The 8th African Development Forum is to be held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The ADF-VIII conference will be held from the 23rd to the 25th of October under the theme of ‘Governing and Harnessing Natural Resources for Africa's Development.’

The forum is a biennial event established in 1999 to serve as a platform for multi-stakeholder discussion, debate, and for initiating strategies towards the development of Africa.

The forum is a cooperative effort of the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission and other partners in an effort to establish an African-driven development agenda reflecting consensus and leading to specific programs.

The forum will also offer a platform for advocacy for the African Mining Vision which was approved by the African Union Heads of State and Government in 2009 and offer an opportunity to build consensus around the vision and how it should be implemented.  

It is expected that a range of different participants, including heads of State and government, private sector representatives, policy makers, Civil Societies, NGOs and developmental partners will come together at the forum.

The forum will include plenary sessions and panel discussions as well as high level round table talks according to a press release.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency