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Africa has some of the fastest growing economies in the world and a rich concentration of mineral wealth. Yet, these assets have failed thus far to transform the lives of millions of Africa’s people, still beset by grinding poverty. What can be done to address these problems? The overarching concept often utilized in relation to Africa has been ‘development’. This term has been used to cover many ideas: a market-based economic growth model, and notions of African socialism. Both of these have failed to address the plight of the worst off and often resulted in the enrichment of elites instead. Development too has been the rubric under which aid has been provided to Africa: whilst a life-line for many, it fails to provide a long-term solution for socioeconomic advancement. The economies of the world are also changing in light of the fourth industrial revolution and the question arises concerning the opportunities and challenges for ‘development’ in this changing world. Against this backdrop, the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), a centre of the University of Johannesburg is organizing a panel discussion to explore which developmental paradigms can truly advance the interests of the worst-off in Africa. The panel will be multi-disciplinary in recognition of the need for a more holistic approach to make progress in this area. It will consider issues that arise specifically for development in light of the fourth industrial revolution. The panel will also specifically examine the notion of the right to development and its potential to offer a paradigm for advancing the interests of the least well off which has been the subject of a recent book by one of the panelists, Prof Serges Djoyou Kamga. The book ‘The Right to Development in the African Human Rights System’ will be formally launched at this event.

Details of the event are as follows:

DATE: Thursday, 16 May 2019

TIME: 17h30 for 18h00 – 20h00

VENUE: Women’s Gaol, Constitution Hill (Underground parking available)

RSVP: Please RSVP to Naomi Hove at naomi@saifac.org.za for catering purposes

Refreshments will be served before the seminar.

Program run please click here

Here you will find the program for download: Programme_Development in Africa_16 May 2019.pdf