Discussion Forum in Dar es Salaam

As part of our commitment to improving good governance across Africa, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation facilitated a high-level discussion forum to debate what are perhaps the most pressing issues facing the continent: climate change and climate justice, agriculture and food security, and regional economic integration. Attended by concerned and committed members of both Tanzanian and international civil society, and led by experts and eminent practitioners in each field, the discussion forum provided a space for genuine opinions to be aired and solutions proposed.

The discussion on climate change and climate justice was chaired by President Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana and the second recipient of the Ibrahim Prize. Debate centred on how Africa should approach the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and what responsibilities the developed world had to mitigate the effects of their carbon emissions.

The session on Agriculture and Food Security, chaired by Mr Donald Kaberuka, the head of the African Development Bank, focused on the need for increased investment in the agricultural sector from both public bodies and the private sector; and, crucially, the need for investment to be better targeted to provide the maximum benefits.

The final session, on regional economic integration and chaired by H.E. Mr Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, saw consensus on the need for integration and a call to focus on areas which will speed up the process, particularly an increased focus on the role of the private sector and strong leadership from the African Union.

For more information on these important issues, please consult the respective Briefing Notes prepared by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Full reports from the sessions will be available shortly.

Agriculture and Food Security - Briefing Note (PDF)

Climate Change and Climate Justice - Briefing Note (PDF)

Regional Economic Integration - Briefing Note (PDF)

All Panellists

CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE PANELLISTS

President Festus Mogae (Chair)

UN Special Envoy on Climate Change

Dr Mary Robinson

Founder and President, Realizing Rights

Ms Katherine Sierra

Vice-President of Sustainable Development, World Bank

Professor Pius Zebhe Yanda

Research Professor, Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY PANELLISTS

Mr Donald Kaberuka (Chair)

President, African Development Bank

Sir Gordon Conway

Professor of International Development, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London

Dr Moïse Mensah

Member of the Board, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Professor Rudy Rabbinge

University Professor in Sustainable Development and Food Security, Wageningen University

REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION PANELLISTS

H.E. Mr Abdoulie Janneh (Chair)

Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Ambassador Juma Mwapachu

Secretary-General, East African Community

Dr Benno Ndulu

Governor of Central Bank of Tanzania

Mr Sindiso Ngwenya

Secretary-General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

The Hon Judge Joseph Warioba

Former Prime Minister, Tanzania