coffee & Refreshments
10:00   An Introduction to Cultural Diplomacy & its Application to Strengthen the European-African Relations
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Mark C. Donfried
(Director & Founder of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy)

Location:
Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place
How Democracy, Human Rights and Peace Building is Developing in Africa: Burundi's Experience
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
H. E. Amb. Félix Ndayisenga
(Ambassador of Burundi to the EU)

Location:
Mission of Macedonia to the EU
The Roots of the Complex Belgian-Congolese Relations
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Bob Kabamba
(Professor of Politics, University of Liège)

Location:
European Parliament
10:45   Enhancing the Inter-cultural Dialogue between Europe and Africa to promote the Stability and economic Development within the two Continents: ''The Role of Culture in Nigerian Foreign Policy"
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
H.E. Amb. Felix E. Awanbor
(Ambassador of Nigeria to Belgium)

Location:
Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place
Case Study: Cultural Diplomacy of Burundi to Europe
(Workshop & Interactive Discussion)

Moderators:
H. E. Amb. Félix Ndayisenga
(Ambassador of Burundi to the EU)
Mark C. Donfried
(Director & Founder of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy)

Location:
Mission of Macedonia to the EU
Millennium Development Goals- Past achievements & Future Goals. What are the Implications for the EU & Africa?
(Lecture & Interactive Discussion)

Speaker:
Ada Jonusé
(Policy Expert, European Parliament)

Location:
European Parliament
11:30   Tea, Coffee & Refreshments Tea, Coffee & Refreshments Tea, Coffee & Refreshments
12:00

The Duty to Intervene- When can Sovereignty be overridden by EU & AU Authorities?
(Interactive Panel Discussion)

Speakers:
H.E. Amb. Felix E. Awanbor
(Ambassador of Nigeria to Belgium)
Ada Jonusé
(Policy Expert, European Parliament)
Mark C. Donfried
(Director & Founder of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy)

Location:
Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place
The Use of Cultural Diplomacy to facilitate Accession to the EU
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Willem Noe
(European Commission, DG EU Enlargement)

Location:
Mission of Macedonia to the EU
Illegal Immigration in the EU Legal Framework: Where are the Human Rights?
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Annalisa Morticelli
(a visitor scholar Researcher in Law, Bradford University Law School and PhD researcher at Hamburg University)

Location:
European Parliament
13:00   Lunch Break Sessions Lunch Break Sessions Lunch Break Sessions
14:30   Cultural Diplomacy in Zimbabwe: Understanding its Origins & Practice in Cross-cultural Relations
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
H.E. Amb. Mary Margaret Muchada
(Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the EU)

Location:
Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place
The Role of Culture in EU Foreign Policy
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Jean-Arthur Régibeau
(Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Location:
Belgian Foreign Ministry
Macedonia & EU relations - An example for the African Union? (Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Dragan Tilev
(Minister Counsellor at the Mission of the Republic of Macedonia to the EU)

Location: Mission of Macedonia to the EU
15:30 (16:00) Welcome and Registration

Location:
Exhibition "Experience Brussels"
The Africa-Europe Platform: Strengthening the Europe-Based African Diaspora as Actors for Development
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Sarah Schlaeger
(International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Brussels)

Location:
Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place
Peace & Reconciliation- Models in Rwanda: What can New Zealand and other Post-Colonial Regions learn from Rwanda?
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Wendy Jean Fowler
(Lecturer at the School of Education, Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand)

Location:
Belgian Foreign Ministry
(15:00) New Opportunities for Inter-regional Cooperation & Empowering Women to boost Development
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Celine Charveriat
(Director of Advocacy & Campaigns, Oxfam International)

Location:

Mission of Macedonia to the EU
16:15   Tea, Coffee & Refreshments Tea, Coffee & Refreshments Tea, Coffee & Refreshments
16:45 Exhibition "Experience Brussels"

Location:
Exhibition "Experience Brussels"
Multilateral Cultural Diplomacy between Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Obadiah Mailafia
(Chief of Cabinet, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group)

Location:
Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place
Africa-Europe Alliance on Media: Correcting the Misrepresentation
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Mahlet Ayele
(Independent Pan-African Activist, Pan-African Consultant & African Union Liaison Office, Global Education for All Initiatives, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Location:
Belgian Foreign Ministry

(17:30) The North-South, East-West Divide and the Role of the African Legislatures in bridging the Gulf
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Webster Siame Kameme
(Researcher, the University of Hull, Graduate School, Department of Politics and International Studies)

Location:
Belgian Foreign Ministry
Food Infrastructure- A Proposed EU-African Collaboration
(Lecture & Discussion)

Speaker:
Kiriti Rambhatla
(Founder of the BRICS Forum)

(17:30)Participant Papers

Location:
Mission of Macedonia to the EU
18:00 Welcome Group Dinner Social Activity Social Activity Farewell

Speaker Information

  • Ada Jonusé
    Policy Expert, European Parliament
  • Annalisa Morticelli
    a visitor scholar Researcher in Law, Bradford University Law School and PhD researcher at Hamburg University
  • Prof. Dr. Bob Kabamba
    Professor of Politics, University of Liège
  • Celine Charveriat
    Director of Advocacy & Campaigns, Oxfam International
  • Dragan Tilev
    Minister Counselor at the Mission of the Republic of Macedonia to the EU
  • H. E. Amb. Felix E. Awanbor
    Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Belgium
  • H.E. Amb. Félix Ndayisenga
    Ambassador of Burundi to the EU
  • Mr. Jean-Arthur M. Régibeau
    Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs - Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Kiriti Rambhatla
    Founder, BRICS Forum
  • Mahlet Ayele
    Independent Pan-African Activist, Pan-African Consultant & African Union Liaison Officer- Global Education for All Initiatives (GEFAI)
  • Mark Donfried
    Director & Founder, Instituted for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD)
  • H.E. Amb. Mary Margaret Muchada
    Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the EU
  • Obadiah Mailafia
    Chief of Cabinet, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group
  • Sarah Schlaeger
    Project Officer, International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Brussels
  • Wendy Jean Fowler
    Lecturer, School of Education, Laidlaw College, New Zealand
  • Willem Noe
    European Commission, DG EU Enlargement
  • Webster Siame Kameme
    PhD Researcher, University of Hull Graduate School, Department of Politics & International Studies, Center for Legislative Studies, M.Phil. African Studies, MSc. Development Studies & Education