On Tuesday of this week, many of us were very impressed with Secretary Clinton's powerful speech at The President’s Forum with Young African Leaders. It was a very important speech, and a memorable one. This afternoon the State Department issued a follow-up statement.
All of these initiatives are impressive. Here is a reminder. Apps4Africa, despite its name, should not be construed as only for Africa. Ushahidi, which Secretary Clinton singled out, can be used by anybody on any continent. In fact, what is developed in and for African nations should be tools for the global village where we all share the same aspirations to democracy, world outreach, communication, and exchange of trade and ideas.Follow-On Activities to the President's Forum with Young African Leaders
Office of the SpokesmanWashington, DCAugust 6, 2010
On the final day of the August 3-5 President’s Forum with Young African Leaders, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale announced that the Department of State will carry out the following activities to continue the partnership and momentum that came out of the Forum:
- Outreach and Technology: U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa will partner with delegates to the President’s Forum with Young African Leaders to organize follow-on events in Africa, while the Department of State will support use of social media by the delegates to continue their conversation and cooperation.
- A Follow-on Forum with Young African Leaders: The Department of State will work with young African leaders to organize a follow-on forum in the first quarter of 2011. The forum will take place on a single day, in multiple regional locations across Africa. American representatives will be invited to travel to Africa to participate, and technology will be utilized to further expand participation and impact both in Africa and in the United States.
- “Apps 4 Africa”: All over Africa, the Department of State will sponsor opportunities for technical innovators and program developers to come together with civil society leaders to develop technical responses to social challenges. Apps 4 Africa’s goal is to convene technologists/developers to explore the potentials for collaboration in addressing some of Africa's challenges and creating new opportunities for development and growth. The approach will vary from country to country, and the Department of State will look to African partners for input and to help pursue the way ahead.
- “Transformation Grants”: The Department of State will launch a program of small-scale grants to support future-oriented and creative proposals in Africa that focus on the themes of the conference, including youth empowerment, governance, and economic opportunity.
- Africa Alumni Enrichment Workshops: The Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will organize Africa Alumni Enrichment Workshops in several locations in Africa, involving African alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs, to continue and expand the dialogue with a greater cross section of African youth.
- Youth Speaker Initiative: The Department of State will work with private sector, NGO and youth groups to promote on-going speaker programs with young African leaders that focus on the themes of the Forum and enable the dialogue to continue.
