Programme The future of global peacebuilding: Africa Monday 19 Wednesday 21 March 2018 WP1552

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1 Programme The future of global peacebuilding: Africa Monday 19 Wednesday 21 March 2018 WP1552 Held in Abuja, Nigeria This meeting is the fourth in a series entitled African perspectives on peacebuilding. Previous events have assessed evolving challenges, responses and new African thinking, the development of African approaches to peacebuilding in response to the changing dynamics of conflict; and sustaining civil society engagement in peacebuilding. In recent years, the world has seen significant global uncertainty and threats to global peace; be it an unforeseen by-product of government(al) policies, a shift in the geopolitical status quo, or unanticipated global phenomena, including the emergence and influence of new technologies and actors. Examples include ongoing violent conflicts featuring nonstate, state and transnational actors; severe human rights violations; migration and growing refugee flows; and the increased frequency of natural disasters. Other factors impacting global peace and security include: rapid demographic changes; technological innovations; globalization and local responses; and climate change. Furthermore, the emergence of rising powers is redefining the governance of international peace and security, posing challenges to a global peace architecture that has prevailed for many decades. These new trends represent opportunities, as well as threats. Understanding the ongoing transformations is a critical step towards shaping a better and more sustainable future for global peacebuilding. Africa occupies an important place in current global responses to the changing nature of threats to international peace and security, and will remain an important actor in global peacebuilding in the future. This meeting will specifically explore Africa s place, and potential contributions to the future of global peacebuilding. It will discuss the complexities embedded in ongoing changes in the world s peace and security terrain and examines their interaction with, and impact on, conflict dynamics and peacebuilding in Africa. Building on the discussions and findings of the previous meetings in this series, policymakers, practitioners, civil society actors and scholars will document and explore Africa s contributions to peacebuilding as they inform actions and decision-making today, and are likely to in the future. In doing so the meeting will draw on the evolution of these global trends, addressing how they interact with, and impact conflict dynamics and peacebuilding in Africa, its broader ramifications, and explore the options with regard to Africa s vision and role along with its In association with: With support from: 2203 SJH

2 international partners in shaping the future of global peacebuilding. The key objectives will be to: Analyse Africa s current place in global peacebuilding, how global peacebuilding is impacting or affecting African approaches to peacebuilding, and how African approaches to peacebuilding are incorporated into global conversations and actions; Examine the nature and effectiveness of international partnerships on African peacebuilding, including the prospects of the continent; Draw upon lessons from comparative perspectives to enrich discussions on innovations in peace and security across Africa s sub-regions, and Develop a credible platform for policy-makers, practitioners and civil society actors to continue to discuss issues raised in the previous three Wilton Park meetings on new African peacebuilding approaches. In association with the African Peacebuilding Network of the Social Science Research Council, New York and the African Leadership Centre With support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York Monday 19 March 1900 Welcome Drinks 1915 Welcome and introduction Myles Wickstead Paul Arkwright British High Commissioner, Abuja Kayode Fayemi Minister, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Abuja Nigeria: emerging challenges and future prospects Nigeria offers a unique case study of the current threats to peace and security experienced across the African continent and in fact the globe. This panel discussion will seek to offer an analysis of the present-day peacebuilding challenges in Nigeria and give an overview of the nature of contemporary peacebuilding efforts which all stakeholders government, international community and civil society are employing. Chair: Oscar Fernandez-Taranco Assistant Secretary-General, Peacebuilding Support Office, United Nations, New York Jibrin Ibrahim Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja Onyinye Onwuka Head, Political Affairs and International Cooperation Division, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Abuja Idayat Hassan Director, Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD), Abuja

3 Tuesday 20 March Breakfast for participants staying in hotel Welcome and introduction Myles Wickstead Shuvai Nyoni Executive Director, African Leadership Centre (ALC), Nairobi Cyril Obi Program Director, African Peacebuilding Network (APN), Social Science Research Council (SSRC), New York Current state of peacebuilding: Africa Tea/coffee This session will look to summarise the key findings of the previous three conferences in the series to inform and guide the debate and reflect upon their link to Africa s place in the future of global peacebuilding. Participants will consider how the world represents and affects African peacebuilding, and how Africa connects and engages with global peacebuilding. Chair: Myles Wickstead Funmi Olonisakin Vice President; Vice Principal International; Professor of Security, Leadership and Development, King s College London Discussant : Comfort Ero Africa Program Director, International Crisis Group, Nairobi What changes, trends and evolutions are shaping approaches to conflict and peacebuilding? The peacebuilding approaches of the international community have been evolving in response to the changing nature of threats to international peace and security. Thus, any such shifts in the sources and dynamics of violence and insecurity in Africa would impact the global peacebuilding landscape. What trends and evolutions are occurring in and affecting peacebuilding, globally and in Africa? How do we locate Africa in relation to the world in the context of this moment of global tumult? Can the world learn from the ways Africa is responding to peace and security challenges? How are global changes impacting Africa, and what are the likely trends for the future? What have been the failings of existing peacebuilding tools? How can regional and sub-regional organisations in Africa influence/shape the global peacebuilding landscape in light of these changes? Chair: Abdoulaye Bathily Visiting Professor, Kings College London; Former Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head, UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Libreville Cheryl Hendricks Head of Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg Alex Vines Head, Africa Programme, Chatham House, London

4 Facilitator briefing in secretariat room Lunch What evolutions are occurring in the following areas in Africa and how might they affect peacebuilding? In parallel working groups Technology: Throughout much of Africa, transformative technologies are affecting the lives of a growing number of people on many levels and in a rapidly increasing number of ways. In a decades time technological transformation could affect the peace building discourse in different positive ways, including facilitating social mobilization for change, and improving institutional quality. On the negative side, awareness of the world might increase popular aspiration due to the failure to satisfy, which under certain circumstance is harbingers of violence. Technology might also lead to the marginalization of those who are already excluded. Since emerging technologies may not be amenable to central control, the state directed nature of much of contemporary peace building might be reconsidered. What impact will ever-increasing global technological advancements have on African peacebuilding? How can specific technology be developed for peacebuilding approaches as it is for warfare? How have relatively simple technologies such as mobile phones and internet impacted conflict and peacebuilding practices? Where could transformative technologies be effectively implemented to advance sustainable peace? Randolph Kent Director, The Futures Project, Royal United Services Institute, London Demographic changes: A major demographic trend across Africa is a continuing increase in population numbers placing pressure on infrastructure and existing economic opportunities. Africa is the only continent that continues to experience the youth bulge, with the proportion of young people predicted to rise until This increased proportion of youth could significantly shift the nature and form of peacebuilding engagement. In addition increased participation in society and national economy of previously marginalized groups is impacting the peacebuilding discourse. In what ways will demographic changes lead to changes in peacebuilding engagement and alter traditional peacebuilding engagement? Who are the beneficiaries/ custodians of future peace in Africa? How can the voices of ordinary African citizens be incorporated alongside those of the elites? What is the role of traditionally excluded groups in peacebuilding, eg youth, women and the disabled? What choices are these groups faced with when choosing between conflict and/or peace? How can those previously excluded be better prepared to make and build peace in the future? Olawale Ismail Head of Research, International Alert; Senior Research Fellow, African Leadership Centre (ALC), King's College London Energy and climate change: Climate change and global energy demand and supply will have a far-reaching impact on peace and security in resource-rich and resource-poor African countries. The effects of their direct impact on the livelihoods of millions of Africans, including but not limited to conflict, displacement and migration, will not be limited to the continent, and calls for a collective African and global response. How will the growing threat of climate change affect the peace and security landscape? What peace and security opportunities are there in the efforts to mitigate climate threats?

5 Tea/coffee How are traditionally marginalised groups (youth, women and disabled) affected by changes in the climate and energy sources? What role for these groups in any response to these threats and opportunities? Dauda Garuba Technical Adviser, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Abuja Feedback session In plenary a report back from each of the groups Led by Myles Wickstead Roundtable on youth, conflict prevention and peacebuilding? The roundtable explores the role of youth as a force for peace, particularly with regard to conflict prevention, development and peacebuilding. Of note is the space it offers for radically rethinking the role of young people beyond the current discourse or frameworks that focus more on preventing, or containing potential threats from angry, radicalised or criminalised youth. By providing a platform for African youth to voice the challenges they face, and reflect on their role and hopes for the future, this roundtable offers a vista for creatively re- imagining youth as the future of peacebuilding in Africa. Chair: Cori Wielenga Research Fellow, University of Pretoria Iris Nxumalo Women Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action Intern, UN Women Nigeria, Abuja Abdul Rahman Lamin Social and Human Sciences Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Nairobi 1900 Reception followed by Conference dinner Wednesday 21March Breakfast for participants staying in hotel What changes are we seeing in peacebuilding governance, institutions and ideology Embedded norms and ideology of national and international governance institutions can empower certain actors and actions over others, such as a prioritisation of programmes targeting counter-terrorism, social and economic liberalisation or female empowerment. How do institutions, norms and ideology shape peacebuilding practice? As traditional peacebuilding practices and spaces are disrupted by localisation and transnational forces, how are norms, governance and ideologies impacted? What governance models will emerge in response to these changes in Africa and globally? What impact is the increase in the cross-border nature of new trends having on the governance of peacebuilding processes? What actors are empowered and marginalised by these governance structures? Chair: Rhuks Ako Senior Fellow Natural Resources, Energy and Environment, Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (OGEES); Former AU, Department of Political Affairs, Addis Ababa

6 Levinia Addae-Mensah Programme and Deputy Executive Director, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Accra Jubril Shittu Coordination, political affairs, humanitarian policy and practice, Nigeria INGO Forum, Abuja Tea/coffee and photograph How are relationships changing between all peacebuilding stakeholders? Lunch A distinctive feature of peacebuilding programmes and the challenges they face is that they will not remain bounded within a country s boundaries or to one group of society: technology, climate change and the movement of people are borderless and cross sectorial. Hence, future peacebuilding may also entail building multilevel governance both at the regional and sectoral level; as well as developing more comprehensive processes to include all demographics of society. How is the balance of power between state and society changing in the peacebuilding arena? How will the increasing move towards localised peacebuilding efforts impact peacebuilding processes? What can be learnt from Africa s experience of this? How have these new emerging trends and social forces altered stakeholder participation in peacebuilding processes? Chair: Cheryl Hendricks Head of Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg Chukwuemeka Eze Executive Director, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Accra Olawale Ismail Head of Research, International Alert; Senior Research Fellow, African Leadership Centre (ALC), King's College London How will peacebuilding mechanisms and frameworks change in light of new and emerging trends? The interconnections between evolutions in Africa and in other regions are stark. Invariably, any shifts in the sources and dynamics of violence and insecurity in Africa would shape the African and global peacebuilding landscape. Peacebuilding approaches in Africa and in the wider international community continue to evolve in response to the changing nature of threats. In addition, these peacebuilding approaches are also responding to innovations in local and global society, taking advantage of the transformative initiatives and spaces opening up to enable more effective and efficient mechanisms and frameworks. What impacts are emerging trends having on peacebuilding mechanisms and frameworks? How is Africa being impacted by/connected to global mechanisms and changes? What pathways need to be employed to assist effective relationships between Africa and the Global North? How can peacebuilding mechanisms take advantage of new innovations and developments? Chair: Myles Wickstead Kenneth Omeje Senior research fellow in African Peace and Conflict Studies, John and Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies, University of Bradford

7 Sandy Africa Assistant Director; Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Division, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Geneva Evaluation survey Tea/coffee Completion of online survey Requirements for Africa s engagement to influence the future of global peacebuilding? If Africa is to better influence the future of global peacebuilding the peacebuilding discourse needs to be transformed to facilitate engagement with certain thematic areas, and actors within, and outside the state and regional institutions. What will constitute the key features of Africa s role in the future of global peacebuilding? Can the continent play a leadership role and if so how? What are the indicators and areas of comparative strengths and weaknesses? How can Africa s contribution inform action and decision-making? Who will be its global allies and partners? What benefits will this have globally? Chair: Andrea Johnson Program Officer, Higher Education and Research in Africa, Carnegie Corporation of New York Chidi Odinkalu Senior Managing Legal Officer for Africa, Open Society Foundations (OSF), Abuja Medhane Tadesse Senior Security Sector Reform Advisor, African Union, Addis Ababa Future dynamics of peacebuilding in Africa 1900 Dinner Previous events in the African perspectives on peacebuilding series have not only examined the current key themes influencing African peacebuilding but have also signposted emerging trends that are gaining traction in the peacebuilding arena. Discussions have sought to identify the future direction of the peacebuilding field and what African stakeholders can do to explore and prepare for these future trends. What are the key insights and policy options from the discussions and how can they best be carried forward? What emerging trends need to be further explored? What specific points of action arising from the discussions should be prioritised? How can these be operationalised and by whom? What could usefully be done to enable African leadership in peacebuilding thinking and practice? Chair: Myles Wickstead Shuvai Nyoni Executive Director, African Leadership Centre (ALC), Nairobi Ismail Rashid Professor of History, Vassar College, New York Thursday 22 March Breakfast and checkout