Forum of Ideas

A platform for reflection on the future of Africa focusing on the sharing of good practices and crisis prevention solutions 

 

The Forum of Ideas was mainly dedicated to the theme of “Building and perpetuating peace in Africa: A multi-stakeholder movement". It consisted  in several thematic sessions focusing on:

 

I. MAIN SESSIONS

 

1. Prevention of Violence and Conflict Resolution Through Education and Culture

 

Moderator: Mr George Papagiannis, Chief of the Media Relations Section - UNESCO

 

Panelists:

• Ms Mbaranga Gasarabwe, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP);
• Ms Safira Mahanjane, Director of the Alphabetization Department of the Ministry of Education and Human Development (Mozambique);
• Mr Hassan Chouikh, Director Professional and Vocation training, Ministry of Tourism, Air transport and Social Economy (Morocco);
• Mr Antonio Tsilefa, Chair Coordination Committee of Regional Group of Technical and Vocational Training Institutions (Madagascar);
• Mr Filipe Zau, Rector of the Independent University (Angola).

The majority of current outbreaks of violence and conflict on the African continent arise within States, and are less and less the result of clashes between States. In this new map of violence and conflict, this session showcased how UNESCO, in the context of its global priorities, supports countries in their efforts to provide local stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, behaviors and values that support resilience necessary to live and work together. This session focused on efforts undertaken to face the contemporary challenges including community conflicts, the migrant crisis, and countering religious fundamentalism, among other important issues. Specifically, the session focused on two axes:

• Educate a Generation of African Youth as Agents for Peace, Stability and Development; and
• Harness the Power of Creativity and Cultural Heritage to Build a Sustainable Peace in the African continent.

 

THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS SESSION ARE AVAILABLE HERE

 

 

2. Conflict Prevention over Natural Resources

 

Moderator: Mr Jean-Pierre Ilboudo, Head of UNESCO Kinshasa Office and Representative to the Democratic Republic of Congo and interim Head of the UNESCO Brazzaville Office

 

Panelists:

• H.E. Madame Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner, Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission ;
• Mr Ousmane Doré, Director-General - African Development Bank Centre Department  ;
• Colonel Adama Tondosama, Director-General of the Ivorian Parks and Reserves Office, (Ivory Coast) ;
• Prof. Amadou Boureima, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey (Niger) ;
• MsTheresa Pirkl, Head of the Political Department of the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region;
• Mr Vladimiro Russo, Executive Director of the Kisama Foundation, (Angola). 

 

The management of natural resources and the prevention of their over-exploitation have been difficult when there is free access to these resources. Free access promotes competition and often leads to a devastation of the common goods. In addition, we see also an exponential increase in the demand for natural resources.

 

This session focused on sharing experiences of successful cooperation and case studies of UNESCO's flagship projects and initiatives that contribute to conflict prevention in the management of domestic and transboundary natural resources in Africa. Specifically, the session highlighted UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme and World Heritage Convention and the challenges and opportunities related to the transboundary cooperation for regional integration. This session also provided the opportunity of exchanging points of view of key partners in the political arena (African Union), financial (African Development Bank), research (University of Niamey), site Managers (OIPR, Ivory Coast), UN agencies (Special Envoy Office to the Great Lakes Region), and national partners (Angola).

 

THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS SESSION ARE AVAILABLE HERE

 

 

 

3. Leaving no one behind: Promoting the Integration of Refugees, Returnees, Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa

 

Moderator: Ms Marèma Touré-Thiam, Chief of the Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS) at UNESCO Dakar (Senegal)

Panelists: 

• Mr Ahmed Skim, Director of Migration Affairs, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs, (Morocco);
• H.E. Madame Rebecca Otengo, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Refugees, IDPs and Returnees;
• H.E.M. Jean Léon Ngandu-Ilunga, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Ethiopia;
• Ms Santa Ernesto, Director of the Ministry of Social Action, the Family and the Advancement of Women, (Angola).

An estimated 68 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide and more than a third of these people are in Africa. This includes as well 6.3 million refugees and asylum-seekers and 14.5 million displaced persons. In this context, the African Union has chosen 2019's AU theme as "Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa". With this choice, African leaders recognize the need for comprehensive and inclusive responses to major migration trends and their dynamics and challenges on the continent and abroad. This high scale of displacement crisis is compounded by the risks of trafficking, human rights violations, lack of adequate humanitarian assistance, sexual and gender-based violence, detention of asylum-seekers, deportation, xenophobia and overall discrimination of refugees.

 

The session focused on best practices of countries identified by the African Union that could inspire others in improving their policies in support of refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons and migrants.

 

THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS SESSION ARE AVAILABLE HERE

 

 

 

 

 

4. Global Africa: Exploring African Presence in the World

 

Moderator: Ms Zeinab Badawi, Journalist at BBC and producer of the series on the "General History of Africa"

 

Panelists:

• Mr Augustin Holl, President of the International Scientific Committee for the new volumes of the "General History of Africa" ;
• Mr José Chala Cruz, President of the International Scientific Committee for the new volumes of the "General History of Africa" ;
• Prof. Abdi Kusow, Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, (USA) ;
• Mr Jason Theede, Senior Specialist on Labour Mobility and Human Development, International Organization for Migration (IOM) ;
• Dr Ziva Domingos, National Director of Museums and Angola’s representative on the World Heritage Committee.
   .

Africa and its Diasporas have often been presented as distinct groups, separated by oceans that have had only sporadic contacts during brief historical moments. UNESCO, in line with the elaboration of the General History of Africa, seeks to challenge this binary and simplistic perspective of relations between Africa and its Diasporas by introducing the concept of global Africa. This concept makes it possible to understand the history of relations between Africans and people of African descent as an interconnected and continuous process, including the circulation of people, knowledge, know-how and cultural productions, and whose matrix is the African heritage.

 

The session highlighted the African influence in the world and the diversity of contributions of people of African descent to modern societies. It examined the legacy of slavery and colonialism faced by people of African descent and their capacity to resist in the fight against racial prejudice, racism and discrimination. The session focused also on how the African diaspora participates in the development of the continent, and how they are a key actor to contribute to the culture of peace.

 

THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS SESSION ARE AVAILABLE HERE

 

 

 

 

5. Free, Independent and Pluralistic Media to Foster Peace and Development in Africa

 

Moderator: Ms Georja Calvin-Smith, Journalist at France 24

 

Panelists:

• Mr Al Amin Yusuph, Adviser for Communication and Information at the UNESCO Office in Harare (Zimbabwe);
• Mr Jérôme Traoré, Former President of the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, (Burkina Faso);
• Ms Al-Shaymaa J. Kwegyir, Former Member of Parliament, (Tanzania);
• Mr Teixeira Cândido, Secretary-General of the Union of Angolan Journalists, (Angola).
   

The media has a crucial role to play in promoting peace, justice and sustainable development throughout the world, and as such also in the African continent. A dynamic, free, independent and pluralistic media landscape ensures citizen's access to quality and unbiased information, encouraging people to express their opinions and promoting greater political participation.

With the advent of new media, there is a need for Africa to exploit technological innovations to empower people through media and information literacy to promote a climate of peace in Africa. In this regard, combating hate speech, promoting freedom of expression, protecting press freedom, ensuring the safety of journalists and promoting conflict sensitive and gender responsive dialogue are all relevant themes that were explored during this session.

 

THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS SESSION ARE AVAILABLE HERE