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Navigating Africa’s role in the evolving global landscape: insights from international scholars

01 March 2024 Photo Unsplash

In the midst of a global landscape marked by rapid changes, Africa finds itself at the epicentre of a new wave of international interest. This intrigue stems from a myriad of factors, ranging from the continent’s abundant natural resources to its strategic geopolitical positioning. However, amidst this renewed attention, questions arise regarding Africa’s agency and its place in the evolving global order.

In recent times, there has been a notable surge in global actors vying for influence in Africa. From former colonial powers to emerging economies like China and India, various stakeholders seek to engage African nations on multiple fronts, spanning from economic cooperation to security collaborations. Against this backdrop, it becomes imperative to delve into Africa’s international engagements to grasp the nuances of its evolving role on the global stage.

Addressing this imperative, the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with the Centre for African Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in India and the African Studies Association of India (ASA India), convened an international webinar titled, Africa’s Global Engagements: Opportunities and Challenges. Held on 27 and 28 February 2024, the event was jointly opened by Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Internationalisation at the UFS and Prof Ajay Dubey, former Pro Vice-Chancellor at JNU and currently a professor in the Centre for Africa Studies at JNU. The conference brought together scholars and policymakers from diverse backgrounds and regions, united in their quest to comprehensively understand Africa’s evolving position in the global arena.

In his opening remarks, Prof Vasu Reddy, underscored the timeliness of the conference aligning it to the institution’s visionary framework, Vision 130. He highlighted the centering of Africa as a focal point for addressing broader global challenges emphasising the interconnectedness of Africa’s experiences with broader global narratives. Prof Reddy articulated how Africa serves as a nexus for transnational interactions, intertwining diverse histories, politics, and socio-economic dynamics with the larger global discourse.

Moreover, the conference shed light on the concept of the “Global South” and its implications in the contemporary global order. Participants deliberated on the complexities of African agency within this framework, examining how African states navigate their engagements with a myriad of international actors while asserting their own interests and priorities.

The event not only symbolised a collaboration between the UFS and JNU, as outlined in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but also signified a shared commitment towards prioritising engagements within the Global South. Through platforms like these, institutions like UFS and JNU demonstrate their dedication to fostering meaningful dialogues and scholarly exchanges that transcend geographical borders.

As Africa continues to navigate its place in the fast-changing global landscape, initiatives such as this webinar serve as critical platforms for fostering mutual understanding and cooperation among scholars and policymakers worldwide. By engaging in nuanced discussions and collaborative efforts, stakeholders can collectively contribute to shaping a more inclusive and equitable global order.

News Archive

New challenges for animal science discussed

2006-04-04

Some of the guests attending the congress were from the left Dr Heinz Meissner (honorary president of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) and senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council), Mr Paul Bevan (President of SASAS) and Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS).
Photo: Lacea Loader

New challenges for animal science discussed

The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is presenting its 41st Congress at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

The congress started yesterday and will run until Thursday 6 April 2006. The theme is New challenges for the animal science industries.

It is one of the largest congresses in the 45 years since SASAS was founded in 1961. Among the delegates 12 African countries are represented, with the biggest delegation from Kenya. Delegates are also from the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal and African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

“Many of our members play an important role in the training of animal scientists at universities. The congress is specifically industry orientated so that scientists can interact with farmers through the respective producer organisations,” said Prof HO de Waal, Chairperson of the organising committee and lecturer at the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

According to Dr Heinz Meissner, honorary president of SASAS and a senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, the National Livestock Strategy (NLS) Plan clarifies the role and responsibility of the livestock sector.

“Through this strategy we need to focus on enhancing equitable access and participation in livestock agriculture, improve global competitiveness and profitability of the livestock sector and ensure that the ventures implemented do not over utilise our resources,” said Dr Meissner.

In her welcoming address, Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS highlighted the related challenges that the UFS will be focusing on specifically over the next five years. “We have identified five strategic clusters that represent broad areas of excellence in research and post-graduate education. Two of these are food production, quality and safety for Africa and sustainable development,” she said.

“The food safety and security cluster will focus on the production of food in all its varieties within the African context, encompassing the entire value chain – from production to consumption and nutrition related issues. This would include a strong emphasis on sustainable production systems,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie the rural development cluster will engage in questions around the role of higher education in sustainable development. “One of the focus areas in this strategic cluster pertains to sustainable livelihoods. It refers to a way of approaching development that incorporates all aspects of human livelihoods and means by which people obtain them,” she said.

Prof Fourie said that the challenges we are facing such as food production can only be effectively addressed through collaborative efforts. “That is why it is important that collaboration takes place between different scientific disciplines, researchers, institutions and countries who are confronted with similar difficulties,” she said.

According to Prof de Waal the congress will give key role players a unique opportunity to present a profile of what they perceive an animal scientist should be and state their specific requirement regarding the animal sciences and its applications.

“In this way we can determine what the industry’s needs are and we can re-align our curriculum to suit these needs,” said Prof de Waal.

During the next two days, various areas of interest will be discussed. This includes ruminant and monogastric nutrition, animal physiology, beef, dairy, sheep and ostrich breeding and sustainable farming covering the range from commercial to the small-scale farming level.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 April 2006

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