PROSPECTS FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, MAXWELL SCHOOL, WASHINGTON DC
Dr. Constance J. Freeman, Adjunct Professor
MAY 17-23, 2015
SYLLABUS
Sunday Evening, May 17
Initial Class Orientation:
5-7pm
Introductions: Professor and Class
Overview of Class: Expansion of Material Covered at Introductory
Session
Presentation of Books: Students to present short reviews of books
from the Reading List to expand the exposure of everyone to a
variety of sources.
Class Discussion
7-8pm
Get Acquainted Dinner, including class alumni from previous years
Monday, May 18
8:30-9
Class Discussion, Plans for the Day
Introduction: An Overview and Update: Where is African Development Today?
9-10:15
Steve Brundage: Retired Foreign Service Economics
Counselor, Lecturer on African Economics
10:15-10:30
Break
10:30-12:00
Edwin L Barber: Senior Advisor, African Development,
GWIConsulting and former Treasury Official charged with
Africa
Lunch
12:00-1:00
1
State of the Art: Traditional Development Sectors
Education: Basic versus Advanced
1:00-4:00
Kathryn Toure: Former Regional Director of IDRC for West and
Central Africa, Founder and Director of the Educational
Research Network based in Mali
4:00-4:30
Break
4:30-5:30
Class Discussion
Tuesday, May 19
8:30-9:00
Class Discussion
Agriculture: The Production/Sustainability Debate
9:00-10:30
Faustine Wabwire, Bread for the World and Aniedi Okure, OP,
PhD. Executive Director, Africa Faith and Justice Network.
10:30-11:00
Break
Health: Health Systems and Diverse Approaches
11:00-12:30
Warren (Buck) Buckingham, Office of Global Health Diplomacy
and former Director, Office of Global Health and HIV for Peace
Corps
12:30-1:30 Lunch
Education Cont.
1:30-3:00
Vivian Lowery Derryck: President and CEO of Bridges
Institute (Educating leaders against Muslim Extremism in
Sahel)
3:00-3:30
Break
2
3:30-5:00
Class Discussion
Wednesday May 20
Newer Perspectives: Drivers of Development?
Information Technology
9:00-10:00
Valerie Oliphant, FrontlineSMS, Projects Manager, Social
Impact Lab Governance Portfolio
10:00-11:00
Wayan Volta, Senior Mobile Advisor, FHI 360
11:00-11:15
Break
11:15-12:00
Carisa Graf Suleman: Running an ICT Business
12:00-1:00
Lunch
New Donors: China
1:00-2:30
Yoon Jung Park: Convener-Coordinator, Chinese in
Africa/Africans in China Research Network
2:30-3:00
Break
Private Sector: Indigenous and External Investment
3:00-4:30
Stephen Cashin: Head, Pan African Capital Group, Long term
investor in Africa
4:30-5:30
Class Discussion
3
Thursday May 21
8:30-9
Class Discussion
Selected Barriers to Development: Corruption, Conflict and Climate Change
Corruption
9:00-10:30
Tom Cardamone: Managing Director, Global Financial
Integrity (GFI)
10:30-11:00
Break
Conflict
11:00-12:00
Dr. Herbert Howe: Assistant Professor of African Studies at
Georgetown University (Security Infrastructure in Africa)
12:00-1:00
Lunch
1:00-2:15
Amb. John Campbell, Council on Foreign Relations and
Former US Amb. to Nigeria
2:15-2:30
Break
Climate Change
2:30-3:45
Melinda Kimble, United Nations Foundation
3:45-4:45
Veronique Lee, Chemoniques International
4:45 -5:30
Class Discussion
4
Friday, May 22
8:30-9
Class Discussion
The International Environment
Africa in the International System
9:00-10:00
Amb. Michael Southwick: Former Ambassador to Uganda and
Dep. Assistant Secretary for International Organizational
Affairs, Dept. of State
10:00-10:15
Break
Role of Outside Assistance/Donors
10:15-11:30
Malik Chaka, Millennium Challenge Corporation,
11:30-12:30
Tim Lavelle: Senior Advisor, Food Security, Africa Bureau,
USAID
12:30-1:30
Lunch
Conclusion: Prospects for African Development
African Leadership: Key to all Development Efforts?
1:30 -3:00
Amb. Hank Cohen: Former Assistant Secretary for African
Affairs and Author: The Mind of the African Strongman:
Conversations with Statesmen, Dictators and Father Figures
3:00-3:15
Break
3:15-5:00
What Does It All Mean? Class members share their insights
from individual countries about the applicability of the week’s
presentations
5
Saturday Morning, May 23
9-12:00
COURSE WRAP UP: Continuation of Friday afternoon discussion,
review of final papers, concluding remarks and presentations,
overall discussion and student desires.
6