The delegation from China Development Bank with AISA staff members

 AISA hosted a 14 member delegation from China Development Bank (CDB), to establish research collaboration with a focus on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). As part of their visit the delegation met with AISA CEO Dr. Matlotleng Matlou to assess the possibilities of a partnership on 11 December 2011. The CDB delegation then visited ASIA On 13December 2011 for a presentation and site tour. CDB presented their current activities on the continent including infrastructural development, and research on African affairs. The delegation accompanied by AISA also met with the Department of Trade and industry (DTI). The meeting also established potential opportunities for strategic partnerships between AISA, CDB and the DTI. FOCAC is an official forum between the People’s Republic of China and African states. There have been four summits and ministerial conferences held to date since the forum was established in Beijing in the year 2000 with the most recent summit was hosted by Egypt in 2009. The fifth ministerial meeting of the FOCAC will be held in 2012 in Beijing

The delegates that attended the two day book colloquy

 The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) hosted a successful two day author’s roundtable book colloquy titled Peace from Below: An Examination of Community-based Peace building in Africa.

The project spearheaded by the Peace and Security Unit of AISA aims to examine successful models of peace building from the bottom-up in the African context. While there are numerous examples of top-down failures of conflict resolution in Africa, less attention has been paid to successes, particularly community-based enterprise. The book will provide positive examples of peace building in conflict and post conflict situations at the grassroots level.

The colloquy saw all the book contributors presenting their topics and book chapters and engaging on constructive and informative discussions.

SAFe Think 2012 Master - Call for applications (28).

The improved ranking is in line with AISA’s 2011 – 2015 Research Agenda of ‘Seeking solutions for Africa’s Developmental challenges’ which aims to generate a body of knowledge that will inform and guide policy directions in developing a way forward to integrate key aspects of the continent’s political, social, economic and developmental agendas. This year’s survey also noted the increasing role and prominence of think tanks based in the G20 countries that are not part of the G7. It concluded that ‘many of the global economic solutions discussed in G20 meetings draw upon research done by these organisations [non G7 think tanks], in addition to research conducted by the group’s members.’

“The improved position of AISA is line with our vision of being “an indispensable voice on African affairs”. We will continue providing quality research and publications, whilst developing capacity amongst young South African researchers in particular; not forgetting our Africa-wide mandate” said Dr Matlotleng Matlou, AISA’s CEO.

The survey report said the most significant trend within the G20 focus was in the BRICS nations where the number of think tanks increased by 100% in the period 2008 – 11, namely from 419 to 985. China and India now have the second and third highest number of think tanks in the world. South Africa with 85 think tanks is 12th in the world, and has six of the top 10 ranked think tanks in sub-Saharan Africa.

This annual survey is conducted by the University of Pennsylvania in the United States and is the most comprehensive ranking of the world’s top think tanks. It is based on a global peer and expert survey of close to 1500 scholars, policymakers, journalists, and regional and area experts. Some of the key criteria for selection are: media profile and reputation, access to and reputation among policymakers, quality of research output, and success in generating innovative policy ideas and programme. The impact of the work of the think tank as indicated by its recommendations having been considered or adopted by policymakers and civil society organisations is rated of key importance.

 The full survey report can accessed at http://www.gotothinktank.com/ or download it in PDF format here.

The Nihon University delegation welcomed by the AISA team

The Africa Institute South Africa (AISA) hosted a three member delegation from Nihon University in Japan, to establish research collaboration opportunities.  As part of their visit, the delegation had an interactive meeting with AISA CEO Dr. Matlotleng Matlou, Professor Phindile Lukhele-Olorunju, Director of Research: Natural Sciences, Dr Sehlare Makgetlaneng, Chief Research Specialist and Head of Governance and Democracy Unit and Ms Salamina Molamu, Manager of Library and Documentation Services (LDS) to analyse Japan’s and China’s relations with Africa and possibilities of partnership opportunities.

The Nihon University delegation was headed by Professor. Kazuyoshi Aoki, from the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences of African Studies. He was accompanied by Dr. Hidematu Hiyoshi, Assistant Professor at Faculty of Humanities and Sciences and Dr. Shoji Mutsuji,  Research Fellow at Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of  Nihon University African Studies.

 The Nihon University delegation also presented their current activities and other academic research projects they are currently embarking on concerning relations with Africa.  Both organisations agreed that the are possible strategic academic collaboration opportunities that can be pursued and will be beneficial for both parties in the near future.

The first “Japan-South Africa Business Forum” between business organisations was launched in Tokyo on 3 October 2001during the State Visit by President Mbeki, and has become an important mechanism which facilitates business relations between South Africa and Japan.

Bilateral trade between Japan and South Africa had been expanding since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. Companies such as the Toyota Motor Corp had entered South Africa in 1962 and investment by Japanese companies continued during this period.

South Africa exports mainly primary products (base metals, agricultural products, etc) to Japan whilst importing technology-intensive goods from Japan. An interesting and significant change in the nature of exports to Japan can be discerned with South Africa becoming the second largest exporter of motor vehicles to Japan in 2003.

There has been over Yen 100-billion in Japanese investments to South Africa since 1994. Japanese investments into South Africa are mostly in the automotive, metals and chemicals sectors.

Dr. Matlotleng Matlou Chief Executive Officer, AISA and CIRD President, Professor Chi Fulin during the signing of the MoU

 The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) and the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research collaboration opportunities, in Tshwane.

The eight member CIRD delegation accompanied by Dr. Jürgen Steiger, Deputy Country Director of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), CIRD’s strategic partner visited AISA on Wednesday 15 February, 2012 led by their President, Professor Chi Fulin.

 Apart  from the signing of the MoU, both institutions held interactive discussions about possible areas of similar interest and various other projects that will be beneficial for both organisations.

Dr. Matlotleng Matlou Chief Executive Officer, AISA said “This MoU provides a platform for South Africans to be able to better learn and understand the over four decades of reform and development process in China. Taking into account the huge and growing role on China in Africa, this partnership will be useful in creating a better understanding of the two peoples of each other. The two institutions will become bridges for this process”.

 The GIZ China and CIRD partnership, which is now extended to AISA, focuses on social policy, social reform, economic policy and economic reform as well as touching on other fields, by reporting the needs of the society in the context of emerging economies. The scope of cooperation between AISA and CIRD will include undertaking of joint research projects, especially on BRICS and FOCAC issues, publications in both Chinese and English, participation in each other’s events like conferences, colloquia, as well as exchanges. Professor Fulin invited AISA to pay a visit to CIRD in the near future and this was gladly accepted.

 About CIRD

 CIRD, established on 1 November 1991 is a public and non-profit research institution, specialising mainly in reform and development policy research.

 CIRD’s mission is to facilitate China’s economic reform and development policy decision-making and follows the guideline of “basing its research activities in Hainan, facing the whole country and marching towards the other parts of the world”. Further information on CIRD can be accessed at www.chinareform.org

AISA’s mandated is to produce knowledge aimed at informing sustainable political and socio-economic development in Africa. AISA’s vision is to be ‘An indispensible African voice on African Affairs’ and our 2011-2015 Research Agenda is ““Seeking solutions for Africa’s developmental challenges”