Heads of Program: Pilar Rukavina & Dr. Yehoeshahfaht ben Israel Email Address: infoculturaldiplomacyorg

This unprecedented gathering will seek to highlight Africa´s self-attained achievements with regards to its standing in the international community as well as it´s increasing emancipation from the often assumed dependency on the Western world. The focus will be on the role and successes of the African Union as an intergovernmental regional organization seeking to combat political, social and economic inequalities. Past achievements will be considered while simultaneously accenting the future challenges the AU faces.

Multidimensional in focus, the conference will revolve around three main themes. Beginning with ´the rise of corporate Africa´, the positive impact of enterprise on development throughout the continent will be accented. The following theme, ´African solutions for African challenges (human development)´ will be dedicated to the overlapping issues of education, the eradication of poverty and the empowerment of women. The final topic ´community development through arts, culture and sports´ will exemplify the power exerted by cultural diplomacy on the furthering of community development.

It will be demonstrated that the application of cultural diplomacy is pervasive within the African Union´s activities, as it has charged itself with the task of uniting highly differentiated cultures within Africa with the aim of achieving "greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa".

Cultural Diplomacy will be shown to support and solidify such efforts.

Sustainable Network »

During the program participants will have a number of opportunities to network with one another, with the speakers, and with ICD Advisory Board Members and partners. Conference participants will become part of the ICD Alumni, a growing international network of people of diverse interests and backgrounds from around the world who share a commitment to intercultural exchange. Members of the ICD Alumni Group will benefit from the following opportunities: Alumni online forum, Advisory Board Networking, ICD support for individual Leadership Initiatives, free access to all ICD research, videos and photos as well as other event documentation. Participants will be able to remain in touch with each other through the ICD Networks. (more »)

Symposium Speakers

Speakers during the conference will include leading figures and experts from civil society, international politics, academia, diplomacy, civil society and the private sector. These speakers will include a number of individuals from the ICD Advisory Board (for further information about the Advisory Board, please click here).

Speakers for the Symposium include:

President Olusegun Obasanjo Former President of Nigeria

Sir James Mancham Founding President of the Republic of Seychelles

Symposium Participants »

The conference is open to applications from governmental and diplomatic officials, civil society practitioners, young professionals, students and scholars, private sector representatives, journalists, and other interested stakeholders from across the world.

If you would like to reserve a position and participate in the symposia, please click on the "Apply Now" link below and fill out the online application form:

Symposium Locations

Based in Berlin, the conference will be hosted at a number of important political, historic, and cultural locations across the city.

Participant Papers »

The Academy for Cultural Diplomacy encourages academic research and analysis of issues related to the goals of the Symposia, and would therefore like to welcome participants to submit a paper they would like to be considered for delivery at the Symposium. Following the Symposium, the papers will be included in the proposal document that will be issued and sent to all governments and leaders of the international community. To read articles submitted by participants of our international conferences or to submit a paper please click here ».

Certificate of Attendance

All Symposium participants will be awarded an official Certificate of Attendance upon completion of the program, which will provide details of the speakers who took part in the event, and list the topics which were discussed. Each certificate will be signed by members of the ICD Advisory Board.