What's on in March? Listing of events and activities

 

 

The 14th Annual Africa Business Conference is hosted by the Africa Business Club, a member of Student Clubs of HBS, Inc. at Harvard Business School. The theme for the 2012 conference, "Africa Incorporated: Cultivating an Integrated Market", was birthed out of the acknowledgement that the continent is at a turning point. Internally, African citizens and consumers are demanding more and better products and services. Externally, rapidly emerging markets in Asia and elsewhere present the potential for new partnerships. In light of these changes, business leaders in Africa face unprecedented opportunity.

The Africa Business Conference is the world's largest student-run event focused on business in Africa. It brings together about 1,000 participants and is the ultimate networking opportunity for business and community leaders, corporate sponsors, students, educators from around the world, and anyone passionate about business opportunities in Africa. The conference will be held on campus at the Harvard Business School in Boston on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 with several activities taking place on Friday, March 2nd, 2012. For attending alums, there will also be an Alumni brunch taking place on Sunday, March 4th, 2012.

This conference is all about exploring opportunities for the next generation to engage in Africa's emergence as a business center. Join us for what promises to be an engaging and enlightening discussion about African regional integration and cross-border business. What does regional integration mean to you?

For more information and to register: http://www.hbsafricaconference.com

 

 

The 6th Annual Africa Economic Forum will bring together Africa's leading industries, companies, state players, senior executives, and African government officials to interface in a content rich meeting, including those from countries outside Africa, and so connect fast-growth core industries and players driving Africa's economies forward.

Plenary Sessions with leading Speakers, drawn from key countries are designed for business and Governments, focused on the fundamentals shaping Africa's economic future. The Agenda is concentrated around the questions that really matter, leading edge shifts in Africa's evolving economic landscapes, critical investment and business concerns, and the Continents emerging role and strategic position within a highly-competitive and rapidly globalizing world.

Our 4th Sub-Saharan Africa Business Briefing takes place one day prior the 6th Africa Economic Forum, on the 5th March 2012, with unique insights on the prospects, potential and future economic outlook for business and investment across the Continent, presented by Dr Duncan Clarke, Chairman & CEO, Global Pacific & Partners, the leading economic strategist on Africa.

For further details and to register: Sonika Greyvenstein +27.11.880.7052 sonika@glopac-partners.com

http://www.petro21.com/events/?eventid=728

 

 

IFSEC West Africa is a leading security exhibition dedicated to the commercial security, fire protection and Homeland Security trade. The show boasts exhibitors from Africa and the rest of the world and has attracted the attention of security professionals globally that visit this show, specifically to seek out new security product and service providers. With safety and security now a top priority in the oil-rich West African region– IFSEC West Africa comes at the perfect time for government representatives, CEOs, investors, managing directors, risk managers and any individual with a special interest in safety and security.

Security professionals from West African countries will gather at state of the art Eko Expo Centre venue. Don't miss an opportunity to join colleagues from:

Why should you attend IFSEC West Africa?

For further information and to register: http://www.ifsecwestafrica.com/EN/Content/Pages/REGISTER-NOW

 

 

2nd Annual Africa Banking & Finance Conference, to be held again in Nairobi Kenya on the 6-7 March 2012

The hugely successful ABFC 2011 wrapped up with a resounding agreement among speakers that Africa is on a growth trajectory but still remains a high risk- high return proposition.

Held in Strategic Partnership with Kenya Bankers Association, the 2nd Annual Africa banking & Finance Conference – ABFC 2012 will extend discussions and debates on these and other topical issues. 2nd Annual Africa Banking & Finance Conference will gather industry thought leaders in dynamic debates and your representatives will interact with international as well as regional players in the banking, finance and investment community.

ABFC 2012 will showcase one-of-a-kind spectacle of the latest innovation in the industry. The event provides a great platform to strengthen your brand awareness as you positively associate your business with the pursuit of excellence and market-leading innovation in finance industry. 1st Annual Africa Banking & Finance Conference allows your company to be associated with an initiative designed to advance best practices in African finance sector.

Themes at ABFC 2012

The issue of Anti-Money Laundering measures and countering financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and how African financial jurisdictions are measuring up to their counterparts in the developed markets.

Sophisticated risk management procedures ie lending criteria, bad debt and regulatory initiatives.

he challenges of striking a balance between the financial inclusion agenda and the security controls that are put in place .Regulatory role against the target of the financial inclusion agenda.

Their place in the modern product portfolio

How will products shift in response to new customer demands

How can regional banks differentiate their future products in a competitive market?

This will relate number different topics, such as operational efficiencies that encourage economic prosperity, banking and investments performance and Corporate Social Responsibility

This theme examines the impact on economic growth and development- the need to scale up to access complex market. How will banks improve on integrative thinking and business design? How are the leading industry players improving their operating performance?

This theme will address the issues of global connectivity with a focus on reinforcing co-operation across jurisdictions to ensure stronger regional regulatory architecture, developing supervisory frameworks to support the increase in cross-border activities, cushioning against the global oscillations.

More details at http://www.aidembs.com/banking_conference/

To register/enquire, please contact: Maggy

Tel: +254 20 2218114

Email:

maggy@aidembs.com

 

Dr Laura Hammond, Senior Lecturer, Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Dr Ken Menkhaus, Professor of Political Science, Davidson College
Dr Ali Ibrahim Dagane, Food Security and Livelihoods Specialist

This event will look at the findings of a new report commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme's Somalia office, which looks at one of the few success stories related to Somalia today: how effective the Somali diaspora is in supporting relief and development activities in their country of origin.

The report examines the motivations for support, the factors that influence it, the means and mechanisms by which it is mobilized and transferred to Somalia, and the ways in which local Somali actors put the support they receive to use. The report is based on original research conducted in Somaliland, Puntland and South/Central Somalia, as well as in international cities with a high concentration of Somali diaspora members.

For more information please contact Tighisti Amare.http://www.chathamhouse.org

South Africa's Louis Armstrong, Hugh Masekela is a musician deserving of his legendary stature, having been at the heart of South African music for more than half a century. An articulate and forthright spokesman for the people of his country and their culture for six decades, Hugh Masekela has been an outspoken figure in the struggle for civil rights and spent his career pushing musical boundaries. He is one of jazz's greatest horn players, able to adopt township jazz, funk and hip-hop into his music.

His soaring, joyful trumpet sound brims with warmth and bristles with elements of township jazz, funk and hip-hop whilst his voice continues to speak out for the people of his country and their culture. At 72 he remains, in the words of the Independent: 'a musician of phenomenal grace and power…still blessed with a voice that can strip the leaves from the trees.'

This time he brings his brilliant young band back to London for the first time since his sell-out show at the London Jazz Festival 2010, in partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation.

Details: 10 March 7.30pm Details:www.barbican.org.uk

 

Entrepreneurship is the keys to sustainable economic and private sector development in Africa, as growth accelerates on the continent, it generates with it new opportunities for investment. When it comes to future global investment strategies, Africa is high on the agenda for investors and entrepreneurs. The continent has become a more attractive investment destination over the last decade and is expected to sustain it's long term investment potential.

The conference will bring together government representatives, business leaders and entrepreneurs, to explore several aspects of entrepreneurship and economic development in Africa. The discussion will reflect on practical experience, real success and future prospects for growth and opportunity in Africa. Further promises to stimulate thoughts and action with a view to promoting further trade and investment in Africa's dynamic economies.

Key areas to be addressed:

For information: http://www.sub-saharangroup.com/index.html

Course Highlights

Who will be attending?

For more information and to register:www.infocusinternational.com/projectfinance

 

The most successful Congress and Exhibition in the biofuels industry.

We will once again bring together the leaders of the biofuels industry for in-depth analysis on advanced biofuels, aviation, algae, finance, biorefineries and more. Interact with market leaders showcasing their latest technological developments.

What's new on the agenda?

What's new on the Exhibition Floor?

Join the Premier Agenda of Global Biofuels Thought Leaders

Co-located with two world-leading specialised events March 13 - 14

http://www.mbendi.com/greenpower/events/e8ho.htm

H.E. Berhanu Kebede, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Kingdom

H.E. Berhanu Kebede graduated from the Department of Economics in Planning and Project Analysis at Addis Ababa University in 1978 and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1983, he transferred to the Diplomatic Mission in Brussels as an economist. In 1986 he gained an MA in Development Economics and in 1988 in Management and Finance, at the Free University of Brussels. He participated in all joint ACP-EU and ACP Council conferences held in Brussels and other regions. He was Chargé d'Affaires to the Russian Federation and in February 2002, was appointed Ambassador of Ethiopia to Scandinavia, then to the United Kingdom in March 2006. He attended all OAU Council and Summit conferences and ECA Ministerial Conferences held between 1992 and 2000. He attended the 48th to the 55th UN General Assembly sessions and the COMESA Council and Summit conferences. He participated in negotiations leading to the Lome II and III conventions - international aid and trade agreements between the ACP Countries group and the European Union.

Organiser: Centre of African Studies, Contact email:cas@soas.ac.uk , Contact Tel: 020 7898 4370 12.00-2.00 pm Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings Room: 116

Nadine Gordimer talks about her life and writing. Gordimer won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991, and is widely recognized for her activism and for confronting moral and political issues in her writing.

She published her first novel in 1953, and has since gone on to publish short stories, plays and criticism in over 40 books, including The Conservationist, which won the Booker Prize in 1974. This is the first of a series of events with Index on Censorship, which focuses on the continuing importance of free expression across the world. Gordimer's latest novel, published to coincide with this event, is No Time Like the Present.

http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/literature-spoken-word/tickets/nadine-gordimer-62299

This new CIPD event is designed to improve your skills, knowledge and approach as an HR business partner, giving you and your organisation the strategic edge.

At a time when strategic HR is of the utmost importance, you will gain greater insight into the direction of your organisation and the challenges it will face along the way. This event will enable business partners to benchmark their strategic approach, develop their knowledge and brush up on business-critical skills. Find out how to become more business savvy, engage with line managers and establish HR's place at the top table. Plus don't miss the value-added workshop to put into practice your learning from the conference.

Join leading business partners, CIPD advisors, senior managers and HR strategists to help you:

Plus, choose between two afternoon sessions on the Impact of UK pension changes OR Supporting International Workforces!

http://www.cipd.co.uk/cande/hr-for-business-partnering

 

The Common Sense Convois is a civic intervention designed to influence the shape of the next 50 years of the Caribbean by posing the question:

What Caribbean do we want our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to inherit 50 years from now, and what will it take to get from here to there?

What are the objectives?
To distill and promote a Regional Action Agenda for:

The Trinidad and Tobago Convois is the main event in a network of Convois strategy sessions across the Caribbean and into the diaspora. Using communication technology, we hope to network the region in a common conversation about the Caribbean and its future over the course of the week of March 18 – 25th, 2012. Imagine what that would be like!

Our target participants are those, in every field, within and beyond the Caribbean, who have a real investment in the future of the region and who therefore have a vested interest in determining the shape of that future. Our special commitment is to ensure that the Youth is fully represented and involved.

The "Convois" is a special form of democratic engagement that has been developed by the LBIWI over a number of years. It combines the discussion and analysis of a conference with the focused planning of a strategy session, infused with the distinctive flavour of Caribbean camaraderie. http://www.lloydbestinstitute.org/2012/01/21/the-events-objectives/

 

 

Uncover the hottest African private equity opportunities at Private Equity World Africa 2012

Private Equity World Africa is a two day conference dedicated to identifying the most exciting private equity opportunities on the continent. It brings together leading LPs and GPs to discuss opportunities presented by Africa's emerging middle class, real estate, financial services, telecommunications, agribusiness and infrastructure.

Speakers represent leading investors and practitioners. The event offers an outstanding opportunity for networking and new business development. If you're currently involved in private equity in Africa, or would like to find out more about the opportunities the continent presents, then register today

Private Equity World Africa 2012 will be collocated with the Africa Investment Summit 2012. Venue: One Whitehall Place, London, UK

Come to Private Equity Africa and learn:

You'll come away with great new ideas to do better business

 

 

The Africa Investment Summit brings together UK and European Institutional Investors with African opportunities. It examines major sectors and asset classes and is dedicated to highlighting new opportunities and helping you create new relationships in this sector.

It is a high level summit that is held alongside Private Equity World Africa, which brings together LPs and GPs to examine the unique private equity opportunities presented by Africa.

Come to the Africa Investment Summit and learn:

You'll come away with great new ideas to do better business and increase profitability

http://www.terrapinn.com/2012/africa-investment-summit/

 

 

According to Petroleum Online, there are 659 worldwide refineries, located in 115 countries that collectively have a daily capacity of about 88 million barrels per day (b/d). Some countries including the United States, however, have exceeded this utilization level in recent years.

The demand from emerging regions such as India, China and Middle East, along with ethanol substitution for gasoline and enhancements in engine technology, are driving higher demand for diesel relative to gasoline.

Many refiners will look at shifting fuel production from gasoline to diesel or remain flexible to shift between the two as needed. The shift to diesel also drives an emphasis on bottom-of-the-barrel processing. Technology advances and improved configurations for heavy oil processing will drive higher distillate yields and give refiners a significant advantage when competing in a global market.

After a very successful year and an overwhelming response from the market last year, Fleming Gulf is back with the sequel 2nd Annual Global Refining Technology Forum.

Key Topics:

Who should attend:

CEO's, Presidents, Directors, CO2 Managers, Head of Environment & Environment Engineers, Chief Operating Officers, Operation Manager, Head of Process Engineering, Head of Plant Maintenance, Chief Technology Officer, Head of Process Application, Technical Manager, Head of Catalyst & Catalyst Cracking, Environment Consultant, Chemical Engineers, Head of Equipment, Refinery Managers, General Manager Refinery, Energy Expert, Refinery Specialist, Process Manager, Head of Production & Production Planning, Head of Downstream

For further information and to register: http://www.fleminggulf.com/oil-and-gas/middle-east/2nd-annual-global-refining-technology-forum

 

 

The 'Technology & Digital Summit and Africa Technology Awards take place in Johannesburg, South Africa' on 22-24 March 2012.

The conference is being organized at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa. We are expecting more than 2000 business leaders from around the globe and some of the major government decision makers from the African continent.

Afri-Tech summit is projected to be one of the largest technology and business-centric conference in Africa and with an equally impressive representation from various governments. The Afri-Tech Technology & Digital Summit', to be held in South Africa (March, 2012), is most appropriately timed considering the resurgence of Africa as one of the most untapped business destination.

The spotlight in this year's conference in Johannesburg (South Africa) will be on Healthcare, Education, Banking & Finance, Networking solutions, Digital marketing and Science & Technology. It is projected to be the largest gathering of digital media gurus and industry pioneers in the continent of Africa.

For further information and to register: www.afri-tech.com.

www.africatechnologyawrds.com

A number of African films, including the award-winning SA film Life, Above All, are being shown at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, which is due to once again take over London and New York.

In London from 23 March to 1 April, the festival is organised around four themes: Truth, Justice and Accountability; Times of Conflict and Responses to Terrorism; Human Dignity, Discrimination and Resources; and Migrants' and Women's Rights.

Many of this year's films demonstrate the power of traditional and new media to influence filmmaking and impact human rights. UK showings will bring to their audiences a powerful line-up of 16 documentaries and five dramas, including the emotional drama Life, Above All, which won the Francois Chalais Prize at Cannes for its frank depiction of a small South African community ruptured by fear and shame.

The 15th year that a series of documentaries and has been brought to London in honour of human rights, some films involve Q & A discussions with the film-makers and run the gamut of culture, language and expression. Other African films being shown include the UK premiere of Pushing the Elephant, which tells the story of a mother and daughter's reunion after 12 years of separation, and The Team, in which a group of Kenyans produce a soap opera in the hope of solving the ethnic rifts of their nation.

Times and venues for the African films: www.hrw.org

For Africa's freight transport sector to be able to improve its competitiveness, at the same time coping with increasing volumes and responding to the demands of society for sustainability, it will be necessary to better utilise available transport resources and infrastructure.

Playing a vital role is the expertise in transport and logistics management as practised under African conditions, which is indispensable for any enterprise wishing to extend its intra-African footprint.

Regional policy harmonisation and implementation between the different regions in Africa for infrastructure -- in civil aviation, communications, energy, meteorology and roads -- are yielding very positive outcomes for the African continent. These issues continue to be a major focus for Africa and its leaders in government.

A key determinant of efficiency in freight logistics -- Africa's transport networks must be unified with a planned and clear outcome for the continent. Each region must manage itself so that the outcome of each region's successes ties into the planned bigger picture.

To meet the goals, cooperation is needed - outside of governments - between the key transport stakeholders including users, transport integrators, carriers and terminal operators.

http://www.fia-south.com/conference/about

 

 

EOR will play a key role in the future long term supply of oil to meet world demand. Conventional resources are maturing and the industry is experiencing limited volumes of discoveries of new conventional resources to replace production. At the same time, the growth in demand for oil is increasing at a steady pace with emerging economies dominating the world markets.

EOR has been recently in the news for one of the 6 clean green energy markets that will change the world in the next 5 years apart from solar energy, electric vehicles, offshore wind farms, smart grid technologies and green building materials and construction. EOR is an enormous opportunity, with total global EOR recovery potential estimated to exceed 750 billion barrels of oil. The Middle East has the greatest EOR potential with over 475 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

EOR can extend the current oil shelf life of the remaining 46 years to 138 years.

Key topics:

Who should attend:

http://www.fleminggulf.com/oil-and-gas/middle-east/enhanced-oil-recovery-more-oil-less-toil

 

The 7th Edition of the International Black Women's Festival (IBW) will span across March and April for a double celebration; the 100th anniversary of International Women's Month & the United Nations' announcement of 2011 International Year for African Descent people.

More than ever the programme will be an eclectic mix incorporating foreign independent and classic films, such as I Will Follow & For Coloured Girls; a beautiful animation -Chico & Rita - about Afro-Cuban jazz. Also includes an Animation Forum for 6 to 60 yrs as well as a Filmmaker's Forum. The festival celebrates the global black experience by focusing on women's talent and representation. By covering a wide range of genres, and issues, the Festival seeks to present and honour women's survival wisdom and power while promoting race and gender equality.

For further information: http://www.imagesofblackwomen.com/

 

The World's leading Customer Experience Event is coming to Johannesburg in 2012

In March 2012 the Focus Group are bringing their prestigious Customer Experience event to South Africa. Their UK-based annual European Customer Experience World (ECEW) attracts speakers from international brands such as the Disney Institute, Coca-Cola, Yahoo, Unilever, Starbucks and Virgin as well as the leading published experts such as David MacLeod, Chair of the UK Government Task Force.

In response to growing numbers of delegates from South Africa attending Focus Group events in the UK, the Focus Group surveyed leading companies in SA and found that 90% believed that Customer Experience is the "answer to challenging times". Over 80% felt that they needed to listen to the voice of the customer.

Recent research performed by Consulta Research indicates SA brands are ready to adopt the customer experience techniques that have helped US and UK brands distinguish themselves and their balance sheets. The 'maturity model' of Customer Experience currently places South Africa as "mid-to-low mature". This means that the focus on how companies interact with their customers is ripe for change in SA from the standard model of focussing on customer acquisition, to majoring on Customer Experience. CE concentrates on trying to retain customers and make them ambassadors for brands they feel an affinity with; Starbucks for instance underwent phenomenal growth not due to advertising spend, but because their customers spread the word – due to the CE they received.

CE presents a great opportunity for SA brands to thrive. This new direction means that brands need to prepare by learning more from practitioners and suppliers to get them started and to help them on their journey.

ICEW - 27th - 28th March 2012, Hyatt Hotel, Rosebank, Johannesburg. Further information on the event are available from Maggie Wheeler, Conference Producer at maggie.wheeler@thefocusgroup.org.uk www.icew.co.za

 

By attending Financing Low-Cost Housing Africa you will:

Financing Low-Cost Housing Africa (28-29th March 2012, Nairobi, Kenya), shows you how to increase your reach, create a robust urban infrastructure, secure foreign investment, gain government buy in and deliver durable technical assistance. For more information on what will be covered in the meeting, please visit: www.lostcosthousing-africa.com.

A one stop shop to meeting all key stakeholders and creating a housing strategy that will increase access to housing at the base of the pyramid, Financing Low-Cost Housing Africa addresses 4 key areas:

Using the right low-cost housing technologies: Showcasing what technologies are available, what is in the pipeline and how to use them.

For an additional 10% discount, please quote the booking code: ReconnectAfrica when booking. To book, simply email info@hansonwade.com, call us on +44 (0) 20 3141 8700 or register online: www.lowcosthousing-africa.com/register.

Visit the only permanent exhibition to examine London's involvement in transatlantic slavery in this thought-provoking new gallery, London, Sugar & Slavery that challenges long-held beliefs that abolition was initiated by politicians. Be touched by the real objects, personal stories and vibrant art and music that have left their legacy on the capital today.

Museum of London Docklands
No1 Warehouse,
West India Quay,
London E14 4AL
http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/LSS/
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