African Transformation Forum 2

The second African Transformation Forum (ATF2), was scheduled to convene once again in Kigali, Rwanda, in Q3 2017. In preparation for this our goal was to (i) discuss and finalize chapter objectives and primary areas of focus for presentation at ATF2 (ii) create a small Chapter Technical Support Team co-led by ACET and including experts from among the chapter countries and selected international organizations to be available upon request for in-country visits. As chapters continue to develop, ATF has now been rescheduled to June 2018 to allow for additional fundraising and as well as to allow chapters to further drill down action plans for discussion. We look forward to showcasing progress chapters have made and exploring practical insights from countries and exploring emerging areas of research such as Industry 4.0 and the future of work The forum was organised on June 20th and 21st with the attendance of two presidents and two vice presidents. Also in attendance were the Heads of various international development agencies including UNECA. The first day of the meeting was focused on galvanising efforts for greater buy-in to the PACT agenda. Parallel working sessions were therefore held for policymakers and other stakeholders in the five PACT Chapters to dialogue about the progress of the Chapters since its launch in 2016. ACET in q3 commenced planning for the third African Transformation forum to be held in Kenya. Over the report period, ACET has agreed on the focus and agenda of the ATF. We are clear about the positioning of the ATF in terms of focus areas, key interlocutors and how to integrate the TLP members’ contributions. We have defined the event objectives and established a plan on how to reach those objectives. ACET also undertook the first recognisant visit to Nairobi, where the Forum will take place, to explore the available facilities and associated logistics. We have since selected a facility for the event that corresponds to our expectations in terms of security, standards and logistics. During the trip to Nairobi, we also engaged with the office of the President, the chief of staff, and the deputy chief of staff. This meeting was highly important to ensure that the President has bought in to the event and are ready to host the event. The deputy chief of staff has engaged a team around her to support the organisation of the event. Lastly, we have enhanced our efforts in terms of seeking sponsorships for the ATF. Several meetings have been held in this regard, and we are currently in advanced negotiations with key potential funders/sponsors. This process has been supported by consultants procured through the TAP procurement system.