On September 10, 2015, the Wilson Center launched the Brown Capital Management Africa Forum initiative, a 5-year platform for substantive and solutions-oriented dialogue on key trade, investment, and development issues in Africa and in U.S.-Africa relations. The launch of the Forum coincided with the one-year anniversary of the historic U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, held in August 2014, through which the Obama Administration sought to reposition U.S.-Africa relations by bringing business and economic issues squarely to the fore. The inaugural Forum consisted of a series of events assessing the progress made towards achieving the $33 billion in commitments that were established at the 2014 Summit, including $14 billion in trade and investments from U.S. companies and government.
More importantly, the Forum offered recommendations for building on this progress and further advancing mutually beneficial U.S.-Africa economic relations. The inaugural Forum brought together over 150 participants and stakeholders—including U.S. and African officials, as well as representatives from the business sector, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, academics, members of the African diaspora, and other interested parties—in an inclusive and forward-leaning dialogue on U.S.-Africa economic relations. See below for the full summary of recommendations.
Related Program
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more
