HSF Africa Week - A webinar series for 2021

We bring together African specialists and commentators to discuss critical issues and key trends, including energy transition, digitalisation, ESG and intra-continental trade

We are delighted to launch our HSF Africa Week to mark the annual celebration of Africa Day on 25 May. Over the course of the week we will be bringing together African specialists and commentators to discuss critical issues and key trends across the continent, including energy transition, digitalisation, ESG, funding sources and intra-continental trade.

Tuesday 25 May

Panel discussion: The Future of Africa's Energy Transition

First recorded on 25 May 2021

Journalist and BBC presenter, Lerato Mbele will moderate a panel with members of our Africa energy and infrastructure team including Martin Kavanagh, Brigette Baillie, Rebecca Major, Paul Morton and clients to discuss aspects of Africa’s energy transition.

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Wednesday 26 May

Panel discussion in French: Afrique libre-échange : intégration régionale et partenariats économiques (co-hosted by HSF Paris and AFJE)

Bertrand Montembault and Laurence Franc-Menget will moderate a panel discussion Stéphane Aka-Anghui (Directeur exécutif de la Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Côte d'Ivoire, Ancien directeur adjoint de cabinet au ministère de l'Intégration africaine et des Ivoiriens de l'étranger), Mouhamed Kebe (Associé-gérant, Projets & Arbitrage, Geni & Kebe Lawyers), Viwanou Gnassounou (Consultant en politique de développement, VR Advisors / Val Regius, Ancien Secrétaire général adjoint et Sous-secrétaire général, Groupe des États d'Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique) and Komi Tsowou (Economiste, Commission des Nations Unies sur le Commerce et le Développement, Responsable des affaires économiques, Centre africain pour la politique commerciale de la Commission économique pour l'Afrique des Nations Unies)

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Thursday 27 May

Panel discussion: Digital Transformation in Africa

Journalist and BBC presenter, Lerato Mbele will moderate a panel discussion with members of our digital law team, Martin Hevey, Alexandra Neri and Rohan Isaacs to highlight the digitalisation trends that are developing across Africa.

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Friday 28 May

The India/Africa Story

Chair of the HSF India group, Chris Parsons shares his views on Indian’s investment in Africa over the past ten years. In this video, Chris considers the key themes that characterise India’s investment flow into the region, how Indian investment has been perceived in Africa and what future investment flows may look like. 

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Governance and Africa: Risks and consequence for COP26

In the lead up to the Glasgow COP26 later this year, and following President Biden's Leaders' Summit on Climate it is becoming increasingly clear that Africa's resources will play a critical role in the fight against climate change.  To comply with the undertakings provided under the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal countries across the world will look to Africa to supply essential materials and strategic minerals such as Cobalt, Copper, Nickel and Lithium.

While the increased demand for these minerals hold great economic prospects for the development of African countries it likewise poses a significant threat to the rule of law, accountability, transparency and democracy if access to the minerals override the development of accompanying good public governance structures in the near future. 

In light of this, we have assembled a panel of experts to discuss the presence or absence of safeguards and whether or not the importance of good public governance should be an important agenda item for COP26.

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