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| June 14, 2007 COMPARATIVE AFRICAN AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON QUALITY EDUCATION AND THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF QUALITY TEACHERS From Left: Cynthia Brown, Center for American Progress, and Congressman Donald Payne (10th District, NJ), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health In this seminar, panelists Ms. Cynthia Brown, The Center for American Progress, Mr. Dzingai Mutumbuka, The World Bank, and Dr. Susan Sclafani, Chartwell Education Group, discussed the effects of the quality of teaching on student achievement. Panelists discussed and compared approaches to teacher training in the United States and African countries as well as other parts of the world, and the impact of quality teaching on the learning experience, student performance and economic development... Read the full report >> ----------------------------------------------- | March 29, 2007 COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO STRENGTHENING THE EDUCATION PIPELINE IN AFRICA From Left: Mora McLean, AAI, and Professor Benno Ndulu, The World Bank During the first Africa Thursday Congressional Seminar of the 108th Congress, the panelists—Mr. Desmond Bermingham, Head, FTI Secretariat at The World Bank, Dr. Sarah Moten, Division Chief, Office of Sustainable Development Education at the Africa Bureau of U.S. Agency for International Development, and Professor Benno Ndulu, Special Advisor to the World Bank Vice President for Africa Region and Manager of the Partnership Group at The World Bank—shared different approaches (bilateral, multilateral and national) to strengthening education systems in Africa from the primary to tertiary levels. Read the full report >>

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About AAI's Africa Thursday Congressional Seminar Series

Initiated in 1999, Africa Thursday Congresstional Seminars are held regularly while Congress is in session and bring together Members of Congress, their staff, Administration officials, and representatives of business and Africa-focused NGOs to discuss and debate major issues relative to U.S. policies toward Africa. Currently hosted by the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health which is chaired by Congressman Donald M. Payne, the seminar series forms an integral part of AAI's Education, Outreach and Policy (EOP) programs which seek to provide opportunities for U.S.-Africa engagement and dialogue in key sectors and around important issues of significant and mutual concern.

Since it's establishment, Africa Thursday seminars have focused attention on issues including Diamonds, Conflict and Development in Africa (2006), Democracy and Governance: Cape Verde's Vision for the Millennium Challenge Account Grant (2005), and The African Growth and Opportunity Act: Moving AGOA III Forward in the U.S. Senate (2004). Past speakers have included: AAI program alumna and Nobel Laureate, Wangari Maathai, Cindy L. Courville U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council, H.E. Lapologang Lekoa, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States, and Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa.

AAI's Africa Thursday seminars take place in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill. Admission to AAI's Africa Thursday seminars is free but guests must register in advance. If you would like to be added to the Africa Thursday Congressional Seminar Series mailing list, please send your contact details to rsvp@aaionline.org.