report on wef africa 2015
DESCRIPTION
Kow Essuman and Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor represented the WEF Global Shapers Accra Hub at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2015 (CapeTown, South Africa). Here is their report from the Forum.TRANSCRIPT
Prepared by Kow Essuman and Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor 1
REPORT
ON
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ON AFRICA 2015
IN
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
BY
KOW ESSUMAN
AND
EMMANUEL AGBEKO GAMOR
OF
GLOBAL SHAPERS COMMUNITY
(ACCRA HUB)
Dated: 18 June 2015
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INTRODUCTION
Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor and Kow Essuman were invited by the World
Economic Forum to represent the Global Shapers Community, Accra Hub, at the
2015 World Economic Forum on Africa held in Cape Town, South Africa from 3 –
5 June 2015. This year’s Forum marked 25 years of the Forum on Africa and had
the theme, “Then and Now, Reimagining the Africa’s Future.” This year’s Forum
coincided with 25 years of change in Africa and the Millennium Development
Goals and ongoing discussion on how to sustain Africa’s economic growth and
the new Sustainability Development Goals.
2 JUNE 2015
#WEAREAFRICA
On 2 June 2015, the night before the Forum, the Durban and Cape Town Hubs
organized a networking event. It was a meet-and-greet session where the 80
Shapers had the opportunity to meet and greet each other. At the event, we were
given practical tips on how to benefit from networking at the Forum. Naadiya from
the Cape Town Hub provided the following tips to the group:
1. Create a hit list, which is a list of all the people you would like to meet at
the Forum;
2. Have a 5 second introductory statement that should make the person
listening to you be interested in having a conversation with you;
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3. Let your listener know what you can do for them rather than what they can
do for you or what you can get from them;
4. If you are lucky to receive your listener’s business card, make a note on
the business card about what your conversation with that person entailed
and why you need to contact that person; and
5. When you return home, email your listener and let them know it was a
pleasure meeting them and discussing “a, b and c”. The benefit of
emailing is that the person always has a record of you even if they throw
your business card away.
3 JUNE 2015
SHAPERS ORIENTATION
On 3 June 2015, we had a Global Shapers Private
Event, where we were officially welcome by Chidiogo
Akunyili (Senior Community Manager, Global Shapers
Community) and her team. We were informed about the
World Economic Forum, its purpose and what it sought
to achieve. We were also informed about the Global
Shapers Community and why it had been created.
We were then given tips about how to conduct ourselves at the Forum and
generally within the Community. We were encouraged to sell the Global Shapers
brand. Thus, at any given time during the Forum when we had to introduce
ourselves, we were advise to state “I am Kow Essuman, a Global Shaper from
the Accra Hub”.
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Yemi (Head of the Global Shapers Community) joined
us and explained further the structure and purpose of
the Global Shapers Community. He indicated that the
Global Shapers Community had surmounted all its
challenges and one challenge it faces now is how it can
fund itself. He informed us about his funding strategy
and how we can help achieve that. He explained that
he wants to raise funds at various levels in the following manner:
Global level - $1million
Regional level - $250,000 x 3 countries in the region (So for instance in Africa, he is targeting Nigeria, South
Africa to provide such funds.)
National level - $150,000 x 2 sponsors (For instance, in Ghana we should have two sponsors, who
would give $150,000 each to the Global Shapers Community
and that 2/3 of the amount raised nationally will remain in the
country in which it was raised.)
We had the opportunity to take photographs with the #SHAPEsustainability
goals.
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SHAPER PROJECTS
Three Shapers shared the projects they were working on in their respective
Hubs. We then had breakout sessions where we discussed the projects
presented and suggested solutions to the challenges.
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ABRAAJ GROUP TALK
Representatives from the Abraaj Group joined us and told us about the Abraaj
Group. They explained their investment model and what they consider before
making an investment. They took questions from the Shapers present.
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COCA-COLA EVENT
We had a Coca-Cola dinner and panel discussion on businesswomen, which was
moderated by Rosalin Abigail Kyere-Nartey of the Kumasi Hub. That same
evening, Emmanuel was nominated as a “fire-starter” for a panel discussion on
gender parity on the same evening.
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GENDER PARITY DINNER
Emmanuel Gamor was invited to a private dinner hosted by Biola Alabi with
prominent women including Nigeria’s former minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Hannah Tetteh and UN – Women Executive
Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. As a fire-starter Emmanuel shared all the
women who have been instrumental in his personal and professional growth and
was presented with a #HeForShe pin by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for being an
advocate for women empowerment and ally in enforcing the growth and
advancement of women in the work place.
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4 JUNE 2015
MEETING PROF. KLAUS SCHWAB
The Global Shapers had a Meet the Leader session with Prof. Schwab (Founder
of the World Economic Forum), who challenged us about our identity. He stated
that our brain, soul and heart must be in sync with each other and everything we
do. According to Prof. Schwab, the brain deals with how you think and what you
do on a daily basis; your soul is what moves you and your vision; and your heart
has your passion to do what you do. He challenged the Shapers to lead the
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campaign on conserving Africa’s wildlife resource.
PANEL PARTICIPATION
Emmanuel was featured on a panel on the topic: “Data Revolution” and shared
his thoughts and ideas on the subject. The moderator was Clare Akamanzi, and
the following persons were the panelists Jamie Drummond (One Campaign),
Daniella Ballou-Aares, Helen Hai, Dr. Ernest Darkoh and Emmanuel Agbeko
Gamor.
The panel explored how effective data can help promote governance and
innovation. Emmanuel’s main contribution centered on: Africa's data revolution
will be truly realized when there is localization and translation of content so that
young people on the continent may adapt technology to truly suit our needs.
OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS
We had other Meet the Leader sessions with other persons including Graca
Machel, Ashish Thakkar and Acha Leke.
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We participated in Partners Networking Event, where we networked with the
partners of the World Economic Forum and sold the Global Shapers brand.
Thereafter, President Jacob Zuma and the South African government hosted a
dinner and soiree for attendees at the Forum. The dinner was climaxed by an
exhilarating performance by Mafikizolo! amidst dancing.
The South Africa Mokete was delight to all in attendance.
5 JUNE 2015
BBC INTERVIEW
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Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor was selected to speak to the BBC on its Focus on
Africa programme. The BBC Focus on Africa programme was an opportunity to
share expectations of Global Shapers at the Forum and positive next steps on
how to achieve what is discussed after the Forum. Emmanuel highlighted that
one of the most pressing utility for The Forum on Africa is for collaboration and
collective next steps in improving the state of the continent.
MEETING WITH PAUL POLMAN
The Shapers had a Meet the Leader session with Paul Polman (the CEO of
Unilever).
He shared his experience as a CEO and his commitment to development. He
spoke about the Sustainable Development Goals and how they intend to
achieved it.
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SHAPERS DE-BRIEFING
We had a Shapers de-briefing session where we shared our experiences at the
Forum. We discussed what our challenges are, our aspirations as Shapers and
our commitments.
FINAL THOUGHTS
1. We need to encourage more Shapers to attend World Economic Forum
events by sharing our experiences and how it has helped us in develop
personally and professionally.
2. We need to leverage the Global Shapers Community brand in Accra and
promote its identity.
3. We need to identify those two sponsors that are willing to commit to the
Global Shapers Community in line with Yemi’s fundraising strategy.
4. We need to be coordinated in our efforts.
5. Improving the state of the world is not just a World Economic Forum
mandate, it is a rallying call for all citizens and we need to be active
agents in achieving this.
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