African Foundation for Development (AFFORD)

From Locally Known to Global Brands
2018-07-06 15:30 - 18:30 (Europe/Paris)
African Diaspora and Development Day (AD3) is now in its 18th year, with a reputation as the most prestigious event that brings together African Diasporas living in the UK. It also serves as a platform for networking and sharing of knowledge, information and best practice, with UK, African and other multi-lateral policymakers.

AD3 2018’s theme will be exploring the question ‘From locally known to global brands – Where are all the global African brands?’ To gain answers to this question we will hear from 3 industry experts share their experience and knowledge about:
– Branding of African goods and services
– Scalability of African businesses
– Longevity of African industry – dealing with Founder’s syndrome
AFFORD would like to invite you to attend, benefit from our experienced speakers and network with like minded people.
Click here to register for a free ticket.
Key speakers on the day will include:

Ade Daramy- Chair
Ade Daramy is current Chairman of Trustees at AFFORD and works for the British government in a media advisory role. Ade has over 35 years experience working in broadcast and print journalism. He has worked as editor for Journal of Sierra Leone Studies, editor in chief for Promota Africa magazine, radio and TV Broadcaster for BBC World Service and works as a consultant on African Diaspora affairs. Ade was educated in both Sierra Leone and the UK and is the founder member of the Sierra Leone Diaspora Network and the Sierra Leone- UK Diaspora Ebola Response Taskforce (SLUKDERT).

Pumela Salela- Brand South Africa
Pumela Salela is the current head of Brand South Africa in the UK- the custodian of the South Africa country brand. Her role is to market South Africa in the UK and attract foreign direct investment into South Africa. Prior to serving in this role, Pumela was the Chief Director for Economic Policy Development and Planning at the Department of Economic Development in South Africa.
Ms Salela holds various consultancy and advisory positions for a variety of organisations including: board member of the Global Sourcing Council, ambassador for Sustainable and Socially Responsible Outsourcing in Africa, Executive Committee member of the Tri-Sister City Alliance, advisory council member of the World BPO Forum and works as a BPO/ITes Consultant for the World Bank.

Paul Asquith- Reaching and Understanding Communities, IOM Rwanda Mapping Project
Paul Asquith currently works as Engagement and Policy manager for AFFORD. Since 2012 Paul has helped develop and coordinate ADEPT, a network of African diaspora groups based in 30 European states that are active in development across a range of sectors in 54 African states.
Paul has 20 years’ experience of managing community development and public health projects, and conducting research in Africa, Europe, and the UK. For ten years Paul commissioned and managed specialist public health and treatment services in London for vulnerable groups including drug and alcohol users and sex-workers, with a particular focus on HIV and TB prevention. Paul is also a Research Associate at the Centre of African Studies, SOAS, University of London, where his research interests include: diasporas, migration, development, culture, health, and migrant communities; Islamic models of development in North Africa and the Horn; and Islamic education and development in Ethiopia.

Henry Thompson- Scalability of African Businesses, Key Challenges & Opportunities
Henry Thompson is the project consultant for the Africa programme at Chatham House. Prior to this, Henry managed a DFID-funded rural development and research programme in Namibia; he then worked for JICA for four years covering Africa from London. During this time, his two main areas of expertise were developed: rural development in Angola, and humanitarian mine action. Henry subsequently worked in the Angola business unit of BP as a community affairs advisor.
Henry started out in rural development, promoting and applying the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources in arid and semi arid regions. In the 80’s he worked on commercial irrigation projects in the Arabian Gulf, but moved to examine desert ecology in the Negev.

How To Build Your Personal Brand
2018-06-28 10:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Paris)
In this high impact seminar Ronke Lawal will be providing strategic insight into how individuals can boost their personal brands. This is ideal for business owners, entrepreneurs or professionals who want to raise their corporate visibility and business credibility. Delegates will learn how to make more of an impact within their sectors both online via social media and offline at networking events or through public speaking opportunities. Ronke will also use PR tactics to show delegates how to use raise their personal brands effectively, develop effective relationships and build a community of personal brand ambassadors who will champion them throughout their career or business journeys.

The Power of A Personal brand – how having a strong personal brand can make an impact on your overall marketing strategy and open up new opportunities in your business or career journey.
Using PR to enhance your profile – Using public relations strategies to enhance your public profile.
Identifying your values & Knowing your purpose – Understanding what your brand is and how you can maintain your integrity and authenticity.
Social Media strategy – How to use social media platforms to raise your visibility.
Public Speaking Tips – Advice and guidance on becoming a more confident public speaker.
Measuring Success – Assessing Long term goals and celebrating success.

Ronke Lawal, Founder of Ariatu PR is dedicated to seeing small business shine and succeed, using over a decade of business experience she will be giving business owners an overview of how to use PR to gain media coverage and ultimately grow their business.
AFFORD’s Business Club members will benefit from 40% discount. Send an email to events@afford-uk.org to find out more.
More info here

The Africa Blue Economy Forum 2018
2018-06-07 18:00 - 2018-06-08 22:00 (Europe/London)
On 7-8 June 2018, London will be celebrating the World Oceans Day by hosting the first edition of the Africa Blue Economy Forum (ABEF).
Recognising Blue Economy as a major source of wealth and prosperity for the continent, the forum will bring together government officials as well as high-level experts, investors, businesses, policy leaders, international organisations, civil society, public institutions and other opinion leaders to highlight and debate on the wide range of opportunities emerging from Africa’s aquatic and marine spaces.
The Africa Blue Economy Forum (ABEF) 2018 will bring together government ministers, business leaders, ocean experts and environmental and maritime organisations, to discuss the economic contribution of the African oceans.
A Governments Panel will address how to bring the blue economy into mainstream national and regional development plans. Speakers include HE Aziz Rabbah, Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Kingdom of Morocco and HE Derick Ally, High Commissioner to the UK, Republic of Seychelles, whose government is already implementing a National Blue Economy Roadmap.
More info here

Overprincipled and underperforming: the Global Compact for Migration and the challenge to multilateralism
2018-05-17 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Event co-hosted by the LSE Institute of Global Affairs and the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa.
In the lead to the current UN intergovernmental negotiations for a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), Professor Gibril Faal published a paper entitled ‘Overprincipled and underperforming’. At this lecture, he will use the GCM negotiations to illustrate the need for a practice-based approach to multilateral agreements, at a time when multilateralism itself seem to be under attack. He situates the discourse in the context of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, and proposes an ‘Agreement-Implementation Matrix’ as framework to move from policy to practice.
Gibirl Faal is a member of AFFORD’s Board of Trustees and a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Institute of Global Affairs and a multidisciplinary business and development executive. He was one of the global leaders who spoke at the 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, which led to negotiations for a Global Compact on Migration.
For more info and to book your ticket, click here .

Africa Tech Summit London
2018-05-16 08:30 - 18:00 UTC
Africa Tech Summit London (ATSLDN) is a leading African tech event in Europe providing unrivaled insight and networking with the African tech ecosystem.
The 3rd annual event will once again bring together tech leaders, international investors, entrepreneurs, African governments, trade bodies, media and leading ventures to drive investment and business.
Learn from 50 expert speakers and investors with passion, knowledge and experience from across Africa who share key insights, opportunities and trends from the African tech and investment ecosystem.
Who Attends?
Last year ATSLDN brought together the who’s who from the African ecosystem under one roof. Attendees included IFC, Savannah Fund, Atlas Mara, FNB, Opera Software, BRCK, South Africa DTI, Orange Digital Ventures, Leapfrog Investments, Barclays, TechStars, MEST, Standard Chartered, Worldreader, Linklaters, Mobi Hunter, Singularity Investments, Quona Capital, BitPesa, BBC Africa, African Business and Newsweek to name but a few.

For more info and to register visit: https://www.africatechsummit.com/london/ and use code AFFORD for 30% off ticket prices

SMART Technology for SMEs
2018-04-11 13:30 - 16:30 UTC
AFFORD Business Club (ABC) aims to support job creation in Africa by providing business development support to African diaspora entrepreneurs who seek to develop or launch their businesses in Africa.
The SMART Technology industry is worth £14 trillion pounds. Whilst the UK commands 20% of the current market, it is forecast that 50% of the global growth in this industry will come from African SMEs. Lagos Nigeria is the first African SMART city. Operating in housing, industry, transport, environment and communications, there are numerous opportunities for SMEs to provide services for the SMART technology sector .
The programme will be delivered by Ervine Okuboh, Business Adviser for AFFORD.

ABC Business Support Programmes 2018 – Financial Management
2018-03-22 10:00 - 16:30 UTC
AFFORD Business Club (ABC) aims to support job creation in Africa by providing business development support to African diaspora entrepreneurs who seek to develop or launch their businesses in Africa.
This programme would provide the participant /learner with basic information and learning tools which will enable him/her to undertake competent financial management of their business. The content would cover cashflow forecasting,profit & loss, budgeting, audit and access to finance. The programme provides an understanding of the principles of financial management, acquiring budgeting skills and increasing your knowledge of cash flow management.
The programme will be delivered in Manchester by Ted Rowlands, Senior Business Mentor at Start-up Direct.
Ted Rowlands has worked with SME companies for over thirty five years. During this period he has worked as a senior manager with Natwest, managed three major business trusts and is now a Senior Business Mentor for Start-up Direct, the UK’s largest start up finance company. A successful and energetic Senior Manager, with extensive experience in working with S.M.E’s, he is an established, qualified and respected business adviser. In addition he has long standing experience and knowledge of establishing African owned businesses in the UK. He has successfully led business programmes in Liverpool, Manchester and London, from 1985 to the present date. During this period Ted has also formally advised successive UK governments about inner city business development.

ABC Business Support Programmes 2018: Develop Your Marketing Strategy
2018-03-21 13:00 - 16:00 UTC
AFFORD Business Club (ABC) aims to support job creation in Africa by providing business development support to African diaspora entrepreneurs who seek to develop or launch their businesses in Africa.
This programme will provide 5 key pillars that every business needs to develop a marketing strategy:

Customers
SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Timely)
Strategies
Budget and Resources
Evaluation

This half day masterclass is suitable for anyone wanting to successfully implement marketing and PR in-house to increase their businesses profit and impact. In the session you will learn who your customers are, easy ways to reach those customers and what they want to know about your business offer.
The programme will be delivered by Denise Rawls, Business Adviser for AFFORD.

ABC Training 2018: International Trade and Development
2018-03-07 10:00 - 16:30 UTC
AFFORD Business Club (ABC) aims to support job creation in Africa by providing business development support to African diaspora entrepreneurs who seek to develop or launch their businesses in Africa.
This programme will assist SMEs to understand the practical issues regarding international trade. Participants will be given information on key subjects, including tariffs, trading blocs, business regulation and market information.

Training Content:
• International Markets
• Sources of Information
• Trade Regulations and tariffs
• Documentation
• Letter of credit
• Customs Procedures
• Trading blocs
• Types of Trade
• Brexit
• Agents and Distributors
• Importing
• Exporting
• Services
The programme will be delivered by Ervine Okuboh and Albert Tucker, Business Advisers for AFFORD. Albert and Ervine have a wealth of experience undertaking and implementing international trade programmes and also providing business advisory services to SMEs undertaking international trade.
Participants will be given information on key subjects, including tariffs, trading blocs, business regulation and market information. This programme will assist SMEs to understand the practical issues regarding international trade, be aware of the rules and regulations of international trade and give the participants a greater understanding and knowledge of global growth markets and the support structures available to SMEs.

The UN Global Compact on Migration (GCM) – How do we manage migration for the benefit of all?
2018-02-26 16:00 - 17:00 UTC
The APPG DDM aims to promote parliamentary and public understanding of the key issues affecting diaspora communities in the UK, and to expand and enhance their contributions to the international development agenda.
Due to the UK’s history as a country that has long welcomed refugees and migrants, and is home to long-standing and vibrant diaspora and migrant communities, the country has an important role to play in informing and shaping international agreements on how we manage migration better in the future.
The APPG DDM is holding its first meeting of the 2017-2018 schedule to consider diaspora and migrant perspectives from the UK on the Global Compact on Migration (GCM).

Speakers include:
– Erica Usher, Senior Policy Advisor on the GCM at IOM in Geneva
– Mona Sadeq, Deputy Head of Mission to UK & Ireland at ICRC
– Onyekachi Wambu, Executive Director at AFFORD
The meeting will be chaired by Jeremy Lefroy MP.
Other speakers will include representatives of African, Asian, and Latin American diaspora and migrant organisations involved in development and humanitarian response.

The Secretariat of the APPG DDM is provided by AFFORD UK.
For further information or in case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Asquith by email at: paul@afford-uk.org or by phone on +4407855036817.

Fundraising for Diaspora Initiatives – Grants, Bids, and Crowdfunding
2018-02-15 17:30 - 20:30 UTC
In an environment where there are increasing constraints on funding and resources, diaspora groups are having to work harder to raise funds and mobilise resources. ‘Brexit’ might exacerbate these trends as European Union funds may no longer be available for UK based civil society and diaspora groups.
This practical event aims to showcase potential sources of funding to diaspora groups and how best to access these resources.
You will be presented with the opportunity to meet leading UK funders and learn more about different approaches to fundraising and how to join the AFFORD-GlobalGiving Diaspora Crowdfunding Campaign.
AFFORD has partnered with GlobalGiving, a leading global crowdfunding platform, to enable African diaspora organisations based in the UK to fundraise for their activities in Africa.
We are inviting African diaspora organisations across the UK to mobilise their supporters to raise at least £5000 each for their community development or social enterprise projects in their countries of interest or heritage. Our Diaspora Crowdfunding Campaign will leverage an additional 25% in Gift Aid to all funds raised. Plus the 3 most successful campaigns will receive bonus prizes on top of their final amounts.
Speakers:
– Comfort Osilaja, Grants Manager at the Commonwealth Foundation
– Comic Relief, Speaker to be confirmed
– Eleanor Harrison OBE, CEO of GlobalGiving’s UK office
– Onyekachi Wambu, Director at AFFORD

This event is open to any African diaspora groups based in the UK and interested in accessing funds for their development activities.
Unfortunately AFFORD is not able to sponsor participants travel. However, the event will be broadcast on Facebook Live for anyone outside of London wishing to follow the discussion.

ABC Training 2018: SME Procurement and Tendering
2018-02-14 10:00 - 16:30 UTC
AFFORD Business Club (ABC) aims to support job creation in Africa by providing business development support to African diaspora entrepreneurs who seek to develop or launch their businesses in Africa.
SME companies are the driving force behind the UKs economy. The opportunities for SMEs to win public contracts has increased significantly over the last ten years, with Government setting a target of 25% of its contracts to be delivered by SME companies. However, only a minority of small businesses successfully win public sector contracts. This is due to lack of knowledge, and experience in tendering procedures.
This session will provide a one day snapshot of the following key elements of tendering:
– Procurement policies
– Procedures and structures
– Tendering practices
– Preparing to tender
– Tender guidance
– Bidding techniques
– Developing the bid
– Producing the bid
Participants will be given an insight into the tendering process; gain an understanding of the chronological steps to tendering and learn how to tender for public-private sector contracts.
The programme will be delivered by Ervine Okuboh, the Business Adviser for AFFORD. Ervine has previously successfully established a number of SME procurement programmes for the Greater London Authority, Liverpool City Council and Leeds City Council.

ABC Business Training Programme 2017 - Grow Your Social Enterprise
2018-01-08 13:00 - 16:00 UTC
AFFORD Business Club will be holding the first round of business training programmes for its members. The programmes will commence in late November through to February 2018. The first three programmes will be held on the following days:
Finance
Thursday 30 November 2017 from 10.30am to 4.30pm (Deadline for registration 22 Nov 2017)
Marketing
Wednesday, 6 December 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm (Deadline for registration 29 Nov 2017)
Grow Your Social Enterprise
Wednesday, 13 December 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm (Deadline for registrationn 6 Dec 2017)
These programmes will be delivered by industry experts and will be held at the Business Resource Centre at the AFFORD office.
Register here

ABC Business Training Programme 2017 - Marketing
2017-12-06 13:00 - 16:00 UTC

ABC Business Training Programme 2017 - Finance
2017-11-30 10:30 - 16:30 UTC
