The FPC and the Open University's International Development Centre, in partnership with Lovells, are hosting a one-day conference on Friday 21 November which will explore the impact of commodities on development in Africa and China. The event will seek to illuminate the complex and intricate relationships that constitute the ever-evolving engagement between the People's Republic of China and the continent of Africa. Energy, minerals and agricultural commodities provide a unique and topical framework through which to explore emerging Africa-China relations.

This event is invitation-only. For more information, please contact Josephine Osikena or Anna Owen on tel: +44 (0)20 7729 7566 or email: events@fpc.org.uk.

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Download 'Going for Growth' Conference Invitation (190 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Date: Wednesday 7th May 2008, 3-5pm

Speakers:

•Salvatore Gabola, Director of Global Stakeholder Relations, The Coca-Cola Company

•Liza Lort-Phillips, Associate Director, Corporate Citizenship

•Graham Baxter, Director,Responsible Business Solutions International Business Leaders Forum(IBLF)

•Sumi Dhanarajan, Co-head,Private Sector Team, Policy Department Oxfam

The Foreign Policy Centre, in association with Coca-Cola Great Britain, presented the third seminar in the 'CSR in Emerging Markets' series on Wed 7 May at Portcullis House. The seminar examined CSR in emerging markets with a focus on marketplace practices, including issues such as consumer relations, ethical trade and responsible investment, and wealth creation. The speakers explored these themes from both business and civil society perspectives.

This event was held in association with Coca-Cola Great Britain

Download Invitation (90 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Date: Thursday 8 May, 4.00-6.00pm

Keynote Speaker: Hon Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Discussant: Femi Longe, Co-founder, Africa++ (a network that helps people in the diaspora connect with Africa's development)

Chair: Hugh Bayley MP, Member of the International Development Select Committee and Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Africa

In a public lecture hosted by the Foreign Policy Centre in partnership with the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), the Hon Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives, explored the future of governance and democracy promotion in Nigeria.

While Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, it is by far the continent's largest fledgling democracy. The 2007 presidential and legislative elections were widely perceived to be the most flawed in the country's history. Initially, when President Umaru Yar'Adua was nominated by his predecessor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there was much speculation that Obasanjo intended to retain the reins of power using the somewhat anonymous governor of Katsina State as an instrument to advance his own political agenda. Today however, Yar'Adua is increasingly regarded as an enthusiastic supporter of 'better government' as a vehicle for tackling the structural constraints that are impeding Nigeria's development, such as the chronic power crisis.

Questions that were explored during this event included: Is President Yar'Adua simply seeking to build his own legitimacy? Can the Nigerian National Assembly effectively shape legislation and adequately monitor and challenge the executive on behalf of the Nigerian people? Is the Nigerian government being distracted from the business of pursuing an ambitious reform agenda? Does democracy have a future in the Nigerian political power struggle?

Download Invitation (50 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Date: Monday 10th March 2008, 3pm to 5pm

Venue: Grimond Room, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, London, SW1A 2LW

Speakers:

• Salvatore Gabola, Director of Worldwide Stakeholder Relations, The Coca-Cola Company
• Daniel Graymore, Team Leader, Business Alliance Team, Department for International Development
• Daniel Litvin, Director, Critical Resource Strategy & Analysis
• Stephen Twigg (Chair), Director, The Foreign Policy Centre

About this event:

At this event, the Foreign Policy Centre launched a major project on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in emerging markets in association with Coca-Cola Great Britain. The project will explore the role of multinational corporations' CSR practices in emerging markets in the areas of labour standards, marketplace practices, and the environment. With an initial background paper, this launch seminar reviewed recent trends in multinationals' CSR practices, defined the latest debate on CSR, and established the context for the following three seminars which will form part of this project.

This event was held in association with Coca-Cola Great Britain.

Download the initial background paper (140 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

'The Empire Strikes Flak: Powerful Companies and Political Backlash' by Daniel Litvin (presented to Harvard Business School colloquium)

Download Daniel Litvin's paper (100 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Date: Thursday, 28th February 2008

Speakers:

Gareth Thomas MP, DfID Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Richard Black, BBC

Graham Wynne, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Chair: Stephen Twigg, FPC

About this event:

At the FPC's recent inaugural Annual Lecture, the Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP announced that the UK Government would increase its climate change research to £100 million over the next five years (a tenfold increase).

Continuing with the theme of exploring the centrality of environmental sustainability and global social justice, the FPC in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds held a seminar on "Sustaining our Environment: Is Climate Change the Only Ill?".

This event was kindly supported by the RSPB.

Download Gareth Thomas's Speech (40 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Richard Black's Presentation

Download Richard Black's presentation (660 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Climate Change and Global Social Justice

6 February 2008

The International Development Secretary, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, in a major speech to the Foreign Policy Centre has argued that the world needs to shift its economic development to a low-carbon model. He also announced a tenfold increase in climate change research funding to £100 million over the next five years.

Giving the inaugural Foreign Policy Centre annual lecture at the LSE, the Development Secretary outlined his proposals for a new post-Kyoto global framework to tackle emissions. Mr Alexander argued that while developed countries must take a lead, developing countries must share the responsibility of change by 'leapfrogging' over polluting technologies toward a cleaner economy as their societies develop.

He said:

"Climate change is a defining global social justice issue for our generation. If we do not take the necessary action, we risk condemning the world's poorest people to generations of poverty."

Read more

Download the full speech (110 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Speakers:

HE Mr Ivohasina Razafimahefa, Minister of Economy, Government of Madagascar

Stephen Twigg, Foreign Policy Centre (Chair)

Date:

Tuesday 13 November 2007, 2.30pm to 4pm

Venue:

Committee Room 12, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

About the event:

The Foreign Policy Centre is delighted to host the Madagascar Development Forum. The Malagasy Minister of the Economy, Mr Ivohasina Razafimahefa will make a keynote speech at the forum.

The Madagascar Development Forum is being held to raise the profile of Madagascar in the UK as an attractive business hub and to forge co-operation between governments and businesses in the UK and East Africa, and to examine the particular challenges for development in small states. Copies of the Madagascar Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy for encouraging growth and reducing poverty will be available.

This event will be a great opportunity to hear from one of Madagascar's most senior politicians, and to meet like minded business leaders, NGOs, journalists and other policy makers.

Please RSVP with the subject "Madagascar Forum" to events[at]fpc.org.uk by 9 November

Thursday 19 April 2007

Time: from 15:00 - 18:00

Speakers:

Sam Gurney, Trade Union Congress (TUC)

Beverley Mirando, Nestlé

Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Commonwealth Secretariat

Chair: Dr Peter Hough, Middlesex University

Venue:

P8, Pascal building, Middlesex University, Queensway, Enfield, Middlesex EN3 4SA

The seminar will be followed by a reception

Due to a limited number of places, please RSVP to Josephine Osikena.

Email: Josephine.osikena[at]fpc.org.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7729 7566

This is the second event in the FPC seminar series which aims to explore the role played by business in international development. The forums hope to identify constructive ways in which civil society together with the private sector can forge more effective links to make globalisation work for the poor.

Why trade matters

The event will explore how women can best tackle the challenges and maximise the opportunities trade liberalisation presents. Focusing on agriculture, it will also examine how business and enterprise can support and develop small-scale female producers helping them fully participate in trade at a global, regional and local level. The seminar also hopes to identify ways in which trade can be used as a vehicle to promote gender equality and female empowerment. The event series has been sponsored by Nestlé.

Download the invitation (70 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Time: 4.00-6.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 19, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

The Foreign Policy Centre and Never Again cordially invite you to a discussion on:

Will China Help Prevent or Provoke Conflict in Africa?

Speakers:

• Stephanie T. Kleine-Ahlbrandt, International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York
• Patrick Smith, Editor, Africa Confidential

The Theme

After 50 years of independent rule and Western development practice, people in Africa grapple still with the threats, legacies and realities of violent conflict. Will China's unique approach to development offer new solutions or further complicate local and international tensions? Will China's growing investment in the continent encourage African nations to become independent parties to the world trade regime? Will China's investment strengthen African national economies? How will China's involvement influence good governance, human rights and civil society in African countries? What drives China's Africa policy? This seminar will explore the implications of China's increasing assertiveness in Africa, what this means for African governments and citizens, and for the West which has traditionally played a key role in the region.

The speakers

Stephanie T. Kleine-Ahlbrandt is Programme Manager and Officer-in-Charge, Asia Division, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2002-2006). She is responsible for human rights and technical cooperation on administration of justice with the government of the People's Republic of China. She is currently on sabbatical and is an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York, researching the human rights implications of China's deepening engagement with the African continent.

Patrick Smith is editor of Africa Confidential, the world's leading fortnightly bulletin on Africa.

Due to a limited number of places please RSVP to Feng Zhang at:

Feng.Zhang[at]fpc.org.uk or call at +44 (0)20 7729 7566; +44 (0) 78 0976 4855.

Speakers:

Gareth Thomas MP, DFID Minister

Emanuele Lobina, University of Greenwich

Norah Odwesso, Diageo Africa

Chair: Malcolm Bruce MP, Chair, International Development Committee

Date: Wednesday 7 March, 2007

Time: 4pm to 6pm

Venue: Wilson Room, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, London SW1A 2LW (PLEASE NOTE ROOM CHANGE)

About this event:

Universal access to water and sanitation represents an urgent global priority. Currently, 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water, 2.4 billion people do not have basic sanitation and 6,000 children die daily because of water-related diseases. Over 300 million of these people live in Africa.

UN member states have committed to halving the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. At present however, many countries are set to fail. Meeting this goal means getting water to an extra 440,000 people every day, every week, every year for the next 10 years, at an annual cost of US$ 11.3 billion. This requires strong political and financial support for practical solutions.

This seminar will explore how governments, multilateral agencies, civil society, the private sector and local stakeholders can forge better partnerships to improve access to water and sanitation for the most vulnerable in Africa. The event is being sponsored by Diageo.

Download Gareth Thomas's Speech (30 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

An ODI, Foreign Policy Centre and APGOOD Event

Global Challenges: Europe's Role

Keynote Speaker: Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Thursday 1st February, 1.00 – 2.30PM

Committee Room 10, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA (please use St Stephen's entrance) PLEASE NOTE ROOM CHANGE

At this joint ODI, Foreign Policy Centre and All Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Development (APGOOD) event, Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe will speak about the role Europe can play in addressing today's major global challenges.

The Minister would like his speech to focus on the thoughts of the audience in this respect and to this end, you are invited to submit your own thoughts here in response to the following questions:

1. Which three main global challenges are especially suited for a Europe-wide response?

2. What three main strengths and three main weaknesses will determine whether the EU is or is not able to deliver a good response?

3. What does the UK and wider European development/external relations community have to do differently to make sure the weaknesses are overcome?

All feedback received in response to these questions will be passed to the Minister's office in advance of the event and his speech will endeavour to address the major themes which emerge.

If you would like to attend, please click here to register your place and submit your thoughts on the Minister's questions: http://www.odi.org.uk/speeches/apgood/international_development/1stFeb07/form.html

Please note that the deadline for submitting feedback is 12.00NOON on Thursday 18th January. Submissions received after then will not be passed to the Minister's office, although you will still be able to register for the meeting until 48 hours before the event.

Download Geoff Hoon's speech (30 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Sponsored by Hill & Knowlton

Thursday 30 November, 3.30pm to 7pm

Venue: Hill & Knowlton, 20 Soho Square, London W1A 1PR

The Foreign Policy Centre recently hosted a seminar and reception entitled: "Redefining Multilateralism: The Commonwealth as a Catalyst for Change?" The event was addressed by John Battle MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Development and Rt Hon Donald McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

This spring the Prime Minister made a series of landmark speeches on foreign policy, one of which was hosted by the Foreign Policy Centre in March. You may recall that in his third speech held at Georgetown University, Washington DC in May 2006 the Prime Minister suggested that:

"There is a "hopeless mismatch" between the global challenges we face and the global institutions available to confront them,[…] now is the moment for reconciliation in the international community around a unifying agenda for global action."

Today there are a number of obstacles to promoting international co-operation. From the indefinite suspension of the Doha Development Round, to developing a reformed United Nations system which meets the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. We witness the crisis in the International Monetary Fund and the growing irrelevance of the Work Bank in meeting today's global development concerns. The seminar explored how the world's second largest international association can best position itself to advocate a response commensurate with the global threat to multilateralism.

The Commonwealth holds a unique position in today's global institutional architecture, with a membership of 53 states, comprising over 1.8 billion inhabitants (or 33 per cent of the world's population). Economically, the Commonwealth has annual GDP growth rate of approximately 7%, including thirteen of the fastest growing world economies. Through this seminar we hope to identify how the Commonwealth can best provoke change by redefining multilateralism.

The event was kindly sponsored by Hill and Knowlton and was held at their offices at 20 Soho Square, London W1A 1PR.

Download speeches from the event - John Battle MP and Don McKinnon (80 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

The Labour Party Conference in Manchester is set to run from Sunday 24th until Thursday 28th September. The FPC will be holding a number of events inside the secure zone of Labour Party Conference.

If you would like to know more, please contact us on 020 7729 7566 or email Diane Fisher on diane.fisher[at]fpc.org.uk.

To download the events programme, please click here:

Download FPC Fringe Events at Labour Conference 2006 (110 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)

Monday 24 July 2006, 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Venue: Committee Room 16, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA (Access via St Stephen's entrance)

The Foreign Policy Centre will host an event to discuss viable prospects for state building and peace in Somalia. The country has witnessed renewed violence surrounding the Union of Islamic Courts' takeover of Mogadishu, confirming that the solution to the world's perennial 'failed state' remains far from clear. Kofi Annan this week called for a "comprehensive, workable and verifiable ceasefire and a programme of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration" of armed groups - but attempts at peacebuilding and state reconstruction have been inchoate and of doubtful success. George Bush at the same time voices concerns that Somalia is becoming an "al-Qaeda safe haven". As 'failed state' meets the 'war on terror', defining and responding to Somalia is now of critical importance.

Host:

Kerry McCarthy MP

Speakers:

Rt Hon Alun Michael MP

Dr Stig Hansen, Bath University

Awale Kullame, Civil Rights Campaigner

Desmond Curran, Department for International Development (TBC)

Amina Ali, Political Researcher, House of Lords

Karin Christiansen, Overseas Development Institute

Chair:

Philip Fiske de Gouveia, Foreign Policy Centre

Please RSVP to Laura Kyrke-Smith: pubdip[at]fpc.org.uk

T +44 20 7388 6662 or F +44 20 7388 8896

Please note that places at the seminar are limited

Please allow additional time for routine security checks upon arrival at the Palace of Westminster

Tuesday 27 June 2006, 6.00-8.00pm

Venue: Committee Room 16, House of Commons, SW1

The Foreign Policy Centre, in partnership with the Baluchistan Rights Movement is hosting a seminar on the Baluchistan province in Pakistan, entitled 'Baluchistan at the Crossroads'.

This will provide an introduction to this area, for both experts and non-experts alike. For those not familiar with the region, Baluchistan crosses the states of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran and in some ways is the 'Kurdistan of Central Asia'.

This seminar will cover a number of important issues: the tense relationship between the Baluch people and the central government; human rights issues; the use of natural resources; security and terrorism issues; and the activities of the Pakistan army in the region. Baluchistan is a crucial element to Britain's relations with Pakistan and the Pakistani community in the UK. Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan in Pakistan is a known hideout for Al-Qaeda operatives, including the now captured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Speakers include:

Frederic Grare, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Husain Haqqani, Boston University

Senator Sana Baloch, from Baluchistan

Mr Mehran Baloch, from the Baluchistan Rights Movement

Ryszard Czarnecki MEP

Hugh Barnes, Director of Democracy and Conflict, Foreign Policy Centre (Chair)

Read the full report of the seminar here:

http://fpc.org.uk/articles/369

Places are limited, so please RSVP to alex.bigham[at]fpc.org.uk