Washington, DC — U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Assistant Secretary of State Walter Kansteiner, U.S. Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Africa Constance Berry Newman, UNAIDS Director Peter Piot, and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Steering Committee Chair Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu were among the global leaders who recently participated in the Constituency for Africa's annual Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series in Washington, D.C., September 9-17, 2002.
This series of roundtables, workshops and strategy sessions provided a unique opportunity to educate the U.S. public on African issues, share best program practices, compare and discuss public and private sector policies, and build a supportive and activist constituency for progressive U.S.-Africa policy. Among this year's issues were the HIV/AIDS pandemic, democracy and governance, trade and business development, and the role of Black higher education institutions in education in Africa.
"Our task is three-fold," declared the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums, chairman of CFA. "We will point a glaring spotlight at the diseases, famine and severe poverty that jeopardizes tens of millions of lives in Africa. Second, we will push for the development, sharing and implementation of innovative strategies to empower the people of Africa to improve their lives and the futures of their children. And finally, we will reaffirm the remarkable potential the continent offers its people and the world with its human, natural and cultural riches."
The CFA-U.S. State Department policy dialogue attended by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Assistant Secretary of State Walter Kansteiner, and other senior State Department officials offered a vigorous exchange of ideas. Mr. Powell addressed the group of more than 100 Africanists and received the "Constituent of the Year Award" for his steadfast dedication to keeping Africa policy and programs at the forefront of the Bush Administration's foreign policy agenda. (See attached photo).
Awards were also presented at CFA's annual Constituent of the Year Luncheon. The "Trailblazer" award went to Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS; the "Corporate Leadership" award to Frank Fountain, vice president, Daimler-Chrysler Company; the new "Humanitarian Service" award to Bono, lead singer of U2 and global humanitarian; the very distinctive "Leon H. Sullivan Legacy" to C. Payne Lucas, president emeritus, Africare; and the "Grassroots Leadership Award" to Attorney Barbara James of Wichita, KS, a self-described "gadfly for African concerns."
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In addition, a special reception was hosted by CFA introduced the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Steering Committee Chair Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu to U.S. Africanists. "This marks a new era in economic, social, political and civil society development in Africa," commented CFA President/CEO Melvin P. Foote. "NEPAD is an innovative and aggressive strategy developed by Africans. Their focus and determination, along with the continued support of their international partners, makes this a major step forward."
Other participants in the 2002 RHB Series included ranking officials from such pivotal institutions as the World Bank, the United Nations, the African Diplomatic Corps, Members of Congress, nonprofit organizations from Africa and their counterparts in the U.S., federal agencies, faith-based organizations, businesses, international organizations, individuals and policy makers. CFA, a 12-year-old nonprofit 501(C) 3 corporation, presents the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series each year in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference.
