Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa
International Conference at the University of Pittsburgh
March 29-30, 2012
| Conference Details |
| Agenda (Registration) |
| Speakers |
| Location |
| Panels |
PANEL 1:
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa
Moderator: Mr. John Christie-Searles
Presentaion Available for Download
In September 2000, the International Community under the auspices of the United Nations adopted the MDGs to be achieved by every country by the year 2015. The MDGs set measurable goals and targets for combating poverty, hunger, illiteracy and discrimination against women as well as for promoting environmental sustainability. This panel will discuss the actual progress that has been made in Africa towards achieving the MDGs, the prospects and some of the key development challenges that lie ahead. We can all agree that significant progress has been made in some African countries in education, health, environmental sustainability and other services. But there is an uphill road ahead to meet the poverty reduction and social development as will be the focus of the paper presentations in this panel.
Papers
1. "Building Local Capacities and Creating Awareness in Conserving the Mau Forest and other Resources" Presented by Dr. Joseph Chacha, International speaker
2. "HIV/AIDS and persons with disabilities in Uganda: Bridging the gaps" Presented by Silver Oonyu
Presentation Available for Download
3."Refugee Status, Food and Shelter as Determinants of Health" Presented by Dr. Annamore Matambanadzo
Presentation Available for Download
4. "De-Feminizing Poverty in Africa: The Salience of Investment in Human Capital" Presented by Dr. Steve Onyeiwu
Presentation Available for Download
5. "Economic Conditions, Wellbeing and Health in Contemporary Africa: Is there a link?" Presented by Chris Opoku-Agyeman and Sarah Amanfu
Presentation Available for Download
6. "Global Talent Strategy for Development" Presented by Niecy Dennis
Presentation Available for Download
PANEL 2:
Health and Environmental Sustainability
Moderator: Dr. Ravi Sharma
Achieving sustainable development depends on healthy people. Therefore, public health is critical for long term development. It affects the quality of life as well as life expectancy, and determines the individual’s and household’s ability to plan for the future. Ill-health of breadwinners is a major reason why families fall into poverty. Furthermore, health conditions economic development through multiple channels, including investment in education and enhanced labor productivity. Investing in health is thus a significant means of accelerating development. Sound environmental management is critical to sustainable development and as a consequence, to poverty reduction. Growth will be short-lived if it does not conserve the natural environment and its resources. Africa’s Development (NEPAD) action plan states: “Africa is characterized by two interrelated features: rising poverty levels and deepening environmental degradation and resource depletion in Africa. Without significant improvement in the living conditions and livelihood of the poor, environmental policies and programs will achieve little success.”
Papers and Presenters:
1.“Toward Environmental Sustainability: The Case of the Torgome Irrigation Project in Ghana” Presented by Dr. Joseph Adjaye, International Speaker
Presentation Available for Download
2."The Oil Industry, the Environment and Health in Nigeria’s Niger Delta" Presented by Chime Nnadi
Presentation Available for Download
3. "Visualizing Development Trajectories" Presented by Randy Weinberg
Presentation Available for Download
4.Presented by John W Emerson
5."Population, Poverty and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Assessment of empirical evidence" Presented by Dr. Ravi Sharma and Lucas Musewe
6. Nico Slate Discussant
PANEL 3:
Educational Sustainability
Moderator: Dr. John Weidman
Education is a major component of sustainable development, a human right and key to a society’s development and its fight against poverty. It is a precondition to the success of democracy and good governance, and crucial to progress in other related fields, such as health, gender equality and social welfare. Hence, education plays a fundamental role not only in poverty reduction but also in the promotion of human rights and prevention of conflicts. Education improvement will be discussed in the context of Education for All and Gender Equity as requisite for achieving sustainable development.
Papers
1. "HIV Education in the Formal Curriculum in Sub-Saharan Africa" Presented by Dr. Yusuf K. Nsubuga, International Speaker
2. "Best Practices of Integrating Effective Pedagogical Strategies in HIV Curricula for Behavioral Change" Presented by Dr. Christopher B. Mugimu
Presentation Available for Download
3. "Not Tainted by the Past: Re-conceptualization and Politics of Coloured Identities among University Coloured Student Activists in Post-Apartheid South Africa" Presented by Sardana Nikolaeva
Presentation Available for Download
4. "Examining HIV Education from a National Curricular Lens: What is Being Taught to Pre- and In-Service Teachers in China, Dominica, Indonesia, Kosovo, South Sudan, and Uganda" Presented by Dr. William Jacob
Presentation Available for Download
5. "HIV/AIDS Integration in Pre- and In-Service Teacher Training Programs in South Sudan" Presented by Joel Dumba Chrispo Dumba
Presentation Available for Download
6. “A University-Community Partnership for Promoting Sustainable Development: The Case for Narok University.” Presented by Dr. David Serem
PANEL 4:
Gender Equity
Moderator: Dr. Macrina Lelei
Achieving gender equity is an essential building block in sustainable development. Indeed, none of the three “pillars” of sustainable development can be realized without solving the prevailing problem of gender equity. This topic will be discussed with a focus on women’s relationship to environmental resources, economic well-being and social equity. Unfortunately, the central and crucial role that women play is often both overlooked and unappreciated, rendering them invisible and greatly diminishing their contribution as both producers and active agents in sustainable development.
Papers
1. "The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)" Presented by Dr. Monica Mweseli, International Speaker
Presentation Available for Download
2. "Gender Development and Gender Empowerment: What does the measurement tell us in the Middle East and North Africa?" Presented by Dr. Muge Finkel
Presentation Available for Download
3. "Power and Elections: Women in Africa" Presented by Patrick Freeman
Presentation Available for Download
4. "Gender, Environment, and Poverty for Sustainable Development: Experience from Ghana and Ethiopia" Presented by Dr. Nilufar Ahmad
Presentaion Available for Download
5. "Theorizing Policy Implementaion in Post-Conflict African States" Presented by Peace Medie
Presentation Available for Download
PANEL 5:
Conflict Mitigation, Governance & Development:
Moderator: Dr. Taylor Seybolt
In this panel we explore the relationship between governance and sustainable development in Africa by examining the ways in which local governments, ethnic groups, religious movements and sub-nationalist movements facilitate peace-building and help to create the conditions for economic development. The underlying question that the panel as whole will grapple with is, ‘How can political processes in Africa with respect to locality, ethnicity, religion and sub-nationalism contribute to an increase in stable rulership, conflict mitigation, increased governance capacity, and sustainable development? In grappling with these questions, this panel will aim to take into account the role of political and economic actors at the national, regional and local levels, while also being cognizant of the potentially constructive role of the informal economy, the private sector, and informal governance can play in promoting political stability, conflict reduction, participation, and market expansion in sub-Saharan Africa.
Papers
1. Presented by Dr. Thomas Mogale, International Speaker
Presentation Available for Download
2. “Local Government and Development in Africa,” Presented by Elke Zuern, Sarah Lawrence University, author of The Politics of Necessity. Community Organizing and Democracy in South Africa (University of Wisconsin Press, 2011).
3. “Ethnicity, Governance, and Development in Africa,” Presented by John F. Clark, Florida International University, author of The Failure of Democracy in the Republic of the Congo (Lynne Rienner Press, 2008).
4. "Developing Hearts and Land: A Case Study of Reconciliation and Economic Development in Rwanda" Presented by Mr. Zack Karazsia, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)
Presentation Available for Download
5. “Religious Movements, Governance, and Development in Africa,” Presented by William F.S. Miles, Northeastern University, editor of Political Islam in West Africa: State-Society Relations Transformed (Lynne Rienner Press, 2007).
Presentaion Available for Download
6. “Sub-nationalist Movements, Governance, and Development in Africa,” Presented by Dr. Joshua B. Forrest, La Roche College, author of Subnationalism in Africa (Lynne Rienner Press, 2004).
Please send an email for any more information to Hallie: hmp29@pitt.edu
Date: Thursday, March 29th- Friday, March 30th 2012
Venue: University Club House, Ball Room A and B, University of Pittsburgh
Organized by:
Ford Institute for Human Security
With Thanks to:
Institute for International Studies in Education