Africa - Audio

Please join us for a conversation on Sustainable Development Goal #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which seeks to increase connectivity and productivity of developing countries’ industries and build resilient infrastructure systems to bolster economic growth.   Of the 4 billion people who lack access to the internet globally, more than 90% of them are in developing countries. Industrialization in lower- and lower-middle-income countries trails behind developed countries, while critical infrastructure and access to mobile connectivity, electricity, and sanitation remain limited. Developing countries’ industries often lack the necessary infrastructure and innovation opportunities to achieve sustainable economic growth. The result is an increasing disconnect between rural and urban areas, lack of innovation, and stagnating productivity levels. Closing the infrastructure gap and building government capacity in developing countries would create a favorable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship and improve economic growth. Resilient and quality infrastructure systems will catalyze rapid economic development and increase the standard of living of a country’s population. Increasing official and private investment in infrastructure in developing countries, while also providing technical assistance, can help boost industrial and labor productivity.   To that end, this event will seek to answer questions about how developed countries can help lower- and lower-middle-income countries build their industries and workforce better? Furthermore, the event will also look at forms of sustainable infrastructure investments that are necessary for regions like Sub-Saharan Africa to further its efforts to industrialize and modernize its economy.This event is part of the "Chevron Forum for Development" series focused on SDGs and made possible with general support from Chevron. So far, we have hosted events focused on SDG #7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG #16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, SDG #17: Partnerships for the Goals, SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG #4: Quality Education. Our most recent event was SDG #1: No Poverty.

The film industry is booming across the African continent. In Nigeria, Nollywood generates an annual $600 million for the national economy and indirectly employs more than 1 million people. With African filmmakers expanding from DVDs to theaters and streaming services, there is an opportunity for African governments and the international community to support and invest in the continent’s growing creative sector. Join the CSIS Africa Program for a screening of “Lionheart”, the first Netflix original film produced in Nigeria, followed by a panel discussion and reception. As the inaugural event in the CSIS Africa Program’s “Creatives Series”, the evening will explore Nigeria’s burgeoning creative industries, its investment potential, and how the United States and international community can harness Nollywood’s soft power. This event is made possible by the support of Chevron.

In 12 short months, the initial UNAIDS Fast Track milestones toward gaining control of the HIV pandemic come due. As we start HIV’s pivotal 2020 year, there is cause for both optimism that progress is being made in important areas and concern that critical obstacles remain. The world is not on track to reach the 2020 Fast Track milestones by the end of the year. The time is now to take stock of the state of the epidemic, understand how different countries and cities are making progress, and correct policy and program implementation issues hindering the HIV response. On Monday, February 3, 10:30am-12:15pm, the CSIS Global Health Policy Center will host a public event to explore the state of the HIV epidemic: where we are now, what we know works, and what can be accomplished in 2020. The event will include a panel discussion featuring Regan Hofmann, Director, a.i., U.S. Liaison Office, UNAIDS; Jennifer Kates, Senior Vice President and Director of Global Health & HIV Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation; and Greg Millett, Vice President and Director of Public Policy, amfAR. Sara M. Allinder, Executive Director and Senior Fellow of the CSIS Global Health Policy Center, will moderate. Following the panel, we will screen a sneak peak of the CSIS Global Health Policy Center's upcoming documentary, The Pandemic Paradox: HIV on the Edge, which explores the long arc of the HIV pandemic against the backdrop of continued high levels of new infections and annual deaths.   The discussion will serve as a scene setter for CSIS’s planned April 2020 conference on what needs to be part of a plan to get back on the path toward ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030, which will include the official launch of The Pandemic Paradox: HIV on the Edge.   Panel Discussion Regan Hofmann Director, a.i., U.S. Liaison Office UNAIDS  Jennifer Kates Senior Vice President and Director of Global Health & HIV Policy Kaiser Family Foundation  Greg Millett Vice President and Director of Public Policy amfAR  Moderated by Sara M. Allinder Executive Director and Senior Fellow CSIS Global Health Policy Center Closing Preview of the upcoming documentary, The Pandemic Paradox: HIV on the Edge This event is made possible by the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Please join us on Tuesday, December 3 for a public event focused on Sustainable Development Goal #1, which aims to decrease poverty and ensure social protections for the poor and vulnerable, increase access to basic needs and services, and support people harmed by natural disasters and other extreme events. Predictions suggest that 6 percent of the world population will still live in extreme poverty in 2030. People who live in extreme poverty face deprivation from social goods and services, and often live in areas where poverty is exacerbated by conflict or natural disasters. Through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #1, the United Nations seeks to end extreme poverty, measured as people living under $1.25 a day, by ensuring all people have access to economic resources, reducing the poor’s vulnerability to climate disasters and other shocks, and implementing national social protection systems and measures for all. Despite many countries including social protections within their government spending, these programs need to be brought to scale. Although the number of people living in poverty has decreased since 2015, the rate of poverty reduction is slowing and ultimately means the world will miss the United Nations target of less than 3 percent. This event is part of the "Chevron Forum for Development" series focused on the SDGs and made possible with general support from Chevron. So far, we have hosted events focused on SDG#7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG#16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, SDG#17: Partnerships for the Goals, and SDG#11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Our most recent event was focused on SDG#4: Quality Education.

With the conclusion of the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, how should the U.S. respond to Russia’s return to Africa? What are Putin’s goals for the region? Host Judd Devermont talks Russian engagement with Simon Allison (Mail & Guardian), Andrea Kendall-Taylor (Center for a New American Security) and Karen Monaghan (retired CIA officer). Guests also discuss the latest on CAR’s conflict and Guinea-Bissau’s pivotal upcoming presidential elections. Background reading: Russian Theater: How to Respond to Moscow’s Return to the African Stage - Commentary by Judd Devermont

Malnutrition has the potential to bankrupt countries and prevent children from reaching their full potential. Unlike other food groups, fruits and vegetables provide beneficial outcomes across all malnutrition forms. Yet, despite the nutritional punch of fruits and vegetables, current global consumption is far below the minimum daily requirements of five portions. Join the Global Food Security Project for the release of Seeds of Change: The Power of Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Nutrition in Tanzania, a new report focusing on how the United States and other donors are trying to boost fruit and vegetable consumption in Tanzania to improve nutrition through multisectoral and public–private approaches. The event will feature a keynote lecture by the former Tanzanian Prime Minister, the Honorable Mizengo Pinda, which will be followed by an armchair conversation. The subsequent panel discussion will explore the unique challenges to fruit and vegetable consumption and current efforts to change dietary behavior.This event is made possible by the generous support of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

What role does digital identity play in unlocking Africa’s economic potential? Host Judd Devermont sits down with Magdi Amin (Omidyar Network), Cameron Hudson (Atlantic Council) and Victoria Crandall (Young African Entrepreneur podcast) to discuss the significance of digital ID, Sudan’s battle to implement reforms and revive its economy, and Benin’s current state of affairs.

Please join us for an exit interview with Susan Fine to hear her reflections and recommendations based on her distinguished career at USAID.     Susan Fine recently completed a 30-year career at USAID, serving as Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Policy, Planning and Learning Bureau for the last two years. Retiring with the rank of Career Minister, Susan has extensive experience in the Sahel, East, and Southern Africa, including South Sudan during its transition to independence, and has championed effective planning and delivery of development assistance and USAID policy leadership in multiple positions in Washington. She has worked at the intersection of development, foreign policy, and humanitarian assistance at strategic and operational levels, represented US development interests in the international arena and engaged with non-traditional development actors such as China.   Susan Fine holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colby College. She was a board member of the Washington chapter of the Society for International Development and a Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland. This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.  

Please join us on October 30th for a discussion on Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education.   Education plays an important role in achieving many of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable, quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Yet, 262 million children and youth were not in school in 2017. Even more troubling, 750 million adults were illiterate in 2016, two-thirds of whom were women. Improving the education systems in low and middle-income countries has been a focus of the development community for years. Given the emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, developing country governments must also prepare their citizens for the workforces of the future and leverage new leapfrog technologies.  This event is part of a series CSIS is doing on the SDGs made possible by general support from Chevron. So far, we have hosted events focused on the role of the private sector, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. You can find the link to all the events here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk with Judd Devermont, director of the Africa program at CSIS. Judd breaks down the Russia-Africa Summit and steps the U.S. could take to reduce the Russia footprint in Africa. Download the full transcript here.

Governments throughout Africa employ religious slogans, symbols, and doctrine to advance their political interests and to undermine religiously inspired sources of violence. Different contexts and different state capacities produce different outcomes. States that intervene too frequently in the religious realm risk undermining religious authorities who are critical allies; too little regulation can create a vacuum that is exploited by violent actors. So how do states regulate religious spaces and for what purpose? How does the state approach differ when there is strong religious diversity among the population versus when there is a large religious majority? Our panelists will discuss how different states in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are approaching this issue and what contraints they face when exerting control over the religious realm.   This panel is part of the project Faith in the Balance which analyzes the distinct ways that the governments of Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Burkina Faso attempt to manage religious affairs. The book aims to identify the objectives and consequences of state religious policies. We are grateful to the Henry Luce Foundation for its generous support of this study.  

How does language shape diplomatic engagement on a continent that houses such linguistic variety? In our third episode with African Arguments, host Judd Devermont explores this question with Nanjala Nyabola (Author), Catherine Kelly (African Center for Strategic Studies), and Michele Wagner (U.S. State Department). Guests also review the Somalia-Kenya maritime border dispute and Senegalese President Macky Sall’s eyebrow-raising decision to pardon a political rival.

In 2018, more than 200 million people contracted malaria around the world, and nearly half a million died of it. As countries continue to battle malaria within their borders, the international discussion turns to a loftier goal—complete global eradication of malaria. In this episode of Take as Directed, J. Stephen Morrison sits down with Sir Richard Feachem, Director of the Global Health Group at UCSF Global Health Sciences, and Professor of Global Health at both UC San Francisco and the UC Berkeley. They discuss the Lancet Commission on Malaria Eradication, and their new report that lays out a vision to achieve the eradication of malaria, “Malaria eradication within a generation: ambitious, achievable, and necessary.” Just how plausible is this vision?

African creatives are using their talents to represent the region and reshape African narratives. Host Judd Devermont chats with innovators Fati Abubaker, (Independent photojournalist) and Mike Achode (Crudo Volta), as well as academic Lindsey Green-Simms (American University) about perceptions of the continent and opportunities to impact U.S. policy. Plus, guests examine the rise of xenophobic violence in South Africa and what the Pope’s visit to Africa means for the future of the Catholic Church.

In this episode, Steve Morrison, Sara Allinder, and Andrew Schwartz discuss the uncomfortable paradox surrounding South Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. At the time of the interview, Steve had recently returned from a documentary filming trip to South Africa, while Sara was completing analysis based on a February 2019 visit noted in her analysis piece, The World’s Largest HIV Epidemic in Crisis: HIV in South Africa. The conversation includes a discussion of the September 2019 outbursts of xenophobic violence and targeted violence against women, and how those factor into the HIV epidemic.

Please join the CSIS Global Food Security Project for a discussion with a panel of experts on the relationship between climate change, political instability, and food security using current events on the African continent as a lens. The emerging consensus is that climate change poses significant national security threats. However, specific linkages between climate change and political instability are still opaque. As climate change reshapes the agricultural landscape across Africa, there is concern that higher food prices and falling yields will lead to widespread urban unrest and catalyze participation in armed extremist movements. Preceded by a keynote from Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), the discussion will examine how climate change is interacting with demographic trends in Africa to both heighten risks associated with agriculture in rural areas and those associated with dependence on global markets in urban areas. Our panelists will explore several issues such as how averting crisis in the face of climate change and food insecurity will require:   Better incorporation of agricultural production and food prices—both global and local—into risk assessments. Reinvestment in agricultural and transport infrastructure to reform global agricultural trade to make it more climate-resilient for consumers and producers in the developing world. Opportunities to work with regional governments to develop more inclusive responses to manage political and economic instability. This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.  

The ongoing violence in northeastern Nigeria continues to generate substantial humanitarian consequences and shows no signs of abatement. The Government of Nigeria has been inconsistent in its campaign, alternating between disengagement and the disproportionate use of force to counter Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa. Its response to humanitarian challenges have been equally problematic; Nigerian officials have herded civilian populations into so-called garrison towns. This policy misdiagnoses the underlying drivers of the conflict and is deeply counterproductive. It has created fear and distrust in part because the government has alleged that civilians who chose not to move are Boko Haram sympathizers. This approach has implications for U.S. policy toward Nigeria in general and its assistance programs in the northeast region in particular. The panel will examine North East Nigerian current conflict dynamics, government policies toward the region, and opportunities and challenges for U.S. political, security, and humanitarian engagement. Panelists will include: Brandon Kendhammer, Ohio University; Fati Abubakar, Documentary Photographer & Public Health Worker; Ambassador Alexander Laskaris, former Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, U.S. Africa Command; Dafna Hochman Rand, Vice President for Policy and Research, Mercy Corps   Moderator: Judd Devermont, Director, Africa Program, CSISThis event was made possible through the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Why are some political parties able to hold onto power for decades? Do they still connect with their constituents or is the playing field uneven? Host Judd Devermont, Anne Pitcher (University of Michigan), Liberata Mulamula (George Washington University) and Emily Renard (Open Society Foundations) tackle these questions and open the conversation with spotlights on Angola and Congo-Brazzaville. (Note: The CSIS Africa Program has partnered with Open Society Foundations. However, this relationship did not inform the substance of this podcast episode.)

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 17, has been ongoing for over a year. As of mid-August, there have been over 2,800 cases and 1,900 deaths. The outbreak is not expected to be contained in the near future. Some experts argue that Ebola is becoming endemic to the area and will spread regionally. Médecins Sans Frontières and other NGOs are retooling their approaches to win community trust, while WHO, the World Bank, the U.S. government, and others are putting in place plans for a renewed push in the next six months. Access by seasoned U.S. civilian public health experts to the hot zone remains highly problematic, owing to violent attacks on health providers, the limited capacity of the United States to deploy official civilian experts into austere environments, and a risk aversion born of the Benghazi tragedy. The U.S. response is further constrained by U.S. funding restrictions that limit the scope of assistance to the DRC national government.   This panel will examine how to navigate the formidable barriers to access — the chaos, insecurity, and rampant community resistance in eastern DRC – in this next phase. Panelists will include: Admiral Tim Ziemer, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID; Ella Watson-Stryker, Humanitarian Representative, Médecins Sans Frontières; and Jeremy Konyndyk, Senior Policy Fellow, Center for Global Development   Moderator: J. Stephen Morrison, Senior Vice President and Director, Global Health Policy Center, CSIS   This event was made possible through the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Despite democratic gains in Africa, some of its leaders are seeking to ditch presidential term limits and extend their grip on power. In this episode of Into Africa, host Judd Devermont (CSIS), Ayisha Osori (Open Society Initiative for West Africa), Alex Noyes (RAND Corporation), and Ambassador Mark Bellamy (CSIS) review the state of term limits in Africa and why some may view their leadership as indispensable. The experts also review Nigeria’s new cabinet of ministers and the deteriorating economic conditions in Zimbabwe. (Note: The CSIS Africa Program has partnered with Open Society Foundations and has a pending project proposal with OSIWA. However, these relationships did not inform the substance of this podcast episode.)

In this episode, Dan sits down with Sean Cairncross, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). As CEO, Mr. Cairncross leads the agency and provides strategic direction and vision as MCC fulfills its mission of reducing poverty through economic growth and advancing America’s interests around the globe. Dan and Mr. Cairncross discuss the recent MCC-Cote D’Ivoire compact, the addition of regional compacts, the MCC model, and beyond. They also analyze how the MCC integrates accountability and sustainability mechanisms into their agenda and how its threshold programs lead to successful country compacts.

The population of Africa is expected to double over the next 20 years, which means that many countries are facing either a demographic dividend or potentially a disaster, with critical implications for global health and development. In this episode of Take as Directed, Janet Fleischman sits down with Amb. Mark Dybul, Director of the Center for Global Health and Quality, and Professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, and formerly head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. They discuss why these demographic trends matter and how U.S. programs can better engage young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, to address their needs and support local innovation.

How can the U.S. support Africa’s next generation? Judd sits down with two young African leaders, Beverley Hatcher-Mbu (Africa Policy Accelerator) and Ezbora Lubamba (Young African Leaders Initiative), as well as the Executive Director of Emerging Public Leaders, Yawa Hansen-Quao, for a conversation on how leadership programs can equip youths to tackle African challenges and opportunities. Guests also weigh in on the recent U.S. Congressional delegation visit to Ghana and renewed interests in Africa’s entertainment market.

At the end of June, the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, approved their new “5.0” strategy for 2021-2025, with an ambitious set of priorities for this new phase. In this episode of Take as Directed, Nellie Bristol sits down with Amanda Glassman, Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow of the Center for Global Development, and Katherine Bliss, Senior Fellow with the Global Health Policy Center, to discuss these changes and their implications for the broader immunization landscape beyond 2020.

In this episode, the Trade Guys and Jack Caporal (filling in for Andrew Schwartz) welcome another in-house guest. Judd Devermont is the director of the Africa Program at CSIS, and was formerly the Central Intelligence Agency’s senior political analyst on sub-Saharan Africa. Judd discusses the current state of U.S.-Africa trade relations and what the road ahead should look like. Download the full transcript here.

How should the United States respond to China’s rapidly expanding footprint in Africa? Host Judd Devermont (CSIS) teams up with the co-hosts of the China in Africa Podcast, Cobus van Staden and Eric Olander, as well as Yun Sun (Stimson Center) to discuss how the U.S. government can develop a more pragmatic and effective policy to manage China’s activities in Africa. A review of President Ramaphosa’s progress in South Africa and Zambian President Lungu’s crackdown on anti-China politicians serve as episode preludes.   This episode is a joint production with the China in Africa Podcast, hosted and produced by the founders of the China Africa Project, Eric Olander and Cobus van Staden. Click here to listen to the China in Africa Podcast edition of the program. Subscribe to the China in Africa podcast on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe to the China Africa Project email newsletter.

From Sudanese protest icons to top political posts in Ethiopia, Liberia, and beyond, women are rising rapidly to the helm of sub-Saharan African politics. Host Judd Devermont is joined by Riva Levinson (KRL International), Mwende Mwinzi (Kenya’s ambassadorial designate to South Korea), and Esther Tawiah (Gender Centre for Empowering Development) to dissect the challenges women face as they break into a historically male-dominated arena. The episode begins with quick takes of the Trump Administration’s “Prosper Africa” initiative and motivations behind Liberia’s June 7th protests.

In this episode of Take as Directed, J. Stephen Morrison sits down with Jason Stearns, Director of the Congo Research Group at the Center for International Cooperation at New York University. Jason is among America’s premier experts on Congolese politics and economics. In this episode, he shares his astute insights into the opaque networks in eastern Congo which are deliberately and violently targeting health providers, paralyzing the international and local response to the Ebola outbreak. This is the second of a pair of episodes that examines what steps are now essential to end violence and win community trust and confidence in eastern Congo.

As African national teams battle it out on the pitch in Cairo, Host Judd Devermont (CSIS Africa Program Director) is joined by Trina Bolton (U.S. State Department), Ayodeji Rotinwa (African Arguments) and Richard Downie (CSIS) to discuss the political implications and soft power potential of the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Guests kick off the episode assessing the current friction within Botswana’s ruling party and the recent political violence in Ethiopia.

In this episode of Take as Directed, J. Stephen Morrison sits down with David Gressly, the UN Emergency Ebola Response Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Gressly was appointed in May by the UN Secretary General to lead a more strategic, coordinated, and better funded effort to arrest the dangerously escalating Ebola outbreak. This is the first of a pair of episodes that examines the root causes of targeted violence against health providers and active community resistance, and what steps are now essential to end violence and win community trust and confidence.

Should polling shape U.S. policy decisions in Africa? Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi (Afrobarometer), Christopher Fomunyoh (National Democratic Institute) and Brittany Brown (International Crisis Group) join Judd Devermont (CSIS) to discuss the role of polling in U.S.-Africa policy development and implementation. Guests also touch on President of Guinea Alpha Conde’s third term ambitions and Ghana’s 2020 presidential elections.

Download the Brief For many developing countries, the absence of quality infrastructure is a significant bottleneck to sustainable economic growth. A large number of studies have demonstrated that quality infrastructure yields large scale and long-term economic dividends. Political leadership in host countries is required to ensure that quality infrastructure investments are made. With support from donor countries and multilateral development banks, such efforts to pursue sustainable quality infrastructure can be supplemented with planning and procurement practices that look at long-term economic efficiency and life-cycle costs. CSIS, with generous support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, undertook a comprehensive research study to examine the importance of transparency and sustainability in achieving quality infrastructure, the findings from which have been captured in a short policy brief. Through this public event, CSIS and its panel will share insights that build on the emerging consensus among G20 member states ahead of the Osaka summit. The inputs and recommendations of the policy brief will enable more quality infrastructure.Please join us at CSIS for this timely discussion on quality infrastructure in the context of the upcoming Osaka G20 Summit.This event is made possible through generous support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.  

Beverly Kirk talks with Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya about starting a school to educate young girls in her Kenyan hometown and keeping them out of forced early marriages. Two of her students also join the conversation to talk about their aspirations and goals.

Supporting political transitions from military to civilian rule in Africa requires consistent engagement, international coordination, and diplomatic flexibility. If mishandled, it could result in violence and a democratic reversal. This episode features Ambassador Johnnie Carson, former NSC Director Allison Lombardo, as well as our first African Arguments author Faten Aggad, for a conversation on the significance of power transitions on the continent. Guests also weigh in on recent violence in Sudan and Uganda’s political and economic trajectories.

Since their first October 2017 attack in Mozambique, Islamist extremists—invariably called al-Shabaab or Ahlu Sunna wa Jama—have conducted over 110 attacks, with more than 295 civilian and military deaths. Despite this escalating violence, there are significant gaps in our understanding of the problem. There is not a consensus about the key drivers of extremism in the region, including the linkages between local, regional, and international extremist networks. Experts have struggled to identify who comprises al-Shabaab (Ahlu Sunna wa Jama), and furnish answers to key questions regarding their objectives, recruitment, or funding sources. Join the CSIS Africa Program on Thursday, June 6, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a half-day conference on growing insecurity in Mozambique. This event will feature two expert panels on the drivers of extremism and potential response efforts in Mozambique.Keynote Address: Stefanie Amadeo, Director of the Office of Southern African Affairs (U.S. Department of State)Panel 1: Examining Social, Political, and Religious DriversFeaturing Dr. Alex Vines (Chatham House), Dr. Yussuf Adam (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane), and Dr. Liazzat Bonate (University of West Indies)Moderated by Emilia ColumboPanel 2: Exploring Regional and International Response EffortsFeaturing H. Dean Pittman (former U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique), Zenaida Machado (Human Rights Watch), and Dr. Gregory Pirio (Empowering Communications)Moderated by Judd Devermont (Director, CSIS Africa Program)This event is made possible by the general support to CSIS.

Please join us for May 31 for the public launch of our report, Rethinking Taxes and Development: Incorporating Political Economy Considerations in DRM Strategies. This report analyzes the political economy opportunities and constraints of domestic resource mobilization on the road to self-reliance. CSIS, in partnership with DAI, conducted research in Kampala, Uganda and Monrovia, Liberia to assess the current political and economic conditions affecting DRM reform efforts. Uganda and Liberia were selected because both are low-income countries struggling to expand their respective tax bases, increase tax-payer morale, have equitable tax administrations, and implement reforms to mobilize more domestic resources. Many of the constraints in both countries relate to transparency, corruption, underdeveloped systems and low capacity of tax authorities. However, many of the constraints are more political in nature, including a lack of support in parliament, outsized influence of the elite, entrenched bureaucratic interests, resistance from the private sector, unpopular changes to legislation and general distrust of government by civil society. This report offers a fresh perspective for U.S. policymakers and other development agencies on how they can better partner with developing country governments on the shared goal of increased DRM, focusing on addressing the political economy opportunities and constraints to increasing the impact of development efforts.  This report is made possible by DAI's generous contributions to and cooperation with the Project on Prosperity and Development.

How do coup d'etats unfold in sub-Saharan Africa? Host Judd Devermont (CSIS Africa Program Director) sits down with experts Naunihal Singh (Naval War College), Max Siollun (Nigerian historian and author), and Alexis Arieff (Congressional Research Service) to discuss the political and intra-military dynamics that shape coups on the continent, and debate the impacts of technology on future military takeovers. First up, guests size up DRC President Felix Tshisekedi's first 100 days in office and weigh the significance of Mauritania's upcoming presidential election.

How can podcasts about Africa help counter outdated perceptions of the continent? Podcast hosts Judd Devermont (CSIS, Into Africa), Kim Yi Dionne (University of California, Riverside; Uhafamu Africa), Rachel Beatty Reidl (Northwestern University, Uhafamu Africa), Andile Masuku (African Tech Round-Up), and Travis Adkins (On Africa) join forces for this must-listen crossover episode. They talk the art of podcasting, Malawi's upcoming elections, and Jumia's IPO.

Africa’s future is urban. The continent will become 50 percent urban by 2030 and its urban population will double by 2050, yet policymakers have not revised their programmatic approach. In this recording from their 2019 Global Development Forum session, Judd Devermont (CSIS), Jefferson T. Koijee (Mayor of Monrovia, Liberia), Emilio Ciarlo (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), Dana Omran (100 Resilient Cities), and Somik Lall (World Bank) share how the continent can configure its urban areas to unlock their potential.

The CSIS Global Food Security Project and the CSIS Africa Program invite you to join a discussion on the economic decline and food insecurity crisis in Zimbabwe. According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee’s 2018 Rural Livelihoods Assessment, nearly 2.4 million people in rural Zimbabwe were projected to be severely food insecure by March 2019. In the wake of Cyclone Idai, Zimbabwe's dire condition seems poised to worsen. If the current trends continue, Zimbabwe could be facing a severe humanitarian crises that rivals some of the worst in the world.   Is Zimbabwe prepared to reform its economy, address its food security challenges, and develop a sustainable strategy to response to natural disasters? How can the international community and the U.S. government support peace and prosperity in the wake of this disaster? Panelists Ashok Chakravarti, Jason Taylor, and Peter Thomas will tackle these questions and shine a light on the escalating situation in Zimbabwe to the Washington policy community. This event is made possible through the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been widely hailed for his promises to open political space, usher in economic liberalization, and remake the country’s poor record on human rights. However, to truly transform his country, Dr. Abiy must first transform agriculture, which is the nucleus of the Ethiopian economy and by far the largest employer. Please join us for the launch of our newest report, Building a Big Tent for Agricultural Transformation in Ethiopia, which examines the past wins, current endeavors, and future challenges of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA).   Following a keynote message from ATA’s CEO, Khalid Bomba, an expert panel will compare and contrast Ethiopia’s experience in agricultural transformation to that of other countries and explore the role that donors like the United States government can play to support such efforts for country-led development. This event is made possible through the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Download the Report Download the Brief Over the next 15 years, it is projected that more infrastructure will be built globally than currently exists. Please join the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project and the Project on Prosperity and Development for the rollout of a new report discussing how the United States can strategically shape the global infrastructure buildout.    Opening remarks by:Matthew P. Goodman Senior Vice President, Simon Chair in Political Economy and Senior Adviser for Asian Economics, CSIS   Featuring a Panel Discussion with:Ambassador Charlene BarshefskySenior International Partner, WilmerHaleFormer U.S. Trade Representative  Stephen J. HadleyPrincipal, RiceHadleyGates LLCFormer National Security AdvisorPeter RaymondSenior Associate, Reconnecting Asia Project and Simon Chair, CSISFormer Global Advisory Leader, Capital Projects & Infrastructure Practice, PwC Moderated by: Daniel F. RundeSenior Vice President, William A. Schreyer Chair and Director, Project on Prosperity and Development, CSIS   This event is made possible by generous support from Bechtel Group, IBM, and the Inter-American Development Bank. 

How do we build roads to the future? Former Liberian Minister of Public Works Gyude Moore (Center for Global Development) explains how cutting-edge technology can revolutionize Africa’s basic infrastructure challenges. Judd Devermont (CSIS), Diane McMahon (Bechtel Corporation), and Joel Wiegert (Nexant) weigh in on Moore’s vision, Uganda-Rwanda tensions, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations* The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.   Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area. 8:00 AM—Registration opens8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde  8:45 AM—Opening Remarks Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister 9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1   Development Finance and Debt Sustainability​​Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bA1msH7HkM...

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations* The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.   Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area. 8:00 AM—Registration opens8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde  8:45 AM—Opening Remarks Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister 9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1   Development Finance and Debt Sustainability​​Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bA1msH7HkM...

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations* The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.   Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area. 8:00 AM—Registration opens8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde  8:45 AM—Opening Remarks Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister 9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1   Development Finance and Debt Sustainability​​Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bA1msH7HkM...

*Due to space restrictions and security protocol in place for this event, advanced RSVPS are required. Credentialed members of the press will receive instructions as part of a separate confirmation issued by the Office of External Relations* The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS is hosting its 5 annual Global Development Forum (GDF) on April 11, 2019. This half-day conference explores how the United States can work with the private sector, allies, civil societies, and multilateral institutions to tackle complex global challenges. This year's GDF is focused on the future directions for development. Panels will focus on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.   Each year the event has grown and expanded its reach. Last year’s GDF attracted over 500 attendees and over 40 high-level speakers. The 2018 Global Development Forum examined the role and purpose of official development assistance against a backdrop of rising incomes, economic growth, youth unemployment, and other continued complex challenges in many parts of the world. The overarching theme was “Getting from Billions to Trillions” in terms of development finance, highlighting the importance of leveraging the private sector and introducing public-private partnerships in getting there. During the fourth annual GDF, the hashtag “#CSISGDF” was the number one trending hashtag in the DC metro area. 8:00 AM—Registration opens8:30 AM—Welcoming Remarks from Dan Runde  8:45 AM—Opening Remarks Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Rt. Honorable Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute and former U.K. Prime Minister 9:15 AM—Keynote Armchair Conversation Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Ambassador Mark Green, Administrator of USAID James Richardson, Assistant to the Administrator of USAID Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 9:45 AM—Plenary Panel on “Moving Beyond Foreign Assistance”Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYBSHQHbSyw Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Africa and Latin America Alexander de Croo, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer for IFC Ambassador Mike Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth for Mastercard Moderator: Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President and Director of the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development at CSIS 10:45 AM—Networking Coffee Break11:00 AM: Breakout Session #1   Development Finance and Debt Sustainability​​Watch Live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bA1msH7HkM...

A trade war has escalated between the U.S. and China, and African economies are caught in the crossfire. On this episode, Bill Reinsch (CSIS), Catherine Chiang (CSIS), and Julius Agbor (Vanguard University of Southern California) join Judd Devermont (CSIS) to unpack how tariff tensions are impacting African economic growth and what it means for U.S.-Africa relations. The experts also assess the international response to Cameroon’s protracted conflict and the China-Kenya tiff over tilapia.

U.S. intelligence analysts, as well as academics and political risk consultants, struggle to anticipate and assess leadership transitions in sub-Saharan Africa. Judd Devermont (CSIS), Jeffrey Herbst (American Jewish University), Mike Noll (The George Washington University), and Amaka Anku (Eurasia Group) discuss why leadership analysis is so vexing, identify common pitfalls, and recommend critical thinking tools and techniques to sharpen analytic judgments. Examinations of South Africa’s recent corruption scandals and Côte d'Ivoire’s new political dynamic open the episode.

Gulf states are making moves on the continent, adding another layer to Africa's increasingly crowded and complex political landscape. Zach Vertin (Brookings Doha Center), Raechel Haecker (former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Africa), and Godfrey Musila (expert on international law and security) join Judd Devermont (CSIS) to unpack emerging Gulf-Africa dynamics. The podcast kicks off with close-ups on South Sudan's peace prospects and Gabon's ailing president.