U.Va. Conference to Examine Prospects for Democracy in Africa
 
By Dan Heuchert
 
April 28, 2009

Can democracy stabilize Africa?

The University of Virginia's Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and U.Va.'s Miller Center of Public Affairs will host a conference, "Good Governance in Africa: Critical Factors affecting Successful Democratization," on Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Alumni Hall.

Jendayi Frazer, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs and former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, will give the keynote address at 9:30 a.m.

The conference is co-sponsored by the Miller Center, the Office for Diversity and Equity, the Ron Brown Scholar Program, Constituency for Africa, Leadership Africa USA and the Ralph Bunche Society.

The conference schedule:

9:30-10:30 a.m.: Opening session

• Welcome: David Breneman, director, Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
• Keynote address: Jendayi Frazer, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs and former U.S. ambassador to South Africa

10:40-11:40 a.m.: The State of Democracy in Africa

• Discussion led by Jendayi Frazer

11:45 a.m.-12:25 p.m. Video: "Migration of Beauty"

• Clip presented by documentary filmmaker Chris Flaherty

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:40-2:55 Panel discussion: Challenges to Democratic Stability — Health and Economic Security
• Moderator: Dr. Rebecca Dillingham, U.Va. Center for Global Health
• Dr. Chinua Akukwe, professor of global health, George Washington University
• Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, World Bank; former member; South Africa Human Rights Commission
• Gail Spence, senior alliance advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Global Development
• Respondent: Gregory Simpkins, vice president for policy and program development, Leon H. Sullivan Foundation

Break

3:10-4:25 p.m. Panel discussion: Good Governance in Africa — NGOs and Future Leaders

• Chair: Robert Fatton, politics professor, U.Va.
• Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director, Central and West Africa Programs, National Democratic Institute
• Dave Peterson, senior director, Africa Program, National Endowment for Democracy
• Amanda Alexander, doctoral student in international and global history and African history, Columbia University

4:25-4:45 p.m. Lessons Learned
• Melvin Foote, Constituency for Africa
• Student representatives

4:45-5p.m. Concluding Remarks

© U.Va.Today