East and South Africa Misison

I have begun a mission to East and South Africa for the purpose of supporting the development of a new IDRC Investment Climate and Business Environment research fund (ICBE). Over the next few weeks I will be traveling to Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa to speak to a wide group of stakeholders that might become involved in this fund. I am supported by Dr. David Wheeler of York University for the Tanzania and Kenya portion of my journey. Some of the discussions we hope to have in our travels will include, what are the appropriate topics of research that the fund should focus on, who might make a good recipient institution for the fund, what is the process for peer review of proposals, and who should be involved in this initiative? In Kenya we are hosting a stakeholders’ meeting which will bring together business school academics from the region, investment promotion centre staff, and some donors with a keen interest in improving the investment climate and business environment. I invite you to join me on this journey as I share my thoughts on the things I see and hear along the way. And I hope that you will take the time to join this conversation and make comments or suggestions that will help guide this important process.