Inaugural Multidisciplinary Dialogue on Africa-U.S. City Relations

African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS)
On 15-17 February 2023 the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS), University of the Witwatersrand, held the Inaugural Multidisciplinary Dialogue on Africa-U.S. City Relations, which sought to serve as a catalyst for addressing social, economic, political and cultural challenges confronting cities.
27 March 2023
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The African Centre for the Study of the United States (Johannesburg)
By Hluma Luvo Ralane

On 15-17 February 2023 the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS), University of the Witwatersrand, held the Inaugural Multidisciplinary Dialogue on Africa-U.S. City Relations at the ANEW Hotel Parktonian, Johannesburg.  The dialogue sought to serve as a catalyst for addressing social, economic, political and cultural challenges confronting cities. The stakeholders tackling these issues were diverse, ranging from academics and scholars, to city and corporate officials.  Dr Bob Wekesa, the Deputy Director of ACSUS, presided over the three day conference.

In the opening ceremony, Cllr Thapelo Amad, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, commended the Centre for having facilitated this critical dialogue on Africa-U.S. city relations. He stressed the significance of cities and called them the "living organs of the country." He noted, it is cities where economic and demographic influence are felt the most and where innovations are most likely to take place. Cities, he added, are the places where national governments can potentially solve international cooperation challenges. The mayor stated that platforms such as the conference are imperative because they create the ground for academia, government, and corporate officials to explore ways of addressing shortcomings confronting cities. In closing, the Mayor emphasized the importance of enhancing collaborations and partnerships to strengthen city-to-city diplomacy.

Cllr Jongizizwe Dlabathi, National Executive Committee member from the South African Local Government Association, also gave a message of support.  He was succeeded by Mr. Vincent Spera, Consul General from the Johannesburg Consulate, and U.S. Mission in South Africa, who also applauded the initiative by the Centre. Afterwards, conference delegates were virtually welcomed by, Mr. Mzikayifani Khumalo, member of the Executive Council of the Gauteng Province. Mr. Khumalo wished the delegates a solutions-driven conference and a safe stay in the Gauteng province.

Ms. Lorna K. Johnson, Sister Cities International, Africa Region Representative gave the keynote address on the first day of the conference. In her address she highlighted the Sister Cities International initiative of creating 500 new sister cities throughout the continent of Africa over the next five years.

The conference program constituted the following panels, facilitators, and speakers.

  • Public-Private Partnerships in response to economic challenges in Africa-U.S. cities

Moderator : Ms Koketso Tamale, Head, InvestSA Gauteng

Panellists : Mr James Donovan, Co-founder, and CEO, ADEC Innovations

Dr Jamie Green, National Institute for Inclusive Competitiveness

Mr Mxolisi Mchunu, Specialist, Economic Development, SALGA

Mr Brinton Bohling, Managing Director, Prosper Africa

  •  Infrastructure Climate Financing  

Moderator : Mr Seana Nkhahle, Portfolio Head: Built Environment and Planning, SALGA

Panellists : Mr Will Pearson, Power Africa

Prof Rodney Genga, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Wits University

  • Innovative city partnerships and investment landscape for African and U.S. cities 

Presenter : Mr. James Donovan, Co-founder, and CEO, ADEC Innovations

  • Sister City Relationships 

Moderator : Ms Lorna Johnson, Sister Cities International, Africa Region Representative

Panellists : Mr. Michael Robinson, Sister Cities International

Prof Kefa Otiso, Bowling Green University

  • Strategies for City Resilience and Investment: Health, Environment, Migration, Security 

Moderator : Dr. Bob Wekesa, Deputy Director, African Centre for the Study of the United States

Panellists : Ms. Nozibele Makanda, Portfolio Head, Inclusive Communities, SALGA

Ms. Nosipho Hlatshwayo, Executive Programmes, South African Cities Network

  • Africa-U.S. city governance across crisis issues 

Moderator : Dr. Sam Koma, North West University

Panellists : Dr Godfrey Isiye, University of Nairobi

  • Smart Cities and Urban Development 

Panellists : Mr Collen Masango, Team Task Lead, Urban Resilience, the World Bank Group

Mr. Lawrence Boya, Smart City Leader, City of Johannesburg

  • Comparative, theoretical, methodological, and conceptual approaches to the study of Africa-U.S. city relations

Presenter : Prof Nnamdi Elleh, Head of School, School of Architecture and Planning, Wits

University

  • Africa – U.S. University-based City Partnerships 

Moderator : Prof Nnamdi Elleh, Head of School, School of Architecture and Planning, Wits

Panellists: Dr Sonya Ricks, North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University

Prof Kefa M. Otiso, Bowling Green State University

Dr Manna Duah, North Carolina Central University

Mr Tebogo Matlou, Project Manager, SALGA

Mr Lawrence DaQuan, Howard University

Dr Larrisha McGill-Youngblood and Dr Christopher Paul, North Carolina Central

University

  • Black History Month: Black resistance and innovation in U.S. and African Cities  

Moderator : Ms. Eshanda Fennell-Letoaba, Global Diaspora Network

Panellists : Dr Asad Malik, Research Associate, Wits University

Ms Ashley Cleveland, Founder, Afrika Investors Academy

Dr. Jamie Green, National Institute for Inclusive Competitiveness

  • Pathways for economics, trade, investments, and entrepreneurship  

Panellists : Dr. Rayna Henderson

Ms Arina Muresan, Institute for Global Dialogue

  • Cities as international diplomatic actors b

Panellists : Prof Maria Nzomo, University of Nairobi

Mr Mutinda Mutisya, University of Nairobi

  • Africa-U.S. businesses and investments in cities: opportunities and challenges 

Moderator : Mr. Ezekiel Odiogo, African Development Bank\U.S. Business in Africa Awards

Panellists : Mr Derain Pillay, General Manager, Honeywell International Inc.

Ms Koketso Tamale, Head, InvestSA Gauteng

Ms. Cynthia Griffin, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Consulate

Group Discussion

Before the closing of the conference, delegates broke into various groups to discuss some of the themes that had been covered in the three days. The ample interactions among the delegates enabled members to voice their thoughts.

Conference Closing

The closing session involved three consequential items. First, the delegates made several useful comments on how the quality of future conferences could be enhanced. Second, it was agreed that the next conference would be held in March 2024 in Johannesburg. Third, an organizing committee to plan for the next conference was created with the following members;

  • Mr Moshe Kao, Senior Program and Country Manager, ADEC Innovations
  • Dr. Rayna Henderson, Raykor Consulting 
  • Dr. Jamie Green, National Institute for Inclusive Competitiveness
  • Mr. Derain Pillay, General Manager, Honeywell International Inc.
  • Dr Larrisha McGill-Youngblood,  North Carolina Central University
  • Dr Christopher Paul, North Carolina Central University
  • Ms Ashley Cleveland, Afrika Investors Academy
  • Mr Mutinda Mutisya, University of Nairobi

Conference outcomes 

  • Knowledge production around how African and U.S. cities can strategically engage as international actors and strengthen their sister city partnerships. A call for the resuscitation of the Johannesburg and New York sister city partnership was explicitly singled out however, there where suggests on pairing Johannesburg with Los Angeles due to the vast commonality between the two cities.
  • Engaging in knowledge production that involved scholars and academics from across Africa and several historically black colleges and universities from the U.S, practitioners from government and the corporate sector.
  • Connecting African and U.S. scholars, policymakers, practitioners and professionals with an interest in city relations, and related sustainable development goals.
  • Promoted collaborations that will lead to concrete partnerships amongst universities, particularly around Wits University, University of Nairobi and North Carolina Central University. Furthermore, conversations of specific interest were initiated among government and private entities.
  • Provided knowledge on potential areas of partnership around city relations stretching from economic to social factors. 

The author is a Project Coordinator: Africa – U.S. cities at the African Centre for the Study of the United States, Wits University

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