After the Financial Crisis: A progressive agenda for Africa

Policy Study

Progressive Agenda for Africa: Written Contributions

As is the norm for FEPS conferences, prior to “After the Financial Crisis: A Progressive Agenda for Africa” a number of the expert participants were asked to make written contributions. The objective of these contributions was to provide speakers with an adequate intellectual platform from which the debate could proceed. Here is a selection of the contributions received.

The roundtable conference held in Cape Town, South Africa from 10 to 13 May 2010

In ‘Sovereign Wealth Funds: A Developing Country Perspective’,  Stephany GRIFFITH-JONES and José Antonio OCAMPO of the Institute for Policy Dialogue in Columbia University, New York examine the effect that these financial instruments have on the global economy and in particular the developing world, drawing on the rapidly growing body of literature which has emerged.

In ‘Climate Change and Social Justice’, Louis LEMKOW, Director of the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology in Barcelona highlights climate change as an issue of “intergenerational solidarity”. His paper draws on climatological and scientific research, relating it to the social impact of pollution both globally and locally from the Industrial Revolution to the present.

In ‘Where was united Africa in the climate change negotiations?’, Jean-Christophe HOSTE of the Egmont Institute in Brussels examines the political machinations of the Copenhagen Summit. This paper asks what was the African Common Position and what was the negotiation strategy used? It further examines the ambiguous position of South Africa in these negotiations.

In ‘Africa and India: From long-standing relations towards future challenges’, Klaus Voll, FEPS Advisor for South Asia and Consultant with India-Europe Consulancy assesses relations between India and its global southern partners in Africa in the context of a multipolar 21st century. Rising economic and political prowess intermixes with long-standing historical link between India and the major states of Africa.
In the weeks following the conference, Dr Voll also submitted a further reflection entitled ‘India and South Africa: South-South Cooperation and Reform of the International Governance System’. 

In ‘Tackling Climate Change: Tools to fund adaption and mitigation intitiatives’, a Re-Define Policy Brief for FEPS written by Sony KAPOOR, Ryan HOGARTH, Thais NARCISO,  Linda OKSNES and Anna GIBSON illustrate the many different proposals currently under discussion of the different financial mechanisms for funding climate change buffers, such as, amongst others,  funds for green investments, cap and trade mechanisms and carbon taxes. Examples of how they are being used are demonstrated and consideration is given for the future of the initiatives discussed. While used for the Cape Town conference, this paper mainly served as part of the FEPS project entitled “Solidarity the reason to fight climate change”.

[Migration and Development in Southern Africa: Directions, Intentions and Policy Challenges] is a PowerPoint presentation of the submission by Tara POLZER of the University of the Witwatersrand. Much of the research was carried out in collaboration with Loren LANDAU and in this presentation we find a concise analysis of the dynamics of differen types of migration and the ramifications which this will have for development and public policy.

Conclusions

At the end of the conference those released a [FINAL STATEMENT] outlining in principle the conclusions and aspirations of the conference. It is hoped that this dialogue can act as a starting block for more equal partnerships and meaningful dialogue in future

For further details please see [the event page] of the conference.