CENTRAL AFRICA THINK TANK FORUM
Optimizing The Impact of Think Tanks In The Central Africa Region
- 20th - 21st September 2023
- Djeuga Palace Hotel, Yaoundé - Cameroon
About The Central Africa Think Tank Forum
Nkafu Policy Institute is organizing the Central Africa Think Tank Forum. By bringing together policy makers, renowned researchers, think tankers, and practitioners from all over the world, the Nkafu Policy Institute will aim to brainstorm across institutional policies to map out best strategies and enhance capacities for improved efficiency and more visible impact of think tanks in influencing policies across Central Africa.
Objectives of this Forum
- Establish a platform for exchange of knowledge and shared experiences between the various Think Tanks in the Central African region.
- Analyse specific challenges facing Think Tanks in the region, and opportunities for improvement.
- Explore best practices and effective strategies for strengthening Think Tank capacities.
- Identifier priority research areas for Think Tanks in the region, based on local needs and challenges.
- Promote collaboration and partnerships between Think Tanks in the region and other key players, such as universities, governments and the private sector.
Who will attend this forum?
Think Tanks Leaders
International Funders
Researchers and Students
Civil Society Organization
Development Partners
Panelists / Speakers
Executive Director,
Programme d’Aide pour le Développement Economique et Social (PADES),
DRC
Regional Coordinator,
Centre d’Etude et de la Recherche sur les Analyses et Politiques Economiques (CERAPE),
Congo-Brazzaville
CEO/FOUNDER,
Initiative de Recherches et d’Analyses pour le Développement Durable en Afrique Centrale (IRADDAC)
Cameroon
Administrateur des Sociétés, Investisseur, Leader Communautaire, Haut cadre de l’industrie de l’énergie.
Cameroon
Director,
Centre d’Études et de Recherche en Économie et Gestion (CEREG),
Cameroon
Senior Research Fellow,
Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR),
Rwanda
Executive Director,
Centre d’Étude et de Recherche pour la Dynamique des Organisations (CERDO),
Chad
Head, Knowledge Management & Communications Unit,
West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI),
Ghana
Executive Coordinator,
Community Research & Development Center (COREDEC),
Cameroon
Chief Executive Officer,
Centre For Development and Enterprises Great Lakes,
Burundi
Executive Director,
Dreams HUB – A coworking space for innovation and investigation,
Equatorial Guinea
Cameroon
Director,
Centre de Recherche pour le Développement (CEREDEC),
Central African Republic
Executive Coordinator,
Community Research and Development Center (COREDEC),
Cameroon
Cameroon
Equatorial Guinea
Reserve your space now ...
For more information ...
- +237 654 86 72 54
- [email protected]
Registration Fee $100 or 50,000 XAF
The registration fee will cover;
- Participation at the forum and all technical workshops;
- Conference material (t-shirts, bags, note books, pens, programme etc);
- Lunch and coffee breaks;
- The pre-conference welcome reception;
- The post-conference gala dinner;
- Opportunity to pitch ideas to key funders during the forum;
- Branded pdf copy of the conference report;
- Attestation of participation certificate.
Logistics
Delegates are responsible for arranging
- Hotel Reservations,
- Bearing the cost of flight tickets,
- Visa fees (Apply for a Cameroon Visa here),
- Local transportation
- Any personal expenses (extra food, gifts etc)
Our logistics team is available to facilitate these for you.
Themes of the Panel Discussions and Debate
Tuesday, 19th September 2023
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Welcome Reception at Djeuga Palace Hotel Open discussions: Think tanks and the closing civic space.
Speaker: Dr Denis Foretia/Dr Gobina/Mr Francis
Rapporteurs: Solange Dabou
Wednesday, 20th September 2023
8:00 - 9:00 - Registration Grab your welcome pack and a cup of coffee and meet fellow conference-goers.
9:00 – 9:10 – Welcome remarks – Denis Foretia
9:15 - 9:45 - Keynote 1:
Evidence-informed policymaking in a challenging regional context
Speaker: Joel Nana Kontchou - Chief Executive Officer, Makoe Ventures Former Chief Executive Officer, ENEO
Introduced by: Mr Ebenezer Fostin Fouefack
10:00 -11:00 - Coffee break
11:00 - 12:10 – Plenary panel discussion
Practical Strategies To Increase Capacity And Impact Of Central African Think Tanks.
Speakers
- High Commission of Canada to Cameroon
- Aimable Manirakiza - Chief Executive Officer Center for Development and Enterprises Great Lakes
- Ibrahim Aygongar - Directeur exécutif du Centre d’Études et de Recherches Pour la Dynamique des Organisations (CERDO)
- Barnabe Okouda - Directeur du Centre d’Analyse et de Recherche sur les Politiques Économiques et Sociales (CAMERCAP-PARC)
Moderator: – Mr Jean Blaise Nkonga – ICOO
Rapporteurs: Ms. Larissa Ntoubia – Research Assistant – Nkafu Policy Institute
Session Coordinator: Dr Adeline Nembot – Economic Policy Analyst – Nkafu Policy Institute
12:15 – 13:20 - Panel Session
Role of think tanks in promoting regional trade and AfCFTA Implementation
Speakers
- Dr Deo Ngendakumana - Directeur exécutif de l’Institut de Développement Économique – Burundi
- Mr Victor Kitembo - Fondateur & Directeur exécutif du Programme africain pour le développement économique et social (PADES) – Congo Kinshasa
- Christelle Amina Djoulde - Executive Coordinator at the Community Research and Development Center (COREDEC) – Cameroon
- Prof Emmanuel Ongo - Directeur du Centre d’Études et de Recherche en Économie et Gestion (CEREG). – Cameroon
Moderator: Dr. Jean Cedric Kouam
Rapporteurs: Dr Tankeu Meli
Session Coordinator: Mr. Ebenezer
13:30 - 14:30 – Lunch
14:00 – 14:30 - Keynote 2:
Role of Universities in Evidence Uptake:
A Conversation with Professor Uphie Chinje - Former Rector, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon
Moderator: Denis Foretia, MD MPH MBA FACS, Co-Chair, Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation
Rapporteurs: Dr. Vera Kum
14:30 - 15:30 - Plenary Panel Session
Think Tank Cooperation: Strategies For Enhanced Collaboration.
Speakers
- Dr Aline Zobo - CEO/FOUNDER, IRADDAC – Cameroon
- NZONIKOUA Boniface - Coordonnateur du Centre de Recherche et Appui au Développement (CRAD) – Central Africa Republic, CAR
- Prof Jean Christophe Bazika : Coordonnateur régional du Centre d'Études et de Recherche sur les Analyses et Politiques Économiques
Moderator: Mrs Vanessa Aboudi– Research Associate, Governance and Democracy Division
Rapporteurs: Dr Theophile Nguimfack – Research Fellow, Governance and Democracy Division
Session Coordinator: Dr. Parfait Beri – Economic Policy Analyst
15:30 - 16:30 - Roundtable session
Engaging and Supporting Young Policy Researchers
Speakers
- Damien Mouzoun - Founder & Chief Executive Officer Ayina Think Tank – Rwanda
- Mr Christian Ngoube - Directeur des programmes OPA-AYEN – Cameroon
- Ms Ebela Annick - Centre Pluridisciplinaire de Recherche sur l’Intelligence Artificielle (CREPIA) – Cameroon
Facilitator: Dr William Arrey – Senior Fellow – Peace and Security Division – Nkafu Policy Institute
Rapporteurs: Ms Larissa Ntoubia
Session Coordinator: Dr Ondoua – Economic Policy Analyst
16:30 - 18:00 - Roundtable Session
Think tanks and Public Engagement - Effective advocacy and policy engagement strategies.
Speakers
- Jacques Jonathan - Founder & President - The Okwelians – Cameroon
- Jean Baptiste NSENGIYUMV - Senior Research Fellow to represent IPAR-Rwanda
- Jimm Chick - Head, Knowledge Management Unit, West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI) – Ghana
Facilitator: Dr. Primus Tazanu – Research Fellow in Governance and Democracy
Rapporteurs: Ms. Muriel Kinkoh – Research Assistant – Peace and Security Division
Session Coordinator: Dr Jean Cedric K.
18:00 – 18:30 – Participants share their reflections and takeaways from the day's sessions.
18:30 – 20:00 – DINNER
Thursday 21st September 2023
8:00 - 9:00 - Coffee and pre-conference catchups!
9:00 -9:30 - Keynote 3
Think tanks and the promotion of open, democratic societies
Speaker: Barrister Agbor Balla
Introduced by: Mr Ayukmba Nkonghonyor
Rapporteurs: Mrs. Arielle (we use the 15 minutes after the keynote for Q&A and other audience engagement activities)
9:30 - 11:00 - Plenary Panel Session
How Should Funders Support Think Tanks in the Central African Region?
Speakers
- Barassou Diawara, PhD., Head of Knowledge Africa Capacity Building Foundation
- Frédéric Kwady Ndecky Program Officer, Open Society Foundations - Africa
- Mariya Gorbanova Advisor, Knowledge for Transformation Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Berlin
- Lancelot Ehode Knowledge Sharing Advisor*** International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Moderator: Dr Vera Fuein Kum – Research Fellow – Economic Affairs
Rapporteurs: Solange Dabou – Health Research Associate
Session Coordinator: Dr. Jean Cedric
11:00 - 12:30 - Parallel Roundtable Session
Submitting a Winning Grant Proposal (technical workshop). Other funders (Other embassies) Grant writer
Speaker: Olivia Mukam CEO, Solutionneurs
Facilitator: Dr Jean Cedric K – Deputy Director – Economic Affairs Division
Rapporteurs: Dr Tankeu Yollande
Session Coordinator: Dr. Valery Ngo – Senior Health Researcher
12:30 - 14:00 – Lunch and Networking
14:00 - 15:00 – Plenary Panel
Leadership Development in Think Tanks
Speakers
- Adoglo Metohuey Djiwenou Michael - Executive Director, Dreams HUB – Guinea
- Dr Lambert Leinyuy - Centre for Research on Child and Family Development and Education (CRCFDE) – Cameroon
- Mr Moudourou Francois-Herve – OPEN Think Tank – Cameroon
Moderator: Mr. Antem Anthony
Rapporteurs: Dr Beri Parfait
Session Coordinator: Ms. Vanessa Aboudi
15:00 - 16:00 - Plenary Panel
Think tanks and the Media.
Speakers
- Henri Mokambi - Présidente de l’Institut Concorde – Gabon
- Paulette Ndong - Journaliste/Chef de rubrique Mutations – Cameroon
- Leopold Dasi - Senior Reporter - Le Messager – Cameroon
- Yerima Kini Nsom
Reporter: The Post Newspaper – Cameroon
Moderator: Mr Ayukmba Nkonghonyor – Senior Communications Manager
Rapporteurs : Ms Larissa N
Session Coordinator: M. Antem Anthony
16:00 - 17:00 - Roundtable Session
Ideas Room – Think Tanks interested in collaborating brainstorm together. Think tanks meet in thematic research areas of interest (economy, health, governance, security, rights, WEE, care economy, AfCFTA etc)
Facilitator: All division leads.
Rapporteurs: All assistants/associates
17:00 - 17:30 - Participants share their reflections and takeaways from the day's sessions
17 :30 - 18 :00 – Recap
18 :00-18 :15 – Closing remarks
18 :30 – DINNER