The Oxford Africa Conference is the leading interdisciplinary conference on Africa delivered by a team of Oxford students. The Conference brings together heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, academics, artists, students, and professionals to critically expand the discourse on Africa. In its eighth year running, the conference will provide a vibrant platform for new thinking about a global Africa across all disciplines – politics, society, business, technology and academia – connecting inter-generational leaders from around the world to shape an integrated and innovative perspective on Africa’s future.
2017 CONFERENCE
2019 CONFERENCE
Join us (again) this year on 17 and 18 May 2019 at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford for another promising conference.
ASSERTING AFRICA’S RELEVANCE:
Locally, Continentally and Globally.
The 2019 Oxford Africa Conference has been conceived as a multi-disciplinary platform that will bring together thinkers and doers working on Africa to collectively reflect on how we can redefine Africa’s relevance: locally, continentally and globally. The conference will be structured along three session within which specific sectors and issues will be discussed.
The first session will endeavour to take stock of the diverse indigenous assets that exist across the continent, whether in terms of artistic tradition or governance models, whilst casting a critical eye on the concept of indigeneity.
The second session will address the question of Africa’s relevance as a continental unit and take a deep dive into the multiple aspects of integration ranging from the tangible, such as institutions and roads, to the intangible, such as Pan African identity and political ideologies.
The final session will explore Africa’s place in the world: building on our endogenous assets and our conception of what constitutes a coherent geographical and political unit, where does, and where should Africa fit in a broader multilateralism? What do African individuals, peoples, nations, regions, and the continent as a whole have to offer the world?
#OxAfrica19
Tebogo Thothela
The Oxford Africa Conference 2018 will be held on May 18th and 19th at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
REGISTRATION FOR 2018 IS OPEN! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
BUY YOUR TICKET(S) HERE NOW!
Each year, the Oxford Africa Innovation Fair brings together entrepreneurs and innovators tackling challenges in Africa. They participate in networking sessions and a pitch competition for a chance to win cash prizes to further their impact. The 2018 Oxford Africa Innovation Fair is sponsored by the United States African Development Foundation ( USADF)
The U.S. African Development Foundation (“USADF”) is an independent federal government agency established to support African-led development that grows community enterprises by providing seed capital and access to technical support. Partnering with Africans, USADF is answering the development demands from communities one partnership at a time.
MAJIK WATER, KENYA
Harvesting clean drinking water from air in arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya. We have developed a prototype that harvests 10 litres of water in 24 hours in relative humidity of 55%. It uses solar thermal energy and sponge-like desiccant materials to generate water at a low cost, in an energy efficient way.
ECOACT, TANZANIA
Develop a chemical free, energy conserving plastic technology to recycle and transform plastic garbage and packaging materials into durable plastic timbers using unique technology. Plastic timbers are an affordable alternative to wood timbers. They reduce the need for building material manufactured from wood.
UTIVA, NIGERIA
Utiva is solving the problem of unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa by helping college students and recent graduates acquire relevant skills that employers globally are recruiting for. Our goal is to make sure each graduate is fit for the job market. We are also helping companies in Nigeria access well-trained and high-performing global intrapreneurs and employees.
ZAACOAL, GHANA
Zaacoal is a clean-high energy and long burning (charcoal) made from waste (coconut waste). Uses prevalent, organic coconut husks to create charcoal for household and professional cooking. Packaged in biodegradable, accessible bags to accommodate all personal and business requirements as well as economic limitations. Addresses numerous environmental concerns while burning more efficiently than its alternatives.
GRAINOTHEQUE, IVORY COAST
Grainothèque is a social enterprise that works to increase the productivity of smallholder agriculture and its adaptation to climate change through mobile technologies for preserving seed genetic diversity, integrated pest management, and the valorization of crops, agricultural waste for degraded soils and markets for produce to farmers.
BYOONA HELP GROUP, UGANDA
Byoona help group is both a mobile and stationary mental clinic designed to walk with the young (youth and teenagers) in the journey of mental health. Build a society of healing for mental health using art, training and awareness. They aim at using counselling and mentorship to help youth deal with day to day mental issues.
Pre-Engagement: Friday, May 11
Venue: Said Business School
TIME | EVENT |
17:00– 19:00 | Conference Pre-Engagement Keynote Address by H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo(Read full details here) |
Day 1: Friday, May 18
Venue: Blavatnik School of Government
TIME | EVENT |
13:30– 14:30 | Registration plus Tea/Coffee (at Blavatnik School of Government) |
14:30 – 14:55 | Welcoming Remarks
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15:00 – 15:15 | Opening Keynote Address |
15:15 -15:55 | Keynote Conversation and Q & A
The Death of Ideology – Moving beyond Rhetoric to Action and what really works for Africa. |
16:00 – 16:20 | Innovation Fair Keynote |
16:20 – 17:00 | Presentations by Innovation Fair Finalists |
17:00 – 17:15 | Closing Remarks and Announcements |
17:15 – 19:00 | Free Time |
19:00 – 19:30 | Mix and Mingle (at Rhodes House) |
19:30 – 22:00 | Gala Dinner (at Rhodes House) |
19:40 – 19:45 | Welcoming Remarks to Gala |
20:00 – 22:00 | Dinner (Dress Code: Traditional or Business Attire) |
21:45 – 22:00 | Gala Keynote Address |
Day 2 Saturday, May 19
Venue: Blavatnik School of Government
TIME | EVENT | |||
8:30 – 8:50 | Registration and Tea/Coffee (at Blavatnik School of Government) | |||
9:00 – 9:10 | Welcoming Remarks to Day 2 | |||
9:10 – 9:30 | Opening Keynote Address | |||
9:30 – 10:15 | Keynote Conversation and Q & A | |||
10:15 – 10:35 | Mid-Morning Tea/Coffee Break | |||
10:35 – 11:35 | Session 1 Curbing Unconstitutional changes of Government through Constitutionalism & Citizen Movements |
Session 2 Building our own African Brands from the ground up through Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
Session 3 Feminism in Africa- Challenges and Prospects to truly empowering Africa’s women |
Session 4 A Disruptive Digital Revolution – utilizing emerging alternative technologies to tackle Africa’s challenges |
11:40 – 12:40 | Session 1 Not too Young to Lead – A new generation of Leaders in Party Politics and Elected Public Office |
Session 2 Shaping an Inclusive Business Landscape: Foreign Direct Investment for Social Progress & Innovation |
Session 3 “____” is (un)African.Lifting the rug on LGBTIAQ+ Identity |
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12:40 – 13:45 | LUNCH | |||
13:50 – 14:55
Beyond the Rhetoric Workshop Sessions |
Workshop 1 Fast tracking Universal Health coverage – Innovations for Delivery |
Workshop 2 Rethinking Education – Skills Development for Employment, Research and Innovation |
Workshop 3 Equipping the Individual Actor: Unleashing Creative and Innovative Potential for Impact |
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15:00 – 16:00 | Session 1 Addressing Mental Health – Africa’s Invisible Epidemic |
Session 2 African Art & Media – Its role in entertainment and public expressions on social and cultural issues |
Session 3 Adapting to Climate Change in Africa – Tackling Financing, Collaboration, Energy Production & Job Creation for resilient development |
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16:00 – 16:15 | Afternoon Tea/Coffee Break | |||
16:15 – 16:30 | Innovation Competition Award Announcement | |||
16:35 – 16:55 | Raufu Mustapha Keynote Address
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16:55 – 17:30 | Keynote Conversation and Q & A
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17:35 – 17:45 | Vote of Thanks, Beyond the Rhetoric ways forward, details of After Party | |||
17:45 – 19:00 | Networking Hour | |||
20:00 | After Party (at Freud) |