Speaking Engagements

Panellist contributing to the session entitled ‘Imagining the future: Conversations on the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious threats’ under the World Health Organization (WHO) foresight roundtable discussion series which builds on the work undertaken by Arup Foresight. The development of four scenarios illustrate plausible, consistent futures for the future of the COVID-19 pandemic in the next 3 to 5 years. My interventions highlighted the need for vaccine equity, R&D financing, the multilayered impacts of capacitating healthcare systems, and healthy institutions with citizens as key stakeholders.

Fellow Panellists: Dr. Renz Argao (Coordinator, Religions for Peace International Youth Committee) | Dr. Andrea Hinwood (Chief Scientist, United Nations Environment Programme) | Prof. Alice Roberts (Professor of Public Engagement in Science, University of Birmingham) | Mr. Owen Tudor (Deputy General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation)

Moderator: Mr. Josef Hargrave (Director and Global Foresight Leader, Arup Group)

Location: Virtual | Date: 4 November 2021

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Panellist contributing to the session entitled ‘Mobilising Partnerships and Stakeholder for 2030 Agenda implementation and COVID-19 recovery’ under the symposium theme Building Resilient Institutions for the SDGs in the time of COVID-19. The workshop was co-organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the African Peer Review Mechanism. My contributions advocated for centering and strengthening of Africa’s data bank in realising the efficacy of our institutions for the implementation and advancement of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda. This is the only way to build resilient institutions

Keynote(s): Ambassador Mohamed Khalil (Secretary General, Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development) | Mr. David Moinina Sengeh (Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Sierra Leone & Member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA))

Fellow Panellists: Mr. Moussa Kondo (Country Director, Accountability Lab Mali) | Ms. Julia Muia (Programme Officer, African Association for Public Administration and Management) | Mr. Rishy Bukoree (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mauritius)

Moderator: Ms. Saras Jagwanth (Inter-Regional Adviser, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs) 

Location: Cape Town, South Africa | Date: 29 October 2021

Moderator on the session ‘Youth and TJ: Harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend for participation and engagement in transitional justice processes’. The session unpacked legal frameworks and mechanisms which underpin institutional reform; noted policy interventions and provisions for youth at continental level; stressed the need to prioritise mental health and intergenerational trauma in impacting lasting peace processes; and the need to address corruption in perpetuating socio-economic instability in Africa. The forum is delivered annually in partnership between the African Union (AU) and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR).

Panellists: Mr. John Ikubaje Gbodi (AUC-PAPS) | Mr. Steven Harageib (Office of the First Lady of Namibia) | Mr. Usani Odum (Human Rights Lawyer, African Court)

Location: Virtual | Date: 22 October 2021

1) Panellist contributing to the session entitled ‘Lessons from the APRM Republic of Namibia Targeted Review on Youth Unemployment’ under the symposium theme Strengthening youth participation in APRM governance processes: Towards Universal Accession by 2023. I noted that “targeted reviews – specifically ones on youth unemployment – need to be prioritised if we are to gather contextualised, in depth data needed to address Africa’s challenges. This will help in probing solutions driven approaches and encourage cultures of evidence-based accountability on the continent”. I further stressed that “recommending institutional reform is futile without the political will to support it”.

Keynote: Ambassador Wilfried Emvula (Chairperson of the National Governing Council, APRM Namibia) 

Fellow Panellists: Mr. Festus Hangula (APRM Namibia Secretariat) | Ms. Caren Wakoli (Executive Director, Emerging Leaders Foundation) 

Moderator: Mr. Seth Mulli (Chief Executive Officer, Youth Bridge Trust) 

Location: Nairobi, Kenya | Date: 26 September 2021

2) Moderator on the session ‘Best Practices from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic on South Africa in participation in their review processes’. Research and development funding whilst capacitating those already doing the work on the ground is key. Participants expressed clear knowledge and vested insights on what needs to be done. Now is the time to lobby for action.

Presenters: Mr. Chukwuemeka Michael (APRM Youth Vanguard, Republic of Nigeria) | Ms. Yolakazi Mfuto (APRM Youth Network Member, Republic of South Africa)

Respondents: Mr. Thulani Tshefuta (National Governing Council Chairperson, APRM South Africa) | Ambassador Wilfried Emvula (Chairperson of the National Governing Council, APRM Namibia) | Mr. Cyrus NkusiGovernance for Rwanda 

Location: Nairobi, Kenya | Date: 26 September 2021

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Delivered in partnership between the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the Wits School of Governance (WSG), AGOSS is an annual seminar series whose objective is to provide an interactive platform for debate and analysis of trends of development and governance in Africa with the goal of enhancing responsive governance. My co-author Mrs. Victoria Manya and I presented our paper ‘Tracing Governance Preparedness & Preconditions for Economic Growth in Africa’. We focused on the need to further invest in our data bank on the continent to plan for future shocks; identified the role of SMEs and the tech ecosystem warned against the multilayered spillover effects of limited preparedness; and highlighted tangible pitfalls that hinder growth

Location: Nairobi, Kenya | Date: 25 September 2021

Panellist contributing to the discussion on constitutionalism and the rule of law. My contributions focused on the role of youth, academia and gendered representation in promoting human securities in Africa.

Fellow Panellists: Judge Shaheda Peeroo (African Union Administrative Tribunal) | Mr. Adam Alqali (Journalist and Editor of African Newspage)

Moderator: Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo (Advisor on Policy Coherence to the Chairperson, African Union Commission)

Location: Nairobi, Kenya | Date: 9-10 December 2019

Moderator for the African Philanthropy Forum’s Thematic Meeting on African Youth and Migration at the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend. The meeting provided a platform for philanthropists and critical stakeholders to examine the root causes of mass irregular immigration, proffer actionable solutions to curb the issue and highlight the potential ripple effect of providing opportunities for Africa’s youth to reverse the migration trend.

Panellists: Ms Oley Dibba-Wadda (Director of Director, Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development, African Development Bank) | Mr Carl Manlan (Chief Operating Officer, EcoBank Foundation)

Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire | Date: 7 April 2019

Panellist contributing to a webinar discussion on realities of young and mid-level career African citizens during COVID-19. My contributions focussed on food insecurity, socio-economic precarity, and gender injustice.

Fellow Panellists: Mr Carl Manlan (COO, EcoBank Foundation) | Ms Natasha Kimani (Academy Associate, Chatham House) | Ms Hanan Taifour (Mo Ibrahim Fellow, International Trade Centre) | Mr Nasi Rwigema (Mo Ibrahim Scholar, London Business School) 

Conversation Moderators: Mme Graça Machel | Mr Jay Naidoo | Dr Jendayi E. Frazer

Chief Moderator: Dr Mo Ibrahim

Location: Virtual | Date: 8 July 2020

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1. Panellist contributing to the high-level discussions on constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Fellow Panellists: Hon. Khayar Oumar Defallah (Chairperson of the APRM Committee of Focal Points) | Hon. Dr Ali Abdelramane Haggar (APR Panel Member) | Amb. Salah Hammad (Head, African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat, African Union Commission)

Moderator: Professor Migai Akech (Governance Expert, APRM)
Location: N’Djamena, Republic of Chad | Date: 1-2 July 2019

2.Panellist contributing to the discussions on intergenerational dialogue on leadership in Africa as well as the high-level on constitutionalism and the rule of law. 

Fellow Panellists: Amb. Salah Hammad (Head, African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat, African Union Commission) | Ms Grace Jerry (Mandela Washington Fellow & Inclusive Friends Association) | Mr Ba Bocar (Broadband Commission for Digital Development & UNESCO)

Moderator: Mr. Souleymane Bah (Lille Business School, Program Manager)
Location: N’Djamena, Republic of Chad | Date: 1-2 July 2019

Panellist contributing to the conversation tracking progress towards sustainable development goals in Southern Africa. The panel spotlighted the following Southern African countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. My contributions stressed the need to address Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, as well as strengthen trust in our institutions by tackling widespread cultures of clientelism and prebendalism head-on. Notably, the fact that SDGs are interconnected and progress or regression on one goal affects others was also highlighted.

Fellow Panellists: Dr Malebogo Bakwena (Head of Department of Economics, University if Botswana) | Mr. Seabata Motsamai (Executive Director, Lesotho Council of NGOs) | Ms Taimi Itembu (Public and Government Affairs Officer, ExxonMobil Namibia)

Moderator: Ms Gugu Nonjinge, (Senior Advocacy Officer, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation)

Location: Virtual | Date: 31 August 2021

Panellist contributing to the high-level forum on the session entitled ‘Lessons from the pandemic: an urgent call to

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