Webinar “Enhancing Governance Frameworks In Africa-China Relations” on Dec. 1st, 2022.

In 2015, China and the African Union issued a Joint Declaration which covered a broad range of issues that includes strengthening cooperation on infrastructure projects including but not limited to information and communications. It also gave priority to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in technology transfer (and other areas); and enhancing collaboration in the development of industrial production capabilities by establishing industrial parks and clusters, technology parks, and providing training for personnel and managers.

China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) includes cross-border e-commerce, smart cities, and fintech apps but also big data, internet of things, smartphones, and undersea cables. The influence of Chinese firms developing large parts of the digital ecosystem in a large number of African countries has become a growing point of scrutiny and spurred concerns on security and increased surveillance.

This webinar will explore how best to enhance governance frameworks in Africa-China relations in the technology and security sectors. Through case studies on Egypt and Ghana, panellists will provide insights on the following questions:

(1) how are data-related projects along the DSR shaping emerging data governance frameworks and development outcomes in host African countries and

(2) to what extent does China’s involvement and influence in Africa’s security sector revolve largely around state-centric dimensions of security and less on people-centred dimensions of security which questions how these engagements are felt and appraised at the societal level ?

Moderator : Dr Lina Benabdallah (Assistant Professor, Wakeforest University, USA). Speakers : Tin Hinane El Kadi (PhD student, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK), Dr. Sulley Ibrahim (Research coordinator, Conflict Research Network West Africa, Ghana office). Chair : Dr Folashade Soule (Senior Research Associate, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, United Kingdom).