USA Africa Dialogue Series - New and Corrected. Connect the AU to Citizens: Working Mission of African Union ECOSOCC Members on Migration & Development and Global Partnership

Greetings:

I mistakenly sent an erroneous copy. The substance is in the details. It is historic and catalytic.... 

Subject: New and Corrected. Connect the AU to Citizens: Working Mission of African Union ECOSOCC Members on Migration & Development and Global Partnership

Legacy unfolding

The Honorable Mayor Victoria Jackson Stanley of Cambridge, Md will welcome the Honorable Members of the African Union Economic, Social, and Cultural Council. She is the first African American and woman to be elected to the mayoral seat. The Conference begins at the birth place of Harriet Tubman, the "Moses" of her people, for the significance. See the end of the mail. Day 3 and 4 are in Washington Metropolitan Area. CLICK FOR CONCEPT AND CONTEXT PAPER You may read from, save, or forward, this website version: https://conta.cc/2GcnqvO Dear Avid Reader It is substantive, timely, and historic and a prototype. At the end of the narrative, see the Casablanca Founders in Africa's most daring age that laid the cornerstone of the African Union (AU). While the AU has held numerous Diaspora programs since December 2002, and the Global African Diaspora Summit, an element has been consequentially missing: the connection to the African citizenry in the Diaspora. A puzzle? Not exactly. In its AU Institutional Reform Report:The Imperative to Strengthen Our Union, the AU admitted that citizens perceive the AU to be of limited relevance. To redress the distressing condition since citizens are supposed to drive the AU Vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, one of the Areas of Reform is to Connect the AU to citizens. And this is not by press releases or conferences, speeches, or sporadic events without follow-through. There are tangible indicators such as relevant goods and services; African Passport; private sector, equitable women and youth participation; and unifying events through sports. The Conference will address all of the indicators within the context of Migration and Development, which includes citizenship; ownership of Diaspora projects in the Digital Age; and the unique role of the AU Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC) in engaging the African citizenry in building viable public-private partnerships to implement AU programs, specifically Agenda 2063, and to provide policy recommendations and advisories to African Heads of State. The Reform Area to Connect the AU to citizens is at the heart of AU ECOSOCC's raison d'être - its existence. While African citizens everywhere feel disconnected from the AU, it has peculiar ring with the African citizenry in the Diaspora. It is a bell of missed opportunity considering its daily stream of resources flowing into African economies, its official recognition as co-partner in sustainable development, and an alternative source of long-term financing as opposed to African governments borrowing from external sources. On Sept. 19, 2016, the United Nations recognized international migration as a multidimensional reality with significance to the development of emigrants' countries of origin and beneficial to host countries, and included emigrants as partners in sustainable development. In Agenda 2063, AU Member States Diaspora is explicitly identified as a source of funding through "Diaspora fund intermediated via bonds, mutual funds, other forms of securitizations or direct participation in a project."   Situated in both worlds, at home and abroad, Diaspora residents enable global partnerships and through soft power diplomacy. The Conference will begin with a high profile bio-tech program on technology driven Agriculture. Please see the benefits for Africa at the end of this email. The first day ends with a flourish in culture after the tour of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad accompanied by gospel singers reenacting scenes of an era gone by but with enduring lessons for today. The buzz is on: African Identity in Dorchester County. An impacting Africa and Historical African Diaspora program would demonstrate cooperation beyond the rhetoric. Partnership with Historical Black colleges would change the narrative from "one-way street" to mutual outcomes. On the money, Nature, Ecotourism, Heritage Tourism find a natural niche in rich history - let's expand the market. And all of these are happening in the period of the Diamond Jubilee of African Liberation Day. The program rewinds 60 years back and forward to the changing phase and face of Africa today..... Walk a Mile in the federalizing character of the AU. Integration is a process where the states delegate their sovereignty rights to a Supranational entity (in this case the African Union), especially in the sector of foreign affairs and key domestic policies as Africa combines her political, economic, and social developments in unified or harmonized structures. Integration is increasingly occurring, including the historic signing of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. Transforming institutions that are intended to change the fortunes of communities with ongoing support for the series of actions, which require deep, systemic change and sustainable development, stakeholder "buy-in" is a compelling factor. Beyond the policy makers, it would involve broad-based engagement of citizens, also at grassroots level, to forge principled understanding of the common objectives. It may also require changing behaviors and maintaining momentum for successful implementations. By all accounts, change is happening. But the citizens are largely unaware. The Conference will sensitize the milestones and clarion call for citizen drivers to the goal. If you can, do not miss Nkosazana's letter to Kwame.....it would be translated in sizzling drama and the spoken word. Theater has been used in most of Africa for centuries as an important medium – a vehicle for disseminating information and traditions, as well as for expressing ideas. Using this expressive medium has potentials to reach all segments of society in educating and engaging stakeholders on the goals and milestones of Agenda 2063. There was once a time when Africa's most profound heroes dared to change the destiny of Africa. Their courage illuminates the way today. The Casablanca Founders' Banquet is outdoor. A splendor? You bet and enveloped in history! CLICK Click above for the Context and Context. Pictures take up many pages. It is an insightful scope. See the Table of Contents below. MsJoe Table of Contents Changing Phase and Face of Africa The New Citizen in the Federalizing African Union Diaspora Phenomenon Concept in Nutshell New Way Forward with Diaspora as Driver of Development The Crucial Data Overarching Objective The Sessions. Topics (listed in the page not on Table of Contenr) Special Focus The Digital Youth Women: Risen with Reason - Gender And Development Initiative for Africa. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Best Practice. African Diaspora Marketplace with African Ownership. Special Program: A Day in Dorchester Culture Shapes Development Expected Outcomes Working Mission of Honorable Members of AU ECOSOCC More Details Organizing Group Close the Drain; Circulate to Gain Daily Stream of Five Region Resource African Identity in Dorchester and Partnership Walk a Mile in the Federal Character of the AU 60 Years After: Diamond Jubilee of African Liberation Day The Vision: Conversation between Nkosazana and Kwame African Leaders Beyond State Connect the AU to Citizens ‌ GOAL 19: MODEL OF DIASPORA ENABLED GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is Africa's policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. Despite the fact that 70 per cent of Africa's young population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood, more than 20 per cent of Africans are hungry due to unfavorable agricultural policies, climatic stressors, poor technological development and the low cost of agricultural produce. The Conference has a significant partnership segment on technology- driven agriculture. The Partnership Objectives African objectives: 1) Provide opportunity to access technology that will facilitate the increase in agricultural productivity from subsistence farming to large scale farming practices in Africa 2) Acquire know-how that on meeting the immediate need for food security 3) Understand how access to International ports for trade in temperate climate makes crop rotation and Agriculture innovation a year-round endeavor 3) Understand an integrated method to realize Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) goals in workforce training, education, trade and production 4) Understand point of access to African agriculture markets that is within approximate distance of major trade and policy centers in Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. 5) Build relationship with international strategic partners on bio-tech innovation and strategic university partnerships 6) Support "Retire the hoe to the museum."  Delmarva – local Community objectives: 1)  Decrease dependence on fuel 2 Decrease labor costs 3) Transition Agriculture into 21st Century Technology 4) Decrease the use of chemical soil additives by allowing cost effectiveness of more ecological practices. 5) Make Agriculture an industry that is relevant and appealing to the next generation of young farmers 6) Local workforce development opportunities to increase the opportunities for skilled labor positions The stakeholders include: 1.    Public and private sector African representatives 2.    African Diasporan residents 3.    Maryland and US State level economic development offices 4.    County and Regional economic development offices 5.    Local Historically Black College/University representatives 6.    Eastern Shore Delegation of legislators 7.    Nascent Engineering Firms 8.    Agricultural Industry stakeholders

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