Wednesday 23 May 2012

Second Global African Diaspora Summit Kicks off at Ministerial Level Tomorrow in South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa 22 May 2012 – The Second Global African Diaspora Summit opens tomorrow, Wednesday 23 May 2012 at the Ministerial level in the OR Tambo Conference Centre, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa. It will be followed by the Summit on Friday, 25 May 2012 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Summit is organized by the African Union (AU) in collaboration with the South African Government.
The overall objective of the Summit is to discuss how best to harness skills and energies within the continent and abroad for the socio-economic development of Africa and boost synergies as well as facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship through sustainable partnerships with the African Diaspora.
The Summit further aims to mobilize African Citizens within the continent and in the Diaspora around the outcomes of the Summit to support the acceleration of the agenda of integration and development on the continent. By building synergies between Africa and the Diaspora, the Summit intends to ultimately lead to the global advancement and improvement of lives. The reinforcing of the mechanisms for the advancement of the Diaspora program will be mutually beneficial to the African population residing within and out of the continent.
The Global African Diaspora Summit will focus on the formulation of the African Diaspora roadmap. It will provide a platform for the Diaspora to address cross-sectoral issues and actively engage in areas of renewable energy, technological transformation, food security, tourism, combating HIV/AIDS, education, gender equality, among others.
Moreover, the Summit will continue building upon the process of strong and continued collaboration between Africa and its Diaspora, in the context of South-South cooperation and Pan-African solidarity. One of the key outcomes of this Summit will be the identification and implementation of “bankable projects” through appropriate and effective implementation plans or framework of action. These projects will focus on the thematic areas of political, economic and social co-operation and are aimed at fostering the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship between Africa and its Diaspora.

The Summit will bring together leaders from over 60 countries comprising of AU Member States, Representatives of the National Conference of Black Mayors, South American countries, AU organs, various organizations working for the Diaspora, and other relevant guests.

 
.