THEME: Financing for Development in Challenging Times

As global leaders converge in Kigali, Rwanda, for the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, in June 2021, African Leadership Magazine is hosting the International Forum on Public Finance & Taxation for Development in Africa on the sidelines of CHOGM. 

The Forum with the theme: Financing for Development in Challenging Times is billed to hold from 16-18 June 2021 at the Ubumwe Grande Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda. The event will have in attendance Ministers of Finance, tax experts, business, political and diplomatic leaders from around the world.    

Prevailing realities have shown that Sub-Saharan Africa may have avoided the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of infections and deaths, but the economic casualties have been enormous. 

According to a 2020 world Bank regional economic analysis titled: Africa’s Pulse: Charting the Road to Recovery, the pandemic pushed Sub-Saharan Africa to experience its first recession after 25 years. It also drove about 40 million people into extreme poverty and erased at least five years of the progress made in fighting poverty. Furthermore, the pandemic compromised the continent’s public finance significantly. Many countries were forced to adopt incentives to taxpayers as they experienced an unprecedented contraction of tax revenue. The pandemic also placed extreme stress on public spending as governments struggled to respond to the health crisis, including increased funding for the health sector, social and business relief, measures to reduce and combat the spread of the virus and various other related needs. 

The pandemic poses tremendous challenges for Africa. However, it offers opportunities for constructive change, as well. It provides opportunities for a fresh start as most nations and companies have been placed on start-up modes. 

Some have estimated that it will take about 10-15 years for countries to recover from the impact of COVID-19. However, the pace of recovery will essentially be dependent on individual efforts, strategies and ingenuity. More importantly, the recovery pace will be driven by the management of scarce resources towards financing development and improving taxation.    

Therefore, this Forum seeks to evolve discussions centred on tested strategies, policy frameworks, and intentional plans to solve major public finance and taxation issues in the continent. The forum will also provide a platform for participants to network and find solutions to peculiar challenges they face in their different countries, states and establishments. 

  Global trends and prevailing realities suggest that only Africans can truly understand Africa and thus solve the continent’s problems. The Forum will galvanize homegrown solutions for solving Africa’s public finance dilemma.

Objectives

1. To help evolve home grown solutions for peculiar public finance and taxation issues.
2. To promote an exchange of tested ideas, projects, research results, and findings that can help to build sustainable economic growth in the various regions, sub-regions and nations.
3. Promote a clear understanding of Taxation in the Digital Economy.
4. To provide a platform of opportunities for participants to undertake peer review also meet face to face with renowned experts, development economists, academics, and development partners to establish global partnerships for assistance and collaborations.

Forum Highlights

1. High-level panels and Keynote Presentations

2. Interactive Sessions 

3. Ideating sessions 

4. Experts Knowledge Sharing Session 

5. Unrivaled Networking Opportunities

About African Leadership Magazine:

The African Leadership magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom (Company No. 07435198). The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African perspective; while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges being faced by the continent today.

Since its maiden edition, African Leadership Magazine has grown to become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US. It is distributed at major international and African Leadership events around the world. The magazine has over 900,000 subscribers/Followers on Facebook alone and a virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and unbiased African voice, telling African stories from African lenses.

THEME: US – Africa Relations: Partnerships, Recovery and Sustainability

As the African continent find strategies to confront the twin health and economic crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic, to build back stronger than ever, African leaders would require the partnership of the Biden administration. The continent’s leaders must position Africa as a land of many opportunities; and we expect the Biden administration to lay the groundwork for a renewed U.S. policy agenda to promote resilience and prosperity in Africa, given President Biden’s proclivity for multilateralism and his anticipated prioritization of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The forum would also address the question whether a renewed and reimagined transatlantic partnership towards Africa can be a key element for the continent to achieve economic recovery.

 African Leadership Magazine is, therefore, putting together the 6th US – Africa Business & Policy Forum 2021 to bring together policymakers, private sector leaders, Industry Titans, civil society leaders, and all stakeholders in US-Africa matters during this forum to provide insights on how Biden’s African policy in the coming years, as well as facilitate a U.S. private sector-led growth in Africa.

Key Highlights of The Forum

1. Keynotes, Plenary and Breakout session
2. Industry Roundtables and Thematic Paper Presentations
3. Policymakers Roundtable Session: a high-level platform designed to engage the US/African policymakers in discussions on Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Defence and security co-operations; AGOA and other Economic Development avenues; and deepening people-to-people relationships.
4. Race Relations Roundtable dialogue session.
5. African Leadership Magazine Awards presentations to ‘Top 100 US companies doing business in Africa’ & “Top 100 African American Leaders 2020 List”, in recognition of their contributions to communities’ development and economic recovery.
6. The 4th African Banking Leadership Awards– an annual presentation ceremony to recognize professionalism, innovation and excellence in Africa’s banking and financial services sector.

Who Can Participate?

1. Policymakers, Senior Government Officials and Diplomats
2. Heads of Government, Agencies, and institutions
3. Major Industry Titans and private sector leaders
4. Think-tanks and International Development Institutions
5. Academics, Civil society leaders and 
6. All US-Africa relations stakeholders

About African Leadership Magazine:

The African Leadership magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom (Company No. 07435198). The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African perspective; while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges being faced by the continent today.

Since its maiden edition, African Leadership Magazine has grown to become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US. It is distributed at major international and African Leadership events around the world. The magazine has over 900,000 subscribers/Followers on Facebook alone and a virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and unbiased African voice, telling African stories from African lenses.

THEME: Optimizing Partnerships and Local Content Development for Recovery and Growth

Local content development in Africa’s energy and infrastructure sectors experienced significant growth especially in the past decade, as indigenous companies and home-grown players now have a significant share of the market from the traditional foreign multinationals, largely due to the implementation of local content frameworks and policies across the continent. Experts have opined that energy and infrastructure, in all its forms, will be the cornerstone of Africa’s re-emergence from COVID-19. Therefore, as Africa continues to grapple with the uncertainties and disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa will need to increasingly embrace and escalate local participation and strategic partnerships to recover better and stronger, and minimize the impacts of future disruptions and shocks.

 African Leadership Magazine is, therefore, putting together the 4TH Africa Energy and Infrastructure Forum (AEIF) 2021 to bring together policymakers, private sector leaders, Industry Titans, civil society leaders, and all stakeholders during this Summit to explore ways Africa can maximize the full value of local content requirements for sustainable post-COVID 19 economic recovery, while focusing on what is needed to unlock investments in African energy and infrastructure for regional growth and development. Most assuredly, the summit will be a platform that will connect local and international oil companies, institutional investors, and private equity firms, and all actors across the entire energy and infrastructure value chain, to push forward with commitments and business deals that would power the African economic recovery.

Summit Highlights

1. Keynote and Paper Presentations.
2. Oil & Gas CEOs Roundtable Session.
3. Private sector leaders & Policy Makers Interactive Session.
4. Launching the inaugural edition of the African Energy & Infrastructure Year Book.
5. Presentations to the “Top 50 Africa Oil and Gas Local Development Champions”.

Target Audience

1. Ministers of Petroleum 
2. CEO/VP/Board/Directors of Energy and Infrastructure companies in Africa.
3. Consultants and strategic change managers
4. Heads of Strategy and Technology
5. Academics, R&D professionals, industry experts
6. Finance players, and Afro-centric funds, VC Funds,
7. Trade Unions in Oil and Gas
8. Oil and Gas service providers and local content developers

About African Leadership Magazine:

The African Leadership magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom (Company No. 07435198). The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African perspective; while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges being faced by the continent today.

Since its maiden edition, African Leadership Magazine has grown to become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US. It is distributed at major international and African Leadership events around the world. The magazine has over 900,000 subscribers/Followers on Facebook alone and a virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and unbiased African voice, telling African stories from African lenses.

THEME: Addressing Rising Terrorism, Social Instability And Cross-border Security Threats In An Integrated Africa: A Multidimensional Approach

African countries, therefore, face the daunting challenges of ensuring harmonized procedures, information mechanisms, and cross-border cooperation and coordination that can facilitate the movements of goods and people, while effectively addressing transnational crimes, terrorism, and security risks. 

Hence, the African Leadership UK Limited is therefore thrilled to invite all security stakeholders to the Forum on Defence, Homeland & Border Security in Africa. The theme of the forum is set as-” Addressing Rising Terrorist Threats, Social Instability and Cross-Border Security Challenges in an Integrated Africa: A Multidimensional Approach”. 

The Forum on Defence, Homeland & Border Security in Africa 2021 is designed as an educational and training forum, where leaders from across the region’s Armed Forces, Police, Customs and Immigration, as well as other security agencies and stakeholders will come together to engage in actionable discussions and debate on the different strategies to combat Africa’s security challenges, including terrorism, civil unrest, banditry, illegal immigration, human and drug trafficking, among others. This Forum will explore, through a series of fireside chats and panel discussions, African security challenges posed by complex geopolitical realities that have been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, including disinformation, extremism, governance, and legitimacy.

FORUM HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Topical keynotes and paper presentations
2. Panel sessions and fireside chats
3. African Leadership Awards for Gallantry and African Territorial Defense
4. Unveiling the African Leadership Magazine’s Special edition on defense and security.

 THEMES TO EXPECT AT THIS FORUM

The Forum on Defence, Homeland & Border Security in Africa 2021 will feature senior-level Speaker Faculty, keynote, and paper presentations, panel discussions, and case studies germane to the Military, Police, Customs, and Immigration. Some of the topic that will be explored, during the Forum, include:

1. Defense and Security – Africa’s strategic place in the world
2. A radical assessment of individual Countries Defense technology, research, and development apparatus
3. Methodological approaches to defense issues
4. Terrorism, counter-terrorism, and internal security in an integrated Africa.
5. Funding and military budgets
6. Protecting critical national infrastructures.
7. International defense programs case studies
8. Enhancing Defense and border security through integration, information sharing, and communication.
9. Automation, AI and Big Data: feasibility and uses at the border
10. “Smart Border” systems, including the EES and biometric scanners
11. Airport-specific security protocols.

WHY ATTEND THIS FORUM?

1. African Interoperability: Develop a Pan-African approach and strategy against terrorism, and social instability, and border security challenges.
2. Gain strategic insight, and education on border security and defense in an integrated Africa
3. Walk away with knowledge gained from our senior-level international speakers on some of the complex challenges facing defense and border security and intelligence leaders.
4. Integrated Border Management – Our speaker faculty will discuss and share with you, the concept of integrated border management with key policy officials to successfully establish a coherent strategy on Defense and border security.
5. Our seasoned speakers, who are ex and serving UK, US and African military leaders, and academic consultants, will explore global best practices to secure borders across Land, Sea, and Air and key critical infrastructure.
6. Build Partnerships: The agenda is designed to allow for ample networking opportunities and the ability to engage in constructive dialogue among all in attendance, as well as build relationships with senior officers from other countries to understand both current and future requirements and to improve intra-regional cooperation.
7. Influence: Help foster ideas! Share your insight and knowledge during our interactive sessions. All attendees are allowed to address the Forum with their questions, comments, or ideas.
8. Discover how the latest innovative technologies can help boost successful operations and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing threat landscape.

WHO IS THIS FORUM FOR?

• The Military

• Police and Homeland Security

• Customs and Immigration

• Ministries of Defence and Interior

• Regional and international defense industries leaders

ABOUT THE AFRICAN LEADERSHIP MAGAZINE

The African Leadership magazine is published by the African Leadership (UK) Limited, a diversified group committed to building the Africa of the future by developing an ecosystem of bespoke solutions, creating platforms for connections, and generating value for stakeholders, partners, and clients. With its core activities primarily rooted in the Consulting and Publishing sectors, the company uses its Africa know-how and local expertise, while working with its strategic networks, to drive successful market entry strategy in the African Energy, Security, and diverse sectors. The company is also a global leader in promoting African Excellence, achievement, and opportunities to an array of stakeholders internationally.

THEME: Intentional Leadership: Rethinking Development Priorities in Africa

The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards is Africa’s premier vote-based endorsement, reserved annually for the leading Africans who are contributing towards promoting the continent progress, and positively altering Africa’s perceived negative image. The event, which is in its 8th year, has become a referendum of some sort by Africans on purposeful leadership in the continent. A shortlist of nominees are selected from results gathered via a Call for nomination – traditionally promoted via online and offline campaigns across the continent, and globally. The call for nomination and subsequent selection of Africans with the largest number of entries in 7 categories, is followed by a poll on our website: www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk and our social media platforms – through which the winners emerge.

The keenly contested poll, across 7 different categories, attracts huge entries in upward of 300,000 to 700,000 entries on the website; entries across our social media platforms, and submissions via email. Winners are then decorated and presented with the instruments of honour, usually within the last week of February. The event attracts a wide spectrum of African policy, diplomatic and business leaders.

The annual event have also become a platform for honouring people-cantered leadership and Africans that are pursuing a pan-African agenda in their chosen fields of endeavour. 

This year’s event will provide a platform to celebrate the continent’s purveyors of hope. Business, political and diplomatic leaders who are helping us to see possibilities in the midst of a global pandemic that has become and existential threat.

For more information about this events please email info@africanleadership.co.uk.

OBJECTIVES 

• To promote purposeful and people focused leadership. 
• To promote leadership in the core areas of Politics and Governance; Gender; Philanthropy; Education; Job Creation; Youth Development.
• Providing the platform for meaningful engagement and conversations on Africa’s future.
• To celebrate the continent’s wealth and job creators, while evolving home grown solutions for Africa’s unemployment and industrialization dilemma.
• To promote an exchange of tested ideas, projects, research results, and findings that can help African governments, parliaments and business leaders to commit to sustainably creating more jobs in the continent.
• High-level networking with key decision makers in the continent  

 SUB-THEMES:  

1. Audacious leadership in the new-normal  
2. Post COVID-19 recovery and investments in Africa 
3. Supporting MSMEs for Jobs & wealth creation
4. Promotion of sustainable peace & development; 
5. Delivering of democratic values; 
6. The promotion of Africa’s image globally

 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

•  Panel Discussions  
• Keynote Speeches 
• Meet the press session virtual session 
• Green Room Discussions
• Gala Awards & Dinner

About African Leadership Magazine:

The African Leadership magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom (Company No. 07435198). The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African perspective; while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges being faced by the continent today.

Since its maiden edition, African Leadership Magazine has grown to become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US. It is distributed at major international and African Leadership events around the world. The magazine has over 900,000 subscribers/Followers on Facebook alone and a virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and unbiased African voice, telling African stories from African lenses.