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Africa and the World in the 21st Century: Some Development Perspectives
Posted by Help Liberia Foundation on December 12, 2007
An interesting conference on African development was organized in Warsaw, Poland. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the Patronage of the Rector of the Warsaw University, Professor Katarzyna Chalasinska-Macukow.
The conference was held at Warsaw University on 9-10 November 2007. Help Liberia Foundation was represented by two members of the Managing Team, Mrs. Justyna Maciuszek and Mrs. Anna Dobrowolska.
The conference concentrated on five main topics: Perspectives of African Development; African Poverty: Dimensions, Measures, Trends & Moral Issues; African Economies and the International Community; Markets, Trade Investments, Aid for Africa: Past Experiences and Future Perspectives and Africa and International Security. Key speakers from Senegal, France and Poland presented different points of view on each topic. Their speeches were followed by questions and remarks from the audience.
Former Polish Vice Prime Minister, Professor G. Kolodko, giving his speech; on the left is Professor Penda Mbow from Senegal
Professor G. Kolodko’s presentation on Africa
Guests at the conference including the Ambassador of South Africa to Poland, HE Ms FC Potgieter-Gqubule; the Ambassador of Angola to Poland, HE Ms Lizeth N.S. Pena, Africans living in Poland, Polish students and academics.
Key presenters at the conference included Penda Mbow, Jean Claude Berthelemy, Jan Milewski, Izabela Lecka, Wladyslaw Dowbor, Krzysztof Trzcinski and many others.
Professor Penda Mbow giving a lecture
Dr. P. Baginski, one of the speakers at the conference, gave some important information concerning the Polish government’s aid for Africa. He indicated that Poland provides help to two African countries – Angola and Tanzania. The money is mainly spent on scholarships for African students studying in Poland, on Polish missions and a small number of fortuitous constructions. In 2005, ODA (Official Development Assistance) for Africa was 0.06% of the total ODA provided to developing countries and equaled $1.38 million. In 2006, 1 million PLN was spent on 80 small projects connected with education, health services, food supplies, HIV/AIDS, and access to clean water.
It’s worth mentioning that there is no official document on aid strategy. Besides, the African continent is marginally present in Polish foreign policy and the rendered assistance is small and accidental. Because of the lack of certain regulations in Polish law, it is impossible to provide long-term aid; it makes the problem even more difficult.
In view of foregoing, the majority of Polish organizations providing assistance to African countries must rely only on the generosity of different individuals.
More information can be found at: http://www.globalnyrozwoj.edu.pl/
Ms. Justyna Maciuszek of HLF at the conference
Ms. Justyna Maciuszek and Anna Dobrowolska enjoying the coffee prepared by the organizers
