Over two days on 11 and 12 September, AidEx Nairobi will for a sixth time take place in one of the world’s most rapidly developing regions. This satellite conference is the first component of this year’s events, ahead of our flagship conference and exhibition – AidEx 2019 in Brussels this November.
More than 500 professionals from the aid and development sector will engage with thought leaders and policymakers as they incite discussion reflective of the most important and timely topics centred around this year’s theme: The importance of inclusiveness to regional progress – is the aid and development doing enough?
Up to 42% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to live below the poverty line. Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria are in a much better political shape compared with a decade ago and stand as important economies. Inclusive policies are integral to the development of African economies.
One of the big questions of our time – how can we stop vulnerable people getting left behind? Inclusive models of development are required to address the needs of all vulnerable groups.
From women empowerment to innovative healthcare delivery and economic sustainable development, to disability needs and localisation- AidEx Nairobi will host a diverse array of expert representatives from various organisations. Speakers from the government, civil society, and private sector will come together with delegates to explore in-depth the issues at the heart of these problems and recommend practical solutions based on experience.
Conference programme highlights
In the opening keynote, Head of Office at DfID Kenya, Julius Court will offer a futurist view of the aid and development context and system. To follow in the morning of the first day, the conversation will kick start with the question seeking to answer how we can deal with new technology and ensure it does not result in increasing levels of inequality.
Representatives from Action Network for the Disabled Kenya, HelpAge International, Sightsavers and CBM will discuss disability needs in a humanitarian and development context, through offering insight from both an aid employee and recipient perspective.
On our innovations in healthcare panel, we will hear about different methods of delivering health services in some of the most challenging environments. Chair of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, Tom Catena will share his experience working as the only doctor in Sudan’s war-ravaged Nuba mountains, alongside Amref Country Director Dr. Meshack Ndirangu and Head of Displacement Unit at MSF, Anna Santos.
Delivering the keynote to open day two of the conference is passionate diversity and inclusion expert and disability advocate, Maria Njeri. Maria will tell us about her experience of growing up in Kenya with Cerebral Palsy, and the awareness and education campaigns she is carrying out to influence her community and beyond.
The panel discussing the road to economic sustainable development, challenges of sustainability and questioning the private sector’s role in aid and development will feature the Head of Corporate Responsibility at Safaricom, Sanda Ojiambo, Technical Programme Manager at Palladium, Emma Davies alongside Jurgen Menze, Disability Inclusion Officer at ILO.
How can foreign donors and organisations help without compromising local capacity building and how do we reduce the risk of corruption on the ground? Speaking about the effectiveness of localisation will be Regional Director for Horn, East and Central Africa at Oxfam, Lydia Zigomo, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Learning at CHS Alliance Bonaventure Gbetoho Sokpoh, Country Director at Nuru International Kenya, Pauline Wambeti with Humanity Inclusion’s Martin Kung’u Kibiro moderating.
To close the conference our women empowerment session will look at how can we ensure the potential of young girls and women in rural areas is met, plus analysis of ways to promote women and girl’s engagement in every aspect of development and supporting their journey to self-reliance. We will hear from Community Champion and Facilitator at Amref, Diram Duba, Founding Director at Polycom Development Organisation, Jane Anyango, Executive Director at LVCT Health Dr. Lilian Otiso, Palladium Country Director Oiza Nicholson and DRC Kenya’s Country Director David Kangethe.
Join us on 11 and 12 this September at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya to engage and contribute to these powerful conversations aiming to develop ideas and practical solutions to improve inclusion in the region. With an abundance of networking opportunities, refreshments throughout the event, lunch on both days and a drinks reception, AidEx Nairobi is the must-attend event for all professionals working in aid and development.
To read more about the conference and AidEx Nairobi, visit here >>
By the AidEx Event Director, Nicholas Rutherford
