September 23, 2010
Dakar, Senegal

I- CONTEXT

Within the framework of its activities of policy advocacy implementation of the principles of developmental governance, the Africa Governance Institute will organise, with the support of CODESRIA and IDEP, on September 23rd, 2010 from 9 am to 12:30 pm at AGI headquarters in Dakar, a session of its ‘AGI Fridays Programme’.

II- JUSTIFICATION

Following the two previous editions devoted to The Notion of Fragile State and The Implementation of Development Policies, this session of the AGI Fridays will continue the introspective and proactive questioning of developmental governance on the occasion of the presentation of the book Africa: Reaffirming our Commitment edited by Professors Adebayo Olukoshi, Jean Bernard Ouedraogo and Ebrima Sall.

In this book, the authors set as objective the examination of the “(….) economic foundations of our States and the issue of the dignity of Africans as human beings“. They observe that”today, we live in context of fierce globalisation where the rule of the game is based on military and economic supremacy, domains in wich Africa still lags behind. The objective of this book is not to lament or to point at those who caused Africa’s ills, but rather to reflect on the means and strategies to free ourselves of poverty and oppression and most important to identify the means to accelerate Africa’s development. This book gives us the opportunity to propose ways and strategies that will really put our governments at the service of Africans. It suggest means that lead to the establishment of peaceful, harmonious, just and fair societies in an Africa where local and pan-African citizenships are a reality. It also advocates collective identities and inclusive societies based on a redefined vision of our future through a new education and mode of socialization in schools and other national institutions". Africa: Reaffirming our Commitment can be seen as a contribution of a high level African intellectuals to the reflection on “shared values” that will be at the centre of African Union Summit of January 2011.

During this third session of AGI Fridays, the Institute proposes the revisiting of this sensible theme, with the help of one of the book editors. The aim is to contribute to the common vision of the worlds of knowledge production and of decision making in Africa.

III- FORMAT

1. Introduction by a representative of AGI, 5 minutes

2. Round table moderated by a facilitator
 Key speaker: Pr. Ebrima Sall, Executive Secretary of CODESRIA, 1 hour
 Discussions moderated by a facilitator, 2 hours 20 minutes.

3. Synthesis. The document of the synthesis will be distributed and published on the AGI website in French and English.