1. The document summarizes a summit on cross-continental cooperation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia focused on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. Representatives from African governments, universities, and organizations discussed challenges in achieving the goals and a path forward. 2. Key topics included considerable progress in Ethiopia but remaining challenges like poverty, the need to think beyond the 2015 timeline for the goals, and how to address issues like weak leadership in achieving long-term development in Africa. 3. INISE gave a presentation on supporting marginalized communities in Africa through partnership with Europe, which was well received with interest in potential collaboration.

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The Addis Ababa summit on cross-continental cooperation, 27-31.01.2014- report
Report by Magdalena Chwarścianek
Together with Ewa Sadowska and Baiba Dhidha Mjidho I took part in a summit on cross-continental
cooperation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia organized by the Institute for Cultural diplomacy from Berlin.
The main topic of the summit were the Millennium Development Goals in Africa- the progress in
their realization and the future. The MDGs are 8 development goals ( eradicate extreme hunger,
achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child
mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure
environmental sustainability, develop a global partnership for development) agreed at the UN
summit in 2000. The first time perspective in which they were put was the time span 2000-2015 so
it is now time for conclusions on what has already been achieved and what and how needs to be
done in terms of development in Africa.
The speakers at the conference were mainly Ethiopian and other African countries university
professors and scholars, as well as representatives of government and public administration of
African countries. There were also representatives of African civil society organizations ( mainly
Nigerian) and church. Our INISE delegation was also asked to speak at this summit about the
planned project of Europe with Africa.
The participants were also scholars, representatives of organizations, public administration and
students from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Qatar
and also Europe: Romania and Poland.
Day 1 ( 28th
of Jan)
The conference started on the 28th
of January in Ethiopian Foreign Ministry in Addis Ababa and was
opened by Mark Donfried- the founder and director of ICD. Representatives of the ministry spoke
about the importance of cultural diplomacy in heading towards development. They also spoke
about the considerable progress in achieving MDG’s in Ethiopia since 2000 and about the remaining
challenges of poverty and deprivation. Ethiopia is in the top-10 fast growing economies in the
world. The conclusion was that it is not policies that lead to success, but commitment of many
parties involved , good leaders, people to people relationships and engaging the whole
communities.
Mark Donfried from ICD spoke passionately about the role and mission of cultural diplomacy in
today’s world. He said that the main goal of cultural diplomacy is to bring together different actors,
from different table to one table and facilitate contacts and building understanding and partnership
between them. A great vehicle for cultural diplomacy is music, art etc.
In the afternoon, at the main conference location- at Soramba hotel, professor Costantinos ( Addis
Ababa University) spoke about the stage of realization of MDG’s in Africa and remaining challenges.
He mentioned the example of Ghana, where democratization and changes are advancing well. He
also underlined that the borders of the African countries don’t reflect the real differences between

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the countries, for example Ethiopians and Somali people are the same people living in separate
countries. Professor Negesse ( University of Gondar) spoke about interesting community service
realized by the Faculty of Law at his university. The service is run for vulnerable, excluded people,
especially for women, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to pay for the lawyer’s advice. Professor Ali
Gangi ( Quatar) spoke about achieving MDG’s in Sudan. He said that there is a considerable
improvement in economical, social and healthcare system in Sudan in recent years. He underlined
the importance of entrepreneurship education at schools- preparing students to start their own
businesses and be entrepreneurial in their professional and social life and contributing to the
society.
The day finished with bringing attention to the role of cultural diplomacy in building bridges even
between the countries which are at war with each other. A short film and an example of joined
sport activities for Israeli and Palestinian children was presented and also an example of American
jazz music being deliberately ‘exported’ to other countries, also to Soviet Union, to bring and show
a positive message about the U.S.
Day 2 ( 29th
Jan)
In the morning dr Ogar Oko spoke about the post 2015 perspective for development goals. He
mentioned that often local communities see the MDG’s as UN goals and don’t take responsibility
for achieving them. Dr Oko stressed that even achieving the MDG’s how it was planned will not
solve all the problems completely. There will always be challenges and there is a need to think
beyond the MDG’s 2015 . When the MDG’s were formulated in 2000 and a perspective of 15 years
was set to achieve them it was just a foundation, inspiration for more intense development. Dr Oko
underlined the importance of focusing not only on developing the external conditions. He said that
moral and spiritual development are equally important. You can’t limit the development to some
specific area. There should be a culture of development. Dr Oko said that such a technical obstacle
as visas which an African needs to go to many other African countries are wrong and should be
abolished.
Prof Sarah.N.Jibril (advisor on ethics and human rights to the president of Nigeria) spoke about the
role of ethics in political and social life. Ethics means ‘character’ in Nigeria. She said that ethics and
values cannot be taught on empty stomachs, empty pockets and unskilled hands. Solution formula
she presented was : food ( basic needs met) plus ethics plus skills equals good governance and
development. Grass-root initiatives are very common in Nigeria, there are also religious educators
active, who show the common points in religions to help people grow beyond interreligious
suspicion. Values unite according to prof.Jibril. There is righteousness in Christianity that
corresponds with shariat in islam. Prof Jibril said that the Africans are very much God-conscious
people. There is a fear of God present in Africa more than in Europe. Godless tendencies are
abomination to African people. Prof Jibril underlined that African people are : changeable,
transformable and teachable.

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Professor Geberekidan ( University of Gondar) spoke about the role of his university in achieving
MDG’s. He spoke about the difficulties as well: lack of finance for outreach, no partnerships with
civil society. There was a discussion about the leaders in Africa. The African leaders often are a
disappointment. There is a great potential, there are educated people, but somehow there are no
good leaders. And good leaders is what Africa needs badly. What to do to achieve that? There are
changes needed in educational system, leadership programs, know –how.
Tsion Teklu Maru ( U.S. diplomatic mission in Ethiopia) spoke about cultural diplomacy and MDG’s.
Culture is the way we do things. People are always the soul of the nation. The human capital is the
biggest capital of each country. Cultural diplomacy is always about the people. There is no problem
with materials in Africa, but with people, with leadership. There should be a free movement of
people, trade, goods in Africa and instead of that passports and often visas are still needed to move
from one African country to another. Another problem in Africa is lack of commitment and
dedication. Not lack of potential. Baiba Dhidha Mjidho commented on the speech of Ms Maru
saying that there is a need of civic responsibility and participation in what is happening around us.
Everybody can have some small contribution in making the local life better, solving some local
problem etc.
In the evening the former president of Romania- Mr Emil Constantinescu joined the conference. Mr
Constantinescu said that we are building a culture of peace and respect. We can change the world,
we have the ‘soft power’ to do that. In past the diplomacy was built on strength, persuasion, but a
‘soft’, cultural diplomacy is much better and more effective. It is not possible to eradicate classical
diplomacy, but cultural diplomacy should be enhanced. We should plan for more. If we want to
achieve peace and understanding among people we need to do more. Mr Constantinescu spoke
also about the role of faith and spirituality. He said that we are God’s creation and forgetting that is
arrogance. There is a need to create a human face capitalism. There was a question from the
participants: ‘ How can we create a culture of peace, when poverty still exists?’ Mr Constantinescu
answered that money spent for military reasons is a waste of money. This money should be
redirected to education, creating workplaces and then we would be able to really eradicate
poverty. The history is a history of wars- not a history of peace. We should start perceiving history
in a different manner. There was a question about the leaders- why do we get so bad leaders in
Africa? Mr Constantinescu answered that we need to take into consideration the human nature.
Some people are not prepared to be at the service of society and when they get power it
demoralizes them. Another thing is mentality. In France, in the UK it is impossible to have a
dictator. People have democratic mentality and they will not allow this. Mr Constantinescu said also
that the politicians shouldn’t be involved in business when they decide to be politicians. There is no
time for that, you need to commit to service to the society when you are elected and have the
respect for power and responsibility you have. Ewa Sadowska asked the president what Central
and South-Eastern European countries have in common with the African countries and what could
we learn from each other. Mr Constantinescu answered that there is a ‘pedagogy of suffering’
which Middle and Eastern European countries and countries in Africa have in common. In Western
Europe there are no such experiences.

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Mr Constantinescu analyzed also the question – why do people vote for dictators. Because they
don’t want to take responsibility themselves. One needs to be an actor of one’s life, not a
spectator.
Day 3 ( 30th
of Jan)
0n the last day there were more interesting lectures at the Goethe Institute. There was a summit of
African Union taking place in Addis Ababa at the same time as our conference and the African
Union was much spoken about . Our INISE representation had a presentation titled “INISE-
supporting and empowering marginalized communities in Africa through Social Market Economy in
collaborative partnership of Europe with Africa”. Our presentation was received with interest and a
lot of questions.
Generally it was in my opinion very important that INISE took part in this interesting conference, to
learn more about the situation and challenges in Africa, to meet the potential partners and
collaborators and to see how Africans receive the INISE ideas. It was first such real confrontation in
Africa and I think it was very successful, we were received with cautiousness , but eventually with
enthusiasm and interest. A lot of contacts with professors, churches and some civic society
organizations were made. The conference was also an occasion to meet with the INISE members
from the University of Mekelle.
Magdalena Chwarścianek