Dear all,

Please find below the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' (MFA) invitation for a presentation and discussion event of the study "Connecting Africa - Perspectives for Energy, Transport, Digitalisation and Research & Innovation" on Wednesday 11.11.2020 at 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm (EET). Register by 5 November, link below.

This study and the related policy dialogue between researchers and policy makers has been made possible by UniPID's Administrative service for MFA's commissioned studies on development policy. More information of the service pilot here: https://www.unipid.fi/for-society/commissioned-studies/.

Best, Johanna

Johanna Kivimäki Director Finnish University Partnership for International Development (UniPID) University of Jyväskylä Tel. +358 (0)40 805 4136 Email: johanna.a.m.kivimaki@jyu.fimailto:johanna.a.m.kivimaki@jyu.fi Web address: www.unipid.fihttp://www.unipid.fi/

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Welcome to presentation and discussion event of the study "Connecting Africa - Perspectives for Energy, Transport, Digitalisation and Research & Innovation" on Wednesday 11.11.2020 at 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm (EET). The event will be organized online on Microsoft Teams. The language of the event will be English.

In 2020, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned a development policy related study on Africa's connectivity. The authors of the current report are Ms. Eva Nilsson, PhD candidate at the Hanken School of Economics, Dr. Obert Hodzi at the University of Liverpool, Ms. Neema Komba, PhD candidate at the Hanken School of Economics, Professor Erkki Sutinen at the University of Turku, Dr. Mika Kautonen at Tampere University ,and Senior Researcher, Professor Liisa Laakso at the Nordic Africa Institute.

The study is available at https://um.fi/publications/-/asset_publisher/TVOLgBmLyZvu/content/kehityspol....

Event programme:

2.00 pm - 2.10 pm Opening words (Secretary of State Johanna Sumuvuori, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, TBC) 2.10 pm - 2.20 pm General remarks on the study (Martti Eirola, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Dr. Obert Hodzi, University of Liverpool) 2.20 pm - 2.40 pm Energy connectivity in Africa (Eva Nilsson) 2.40 pm - 3.00 pm Transport connectivity in Africa (Dr. Obert Hodzi & Neema Komba) 3.00 pm - 3.20 pm Digital connectivity in Africa (Professor Erkki Sutinen) 3.20 pm - 3.40 pm Research and innovation connectivity in Africa (Dr. Mika Kautonen & Professor Liisa Laakso) 3.40 pm - 4.00 pm Conclusion: Re-connecting Europe and Africa after Covid-19 (Ville Varjola, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Eva Nilsson, Hanken School of Economics)

For each of the points, time has been reserved for discussion.

Please register for the event by 5.11.2020 in the following link: https://www.lyyti.in/Connecting_Africa

Read more about how personal information is used in the privacy policy: https://um.fi/functions-and-events

The Microsoft Teams link for the event will be sent for all registered participants. For additional information, please contact Nanna Hallikainen (nanna.hallikainen@formin.fimailto:nanna.hallikainen@formin.fi). The invitation can be shared with your networks.

Best regards,

Nanna Hallikainen Unit for the Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa Department for Africa and the Middle East

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland PL 176, 00023 VALTIONEUVOSTO Kanavakatu 3 B, 00160 HELSINKI

Phone: +358 295350305 nanna.hallikainen@formin.fimailto:nanna.hallikainen@formin.fi