Feb 20, 2008 - Feb 20, 2008
Panel Discussion: Capacity Building and Private Sector Development in Africa
From Left: Issa Omari (ICF), Florizelle Liser (USTR), Katrin Kuhlmann (BCCB), Mora McLean (AAI)
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The Africa-America Institute (AAI) and The Business Coalition for Capacity Building (BCCB) hosted a panel discussion on "Capacity Building and Private Sector Development in Africa" on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 in Washington, D.C. Panelists included: Ms. Florizelle Liser, Assistant United States Trade Representative for Africa, Mr. Omari Issa, Chief Executive, Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), Ms. Lori Jackson, Major Programs Advisor, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Ms. Mora McLean, President & CEO, AAI. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Katrin Kuhlmann, Executive Director, BCCB. Over 65 individuals from nonprofit, diplomatic and corporate communities were in attendance at the lunchtime event.
Ms. Liser began the discussion by stating that trade to Africa is critical for economic growth. While the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has greatly increased the amount trade between the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa, market access is not enough, but rather increasing human capacity in the trade industry in Africa is critical for economic growth on the Continent. She emphasized that Africans should not just be sellers at the bottom of the global supply chain, providing only raw commodities. However, expansion from the provision of raw commodities to processing services is essential for Sub-Saharan Africa to increase the number of jobs as well as help the Continent climb up the trade ladder.
Mr. Issa highlighted that trade has been hindered in Africa due to the unconducive investment climate on-the-ground. The Investment Climate Facility (ICF) brings together governments, private sector entrepreneurs and multilateral institutions to implement business reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Issa referred to ICF's work in Liberia, stating that the major trade hub in the country, Port of Monrovia, was operating through very poor infrastructure and inadequate power supplies. Furthermore, there is not a computer system, and therefore all documentation is currently being processed manually and filed in rice bags. Furthermore, the judiciary operates in much the same manner without technology, making reforms to laws and codes of framework cumbersome. Mr. Issa emphasized that training was required in order to utilize new technologies and reform the investment climate in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ms. McLean focused on the subject of human capacity building in Africa, an effort AAI has been dedicated to for over 55 years. She stated that the gross enrollment ratio for tertiary education in Africa is 5%, which is the lowest in the world. The U.S. Government has a track record in advancing higher education throughout the world, but the government still needs to do more. Through higher education, Africans gain professional knowledge as well as critical thinking, analytical and managerial skills, which empowers individuals to make contributions to economic progress in their nations. Ms. McLean concluded her remarks by stating that AAI works with private sector partners to develop capacity building programs. These type of programs not only have a far-reaching social impact but improve the competitive context in which the private sector operates in Africa.
Ms. Jackson stated that private sector support of human capacity building is a strategic commitment in Exxon Mobil's operations. She reiterated Ms. McLean's concluding remarks that corporate philanthropy projects not only create a social impact but also are important to corporate interests. Ms. Jackson outlined Exxon Mobil's three prong approach to corporate philanthropy. The first is that Exxon Mobil supports projects on-the-ground that drive social and economic development and are able to be scaled up. The second approach is to target partner organizations and invest in projects that are sustainable and have a proven track-record. And the third prong is to raise public awareness about the development issues Exxon Mobil works on and the solutions the company is providing. Ms. Jackson highlighted the success of one of Exxon Mobil's signature programs, Educating Women and Girls Initiative, in promoting the development of skills and leadership for African women.
The full report will be posted soon. Please check back.