Africa Knowledge Fest 2022

9:15 – 9:25: Welcome Remarks by Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank (Preston Auditorium and livestreamed)

9:25 – 11:00: Leveraging Knowledge in Times of Crisis (Preston Auditorium and livestreamed)

• Keynote address by Mari Pangestu, Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank
• Carmen Reinhart, Senior Vice President and World Bank Group chief economist, Development Economics, World Bank
• Indermit Gill,  Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, World Bank
• Agnes Kalibata, Agricultural Scientist, Policymaker, and President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
• James Robinson,  Professor of Global Conflict studies, University of Chicago
• Leonard Wantchekon, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
• Panel moderated by Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank Group

11:00 – 11:30:  Coffee break (MC front Lobby)

11:00 – 16:00 Knowledge Expo with authors (JDW Atrium); lunch “Taste of Africa” by Chef Marie-Joseph Siatta; and entertainment by Amadou Kouyate, Memory of African Culture.

11:30 – 12:30 Centering African Knowledge: The Africa Development Forum Series in Perspective (JDW Atrium and livestreamed)

• Gaelle Balineau, on Food Systems in Africa: Rethinking the Role of Markets (AFD, 2020)
• Moussa Blimpo, on Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability, and Complementary Factors for Economic Impact (WB, 2019)
• Woubet Kassa, on Industrialization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Seizing Opportunities in Global Value Chains (WB, 2021)
• Co-Moderated by Albert Zeufack and Thomas Mélonio, Executive Director of Innovation, Strategy, and Research, Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

14:00-15:00 Building Bridges between Knowledge and Policy: The Role of Chief Economic Advisors (Preston Auditorium and livestreamed)

• A moderated conversation with Edward K. Brown, Senior Director for Research & Policy Engagements at the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), and current and former Chief Economic Advisors to African leaders: Bertrand Belle (Seychelles); Nomusa T. Dlamini (Eswatini); and Dr. Mohamed Doumbouya (Guinea)

15:15-16:00 Knowledge Impact Awards (in the Preston Auditorium and livestreamed)

• Chaired by Victoria Kwakwa, Vice President, Strategic Corporate Initiatives, World Bank (Incoming Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank)
• MC: Andrew Dabalen (Incoming Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank Group)
• Five-minute ignite talks by five finalists, voting by audience and award of prize

16:00 - Closing Remarks by Ousmane Diagana, Vice President, Western and Central Africa, World Bank (in the Preston Auditorium and livestreamed)

16:10-17:00 Closing reception: Live traditional and contemporary African music by Amadou Kouyate (JDW Atrium)