Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fw: Africa 2016

Hi John,

I shall gladly join your NGO upon my retirement. "Ask not what your
continent can do for you—ask what you can do for your continent," to
paraphrase President John F Kennedy.

We are in sync with respect to the points you made. Probably, the
Kenyan and Ugandan success stories happened because of the symbiotic
relations between government and civil society groups. It is critical
that civil society organizations and donor countries bring pressure to
bear on lawmakers to execute pertinent provisions of the brilliant
reports produced by NGOs.

Nevertheless, I have seen some of these elegant "international dances"
and have attended some. Frustratingly, I have not been able to take
home "beautiful dates" after the dances are over or see the
implementation of the good policies that come out of these
well-intended functions. My preceding metaphor aside, you and Julius
in the past have written copiously on the selfishness of many of the
custodians of African states some of whom have been in power for over
20 years—and have remained in power for the sole purpose of enriching
themselves, extended families and lackeys. They are those unlikely to
implement solutions that work against their interests.

The question is how to get rid of them or encourage them to change
their political philosophies. In my judgment, we need new leaders who
appreciate the importance of Research and Development (R&D)—and are
committed to this vital contraption for national and African growth.
Such leaders are likely to be open to positive suggestions made by
international organizations such as the African Union, the United
Nations and various non-governmental organizations. Thus, in
organizing international and national conferences aimed at tackling
our development project emphasis should be placed on EXECUTION of
policies--i.e. the efficacious recommendations made by these bodies.

Ike Udogu


On 1/6/16, 'profoyekanmi@yahoo.com' via USA Africa Dialogue Series
<usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
> Please note that there is a newly established program of Masters in Research
> and Public Policy (MRPP) coordinated by PASGR based in Nairobi. Kenya. The
> course is being run simultaneously in twelve universities in ten African
> countries.Three universities in Nigeria are participating in the program.
> Planners and policy makers are gradually beginning to dialogue with
> researchers in various African countries.
>
>
> Sent from my HTC
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "John Mbaku" <jmbaku@weber.edu>
> To: "usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com"
> <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fw: Africa 2016
> Date: Wed, Jan 6, 2016 21:10
>
> Dear Ike:
> During nearly 30 years of working with policymakers in Africa, I have
> learned many things, the most important of which is that many of them do not
> recognize the importance of research to public policy. In fact, I have had
> discussions with political elites and civil servants in Africa who believe
> that allowing research to inform policy is not the right approach to
> governance. This is evidenced by the fact that many of these policymakers do
> not invest in basic research--universities are poorly funded and few
> countries have globally competitive national research agencies. However,
> things are slowly changing. My experiences working with policymakers in
> Kenya and Uganda has revealed a significant shift towards more reliance on
> research as the foundation for sound public policy making. For example, in
> the last several years, the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and
> Analysis (KIPPRA) has emerged as an important advisor to the Government of
> Kenya. In addition to research, KIPPRA is also participating in capacity
> building, helping provide critical manpower for various departments and
> agencies of the government, as well as the private sector. The Economic
> Policy Research Center (EPRC) in Uganda is performing a similar function for
> the Government and economy of Uganda.
>
> I share your frustration but I would like for you to know that things are
> changing and as younger and more informed individuals enter the government,
> and as African countries reform their governance architectures and provide
> themselves with institutional arrangements that more effectively constrain
> civil servants and politicians, and enhance transparency and openness,
> research will become more and more relevant to public policy.
>
> On a personal note, I hope that when you retire from university teaching and
> research, you would join me in my NGO, which is dedicated to improving the
> policy environment in the continent. One of the things that we would like to
> achieve is to provide short courses and workshops for policymakers on the
> critical issue of the role of research in public policy.
>
> Stay well and Happy New Year.
>
> John
>
> On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 11:22 AM, Emmanuel Udogu <udoguei@appstate.edu>
> wrote:
> Folks,
>
>
>
> I have in the past read a number of splendid reports written on how to
>
> move Africa forward socially, politically and developmentally in this
>
> millennium. Two reports that caught my fancy because of my personal
>
> interest on the matter of poverty were:
>
>
>
> 1. Nigeria: Poverty in the Midst of Plenty: The Challenge of Growth
>
> with Inclusion. This was a World Bank Poverty Assessment Report.
>
>
>
> 2. Nigeria: Want in the Midst of Plenty: Africa Report, No. 113 - 19 July
> 2006 .
>
>
>
> Questions: Are these excellent reports produced just because funds
>
> have been set aside for doing so? Are there mechanisms for
>
> implementing the tenets or provisions contained in these reports? What
>
> should we and those who crafted these impressive templates do if
>
> lawmakers fail to execute recommendations suggested in these reports?
>
> Should we "reach into the dustbins" where some of these reports end
>
> up, retrieve them, and "flash" them before our policymakers? In short,
>
> what is to be done if our lawmakers fail to enthusiastically embrace
>
> solutions to our situation that will surely emanate from this
>
> significant Africa-2016 conference and dialogue?
>
>
>
> Ike Udogu
>
>
>
> On 1/6/16, John Mbaku <jmbaku@weber.edu> wrote:
>
>> This is a very timely report. I believe readers will find it very
>
>> informative and policy relevant.
>
>>
>
>> On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 1:53 AM, ayo_olukotun via USA Africa Dialogue
>> Series
>
>> <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
>>
>
>>> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
>
>>> ------------------------------
>
>>> *From: * richard joseph <richardjoseph65@gmail.com>
>
>>> *Date: *Tue, 5 Jan 2016 14:14:34 -0600
>
>>> *To: *ayo_olukotun-yahoo.com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>; Toyin Falola<
>
>>> toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
>
>>> *Subject: *Africa 2016
>
>>>
>
>>> Dear Ayo and Toyin:
>
>>>
>
>>> Salutations on the start of 2016!
>
>>>
>
>>> Kindly share this report with our colleagues:
>
>>> http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports2/2016/01/foresight-africa-top-priorities
>
>>>
>
>>> I look forward to seeing Ayo and many other friends and colleagues at
>>> the
>
>>> inaugural conference of the Ibadan School of Government and Public
>
>>> Policy,
>
>>> February 1-2.
>
>>>
>
>>> Warm regards,
>
>>>
>
>>> Richard
>
>>>
>
>>> --
>
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>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> --
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> *JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)Graduate Certificate
>> in
>
>> Environmental and Natural Resources Law Nonresident Senior Fellow, The
>
>> Brookings InstitutionAttorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)Brady
>
>> Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics &  John S. Hinckley
>
>> Fellow Department of EconomicsWeber State University1337 Edvalson Street,
>
>> Dept. 3807Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA(801) 626-7442 Phone(801) 626-7423
>> Fax*
>
>>
>
>> --
>
>> Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
>
>> To post to this group, send an email to
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>
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>
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>
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>
> --
>
> Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
>
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> --
> JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
> J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
> Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
> Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
> Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
> Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics &  John S. Hinckley
> Fellow
> Department of Economics
> Weber State University
> 1337 Edvalson Street, Dept. 3807
> Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
> (801) 626-7442 Phone
> (801) 626-7423 Fax
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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