DATE / TIME:

November 20, 2013 - November 22, 2013

Location:

Accra

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20–22 June 2012, released an outcome document entitled “The Future We Want” — a compromise of participating countries who strive to promote a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

One of the most notable outcomes of the conference was a decision to launch a set of “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs). This has triggered many consultation processes on the post-MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) taking place globally, which will certainly lead to a development agenda that takes into account the Rio+20 outcomes. It is therefore important to keep tracking the various activities related to the future of the MDGs.

The Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR Senegal), Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER, University of Ghana) and United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) will organize a conference in Accra, Ghana, from 20–22 November 2013, with support from the International Development Research Center (IDRC), on the theme “Beyond Rio+20: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities”.

The conference intends to assemble several African think tanks to share views on the post-Rio+20 world, to deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead and to lay the foundations of a collective reflection on the ways to better implement the Rio+20 outcomes within Africa. This initiative will contribute to strengthening the research capacities of  think tanks, improve their policy linkages and connect their voices to the global development agenda. The event also will bring together prominent policymakers and civil society representatives who can help connect Africa to the reflection on inclusive green growth, and contribute to mobilizing political will throughout the continent and better incorporating the voice of Africa in this global policy debate.

This bilingual (English and French) conference is designed in a diversified format with panel discussions, presentations by keynote speakers and session papers. Outputs expected from the conference include (i) an edited book capturing the best outputs of the programme, (ii) research papers related to the post Rio+20 gathering, which may be published in a special issue, and (iii) policy briefs on specific and relevant topics.

The conference is open to the public and admission is free, but advance registration is required.