Talking points will include:

Confirmed speakers include Geoge Ayitteh, the Ghanaian economist and Voice of America radio presenter Jackson Muneza M’vunganyi.
Thank you SAIS (School of Advanced International Studies) for hosting our event.

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Africa Gathering and One today co-hosted a meeting at there London offices to share information and discuss both short and long term solutions to the current crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Discussion focused on how to ensure there is a platform for African voices to be heard on this issue, including those from the Horn of Africa, and especially from Somalia, to advocate for solutions that will stick.

Often in the past the international community has not listened sufficiently, nor acted with a sophisticated understanding of cultural issues or the local situation. As a result opportunities for progress have been missed. We are determined to do our part to ensure mistakes are not repeated.

Attending were a cross section of representatives from the African entrepreneurial community,  international development community including Muslim Aid, Disasters Emergency Committee and other development groups, diaspora communities, artists and Somalian grassroots groups as well as members of the media.

Amongst many views expressed, we discussed the following action items, and many of the attendees agreed to act together to:

1. Encourage the media to interview local experts and voices from the region about short and long term solutions.
2. Campaign aggressively that the short term and long term financing gaps are met. ONE has launched a petition calling upon world African and world leaders to do just this. - Short term: the short term financing gap for the famine and crisis appeal must be urgently met.So far a short term need of $2bn has been identified, about $1bn has been contributed, a further $269m has been pledged but not yet contributed, and a gap of $739m for which no pledges have yet been made by the international community. You can follow the latest in appeal pledges and contributions here -Long term: the long term financing must also be found for sustainable solutions especially through often-promised investments into agriculture and food security in the Horn and indeed across Africa.African governments have promised to spend 10% of their budgets on agriculture through the Maputo Declaration – yet only 6 governments so far have met this promise. Similarly the international  community promised many times including at the L’Aquila G8 to fund long term agricultural development in the developing world especially sub-Saharan Africa, yet so far donors have only met 22% of their promises according to a recent report on Agriculture Accountability by ONE.
3. Advocate for a political solution and roadmap for Somalia out of this entrenched  crisis. It is appropriate that regional bodes like the OIC and others, for example the Qatari government, show leadership on this issue and work with Somalian civil society to come up with a lasting solution.
4. Further encourage African leadership in civil society and the diaspora, both cultural, policy-making and private sector leaders, to step up and raise their voices more on this issue with practical actions in mind.

Attendees included:-

Saif Ahmed CEO MADE in Europe
Mark Tran Journalist Guardian
Hadeel Ibrahim Executive Director Mo Ibrahim foundation
Kingwa Kamencu President Oxford African Society
Kath Hindley Deputy Chief Executive DEC
Andy Shipley News Editor Plan UK
Mustakim Waid Public Relations Manager Somali Relief and Development Forum
Jonaed Afzal Emergency Response Manager Muslim Aid
Marieme Jamme Spontone Global Solutions Africa Gathering
Sol Guy Co-founder 4REAL Manager of K’naan
Bunmi Olurantaba African Blogger
Lilly Peel Features Editor Panos.org
Katheleen Bomani Africa Gathering
Belinda Otas African Blogger/Journalist
James Birch APPG on Agriculture
Tolu Ogunlesi African Blogger for 234NEXT
Dean Ricketts Watchmen Agency
Hussain Abdullah Frontline SMS
John Morris Journalist
Bernard Aryeetey Save the Children
Mark Galloway The International Broadcast Trust
Dawda Jobarteh Africa Progress Panel
Amber Rudd MP for Hastings
Molly Mattessich http://www.PeaceCorpsConnect.org
Nii Simmonds The DAIN Network

The use of Twitter and Facebook in the Arab Spring has made social media the star of the international development show this year with everyone from governments, activists, civil society, the Diaspora and every one else trying to understand just what social networks can do and how to use it to engage with one another.

But along with the hype, a voice of reason has also risen to say emphatically that technology in and of itself can do nothing. Twitter doesn’t start revolutions, put can help the people on street, have their say in how our world should evolve.

What social media can do – and does well – is to amplify voices. Through Twitter retweets, Facebook likes and blogs written or shared, the digital space acts as an echo box for views that would have once struggled to reach the masses.

If the value of social media then is in its ability to give voice to the voiceless, this begs the question, why don’t we hear more from Africa? And Africans? A complex answer was teased out from the many views shared at this year’s Africa Gathering in London last June.

The first part is obvious: the masses do not have access to Internet based social platforms. While connectivity on the continent is growing exponentially, the infrastructure to support it – electricity cables for example – has hardly changed in several decades. In this regard, Africa remained the dark continent – literally – generating only 4% of the world’s electricity but having a sixth of the total population.

Without access to the Internet, people are using tools that are relevant and could enter the mobile phone. Its evolution into this multi-purpose tool not just used for communication, but also for financial transactions, accessing market information and now increasingly, improving transparency and accountability, is well documented. But how often do media organisations or civil society factor it in when wanting to engage with Africans?

A significant point about culture was made late in the day. There is no doubt that Africans are social but Africans are also orally cultivated.  Throughout much of the continent, history used be told through stories under the palaver trees and much time was spent in gatherings were people can talk about the issues that are important to them. To continue that same spirit this is now channelled in to a 140 character tweet is invariable to decide to not include the African story.

As the event was held at the Guardian and it still holds that the media have a vital role to play in shaping the development discourse and perceptions of the developing world, how traditional media organisations use of social media to speak with Africans and to hear from them has never been more important. But if the process, as Kevin Anderson, a speaker at the event and former Guardian journalist put it is about “seeking, finding and amplifying the right voices,” there is still much work to be done as the Africa Progress Panel and The Gate Foundation highlighted it in their team up talk.  Let’s ask ourselves if we are creators, spectators or just participants. See you at the next gathering!

By Eliza and Marieme.

Thank you to the Indigo Trust foundation, the global development and sustainability team at the Guardian and of course all of you friends of Africa Gathering. We could have not done it without you. The event was fantastic and everyone enjoyed it. It was also an honor to have you all again at Africa Gathering. Thank you for attending and supporting us.
More reviews, videos and pictures will online soon please feel free to share them and tweet them.

Our Curator talking to David Thomas

We are delighted to announce Africa Gathering Nairobi 2010, last conference of the 2010 series- Kenya’s leading technophiles, doers, entrepreneurs and thinkers will gather at the iHub Nairobi to share inspiring, and innovating ideas with the rest of the world.  By joining  the Curators of Africa Gathering you will witness amazing moments, make unforgettable connections, gain exposure, contribute in discussions and build new friendships!  The event will cover 3 workshops and has lined up  amazing speakers to inspire you. An event not to be missed!

To get more information on the different workshops and listen to the Saturday speakers, go to www.africagathering.org

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the conference price- You will have to make arrangements by yourself- For more info about the event, or hotel please contact our Ground team on info@africagathering.org

Gower Street
London
WC1E 6JF

Speakers will include:

Friday Night Business Networking Event

    Stephen King
    Senior Director, Investments, Omidyar Network

    Bill Zimmerman
    Limbe Labs

    Tidjane Deme
    Google, Country Manager, Senegal

Saturday Gathering Event
Shawn Sarwar – VaxTrac
Jenny Stefanotti – Harvard University
Nii Simmonds – Wall Street without Walls
Danya Steele – Excited about Africa
Sean Coetzee – Woodsmoke
Molly Mattessich – Africa Rural Connect
Jepchumba – African Digital Art
Kit Cody – Rwanda ventures
Catherine Casey – Acumen Fund
Mike McKay – Baobab Health
Mariéme Jamme – Spot One Global Solutions
Josef Scarantino – African Tech Network
Teddy Ruge – Project diaspora

Letelier Theater
3251 Prospect St NW
Washington, DC DC 20007

View Larger Map

We know exactly how hard it is to prepare for a visit to an unfamiliar city, so if you are from out of town, here’s a list of a few local hotels that you might consider contacting about your stay.

Thanks to Africa Gathering Sponsor Molly Mattessich from Africa Rural Connect for helping us out with this.

The Dupont Hotel?
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $195
1500 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington DC, DC? – (202) 483-6000?

Hotel Monticello?
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $200
1075 Thomas Jefferson Street Northwest, Washington, DC?
(202) 337-0900

Latham Hotel Georgetown?
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $209
3000 M Street Northwest, Washington, DC?
(202) 625-1881?

Key Bridge Marriott
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $149
1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA?
(703) 524-6400?

1 day Suite Advanced booking: $189
2500 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC?
(202) 333-8060?

Georgetown Suites Harbor
1 day Suite Advanced booking: $175
1000 29th Street Northwest, Washington, DC?
(202) 298-1600

Holiday Inn Hotel Rosslyn @ Key Bridge
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $115
1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA? #2 (2101 wisc. Ave)
(703) 807-2000?

River Inn
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $185
924 25th Street Northwest, Washington, DC?
(202) 337-7600?

One Washington Circle Hotel?
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $125
1 WASHINGTON CIRCLE HOTEL, N.W., Washington, DC?
(800) 424-9671

Best Western Georgetown Hotel & Suites
1 day Single Room Advanced booking: $199
1121 New Hampshire Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC?
(202) 457-0565?