cOVERAGE
Agenda
Speakers

Event description

It is time to reframe the narrative on African successes and innovation.

On December 12, high-level experts and innovators at AfriNEXT—a conference hosted by the Atlantic Council and global development company DAI— showcased the strong business case for investment in African markets, as well as the importance of situating investments and other partnerships squarely in local contexts. Panelists shared perspectives on all that lies ahead for the African continent, including the rising power of its youth, the impact of digitalization, and the threat of climate change.

Coverage

Video playlist

Transcripts

AfriNEXT

Transcript Dec 12, 2023

Entrepreneurs are changing the narrative about women’s leadership in Africa

By Atlantic Council

Women are making wave in the African startup and entrepreneurial space, argue women on a panel at AfriNEXT.
Africa Resilience
AfriNEXT

Transcript Dec 12, 2023

How African countries can work together to feed the continent—and speed up its development

By Atlantic Council

Africa can feed itself and help feed the world, argue panelists at AfriNEXT.
Africa Resilience

Photos

A panel speaks about advancing women’s leadership as part of the AfriNEXT conference on December 12, 2023.

Agenda

8:30 am – 9:00 am – Welcome coffee/breakfast

Check back soon for details

9:00 am – 9:05 am – Introductory remarks

Ambassador Rama Yade, Senior Director, Africa Center, Atlantic Council

9:05 am – 9:15 am – Keynote

Video remarks

Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General and Chair, United Nations Sustainable Development Group, United Nations

9:15 am – 10:00 am – Plenary session: The African diaspora: Driving change on the continent

Worku Gachou, Head of North American Inclusive Impact & Sustainability, Visa
Melvin Foote, President and CEO, Constituency for Africa
Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Executive Director, President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States

Moderated by

Tonija Hope, Director, Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center, Howard University

10:05 am – 10:50 am – Plenary session: Digitizing Africa: The innovations behind Africa’s digital transformation

Rebecca Harrison, CEO and Co-Founder, African Management Institute
Fernando Loureiro, Executive Director Government Affairs for Latin America and Africa, Intel
Henri Nyakarundi, Founder, ARED Group, Inc.

Moderated by

Jackson M’vunganyi, Host-Producer, Voice of America’s Up Front

11:00 am – 11:15 am – Lightning talk: Games for peace

Lual Mayen, CEO, Junub Games

11:15 am – 12:00 pm – Panel 1a: The agribusiness revolution: Rethinking how we feed the future

Ousman Gajigo, Director, Seeds for Prosperity
Lilac Nachum, Professor, Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and Strathmore University Business School
Jehiel Oliver, CEO, Hello Tractor

Moderated by

Ambassador Rama Yade, Senior Director, Africa Center, Atlantic Council

11:15 am – 12:00 pm – Panel 1b: On the rise: Africa’s startup ecosystem

Philip Gasaatura, Country Director Rwanda, Katapult Africa
Henri Nyakarundi, Founder, ARED Group, Inc.
Justin James, Chief Investment Officer, Fireball Capital

Moderated by

Aniko Szigetvari, Founding Partner, Atlantica Ventures VC Fund

12:10 pm – 12:55 pm – Plenary session – The future of African climate finance

Justin James, Chief Investment Officer, Fireball Capital
Heather K. Lanigan, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, US Trade and Development Agency
Jean-Paul Mvogo, Senior Fellow, Africa Center, Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Lesley Reddy, Head of Southern Africa Advisory, CrossBoundary

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm – Panel 2a: The innovation landscape of private investment in Africa

Ken Sharpe, Chief Energizing Officer, WestProp Holdings – Zimbabwe
Paula Mokwena, CEO, Fireball Capital
Simba Mhungu, COO, CBZ Agro-Yield

Moderated by

Joe Abah, Nigeria Country Director, DAI

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm – Panel 2b – Reflections on COP28: An Africa-focused climate action and development agenda

Heather K. Lanigan, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, US Trade and Development Agency
Kaushik Ray, Partner, Head of Global Strategy, Trinity International LLP

Moderated by

Ahmed Al Qabany, Senior Climate Change Specialist, The World Bank

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm – Panel 3a: From day one: Advancing women’s leadership in Africa

Rebecca Harrison, CEO and Co-Founder, African Management Institute
Anita Erskine, CEO, Erskine Global Communications
Betty Beenzu Chilonde, Founder, Bulongo Incubator for Creative Skills

Moderated by

Sarah Zaaimi, Deputy Director for Communications, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs, Atlantic Council

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm – Panel 3b: The next green revolution: Investing in Africa’s agricultural sector

Simba Mhungu, COO, CBZ Agro-Yield
Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director, Kosmos Innovation Center

Moderated by

Philip Gasaatura, Country Director Rwanda, Katapult Africa

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm – Lightning Talk: Bulongo Incubator For Creative Skills

Betty Beenzu Chilonde, Founder, Bulongo Incubator for Creative Skills

4:10 pm – 4:55 pm – Panel 4a: Incubating African entrepreneurship

Rebecca Harrison, CEO and Co-Founder, African Management Institute
Betty Beenzu Chilonde, Founder, Bulongo Incubator for Creative Skills
Deirdre White, CEO, Pyxera Global

Moderated by

Diana Marrero, SVP, Foreign Policy

4:10 pm – 4:55 pm – Panel 4b: Youthquake: The transformative role of youth in shaping Africa’s future

Lual Mayen, CEO, Junub Games
Moussa Kondo, Executive Director, Sahel Institute

Moderated by

Rutendo Mudzamiri, Director of Development, Freedom & Prosperity Center, Atlantic Council

5:00 pm – 5:30 pm  – Fireside chat: One billion bricks: Reimagining African development

Ken Sharpe, Chief Energizing Officer, WestProp Holdings – Zimbabwe

Moderated by

Larry Madowo, CNN International Correspondent and host, African Voices Changemakers

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Networking cocktail

Check back soon for updates

Speakers

Joe Abah
Nigeria Country Director
DAI

Betty Beenzu Chilonde
Founder
Bulongo Incubator for Creative Skills

Anita Erskine
CEO
Erskine Global Communications

Worku Gachou
Head of North American Inclusive Impact & Sustainability
Visa

Ousman Gajigo
Director
Seeds for Prosperity

Philip Gasaatura
Managing Director, Country Director Rwanda
Katapult Africa

Benjamin Gyan-Kesse
Executive Director
Kosmos Innovation Center

Rebecca Harrison
CEO and Co-Founder
African Management Institute

Tonija Hope Navas
Director, Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center
Howard University

Justin James
Chief Investment Officer
Fireball Capital

Moussa Kondo
Executive Director
Sahel Institute for Democracy and Governance

Heather K. Lanigan
Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa
US Trade and Development Agency

Deniece Laurent-Mantey
Executive Director
President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States

Fernando Loureiro
Executive Director, Government Affairs, Latin America and Africa
Intel

Larry Madowo
International Correspondent
CNN

Diana Marrero
SVP
Foreign Policy

Lual Mayen
CEO
Junub Games

Simba Mhungu
COO
CBZ Agro-Yield

Amina Mohammed
Deputy Secretary-General and Chair, United Nations Sustainable Development Group
United Nations

Paula Mokwena
CEO
Fireball Capital

Fellow

Jean-Paul Mvogo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Jackson M’vunganyi
Host-Producer
VOA Up Front

Lilac Nachum
Professor
Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College; Strathmore University Business School

Henri Nyakarundi
Founder
ARED Group, Inc.

Jehiel Oliver
CEO
Hello Tractor

Ahmed Al Qabany
Senior Climate Change Specialist
World Bank

Kaushik Ray
Head of Global Strategy
Trinity International LLP

Lesley Reddy
Head of Southern Africa Advisory
CrossBoundary

Ken Sharpe
CEO – Chief Energizing Officer
WestProp Holdings – Zimbabwe

Aniko Szigetvari
Founding Partner
Atlantica Ventures VC Fund

Deirdre White
CEO
Pyxera Global

Fellow

Rama Yade

Senior Director, Africa Center

Africa Center Europe Center

Civil Society Human Rights

Staff

Sarah Zaaimi

Deputy Director for Communications

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Artists

Tesslo

Tesslo is a premium fashion brand specializing in creating customized, high-quality, timeless, and professionally tailored pieces, both classic and avant-garde. Founded by the talented Tessy Oliseh-Amaize in 2005, Tesslo currently operates as a virtual atelier based in Washington, D.C.

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African Art Beats

African Art Beats is a gallery of contemporary art featuring artists from Africa and the diaspora located in Washington, DC. Its aim is to connect art lovers as well as new and seasoned art collectors across the globe with curated works from some of the finest emerging and established artists of the continent.

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In partnership with

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The Africa Center works to promote dynamic geopolitical partnerships with African states and to redirect US and European policy priorities toward strengthening security and bolstering economic growth and prosperity on the continent.

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