South African Institute of International Affairs cordially invites you to a Speaker's Meeting on ‘Spain's Africa Plan’

Opening remarks:

H.E. Pablo Benavides,  Ambassador of Spain to South Africa

Keynote address:

Mr Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, Director of Casa Africa

2004 saw a substantial shift in Spain's engagement with Sub-Saharan Africa. In just four years, Spain increased its development funding to the continent by more than sixfold, to reach €1 billion in 2008,  60% of which is implemented through multilateral avenues, including through the African Union, Nepad and regional economic communities. Africa, including North Africa,  now receives 35% of Spain's total development assistance.

Spain also has active  peacekeeping missions on the continent. It is currently present in the EUFOR missions in the Congo and Chad and contributes to security sector reform in Guinea-Bissau. It also forms part of the EU naval operations against piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Spain has become an important actor in Euro-African relations and has prioritised migration as a key pillar of cooperation.

Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, the  Director of Casa Africa, will provide an overview of the Africa Plan 2009-2012, which is  Spain's  main policy document dealing with Africa.  Casa Africa is Spain's public diplomacy research instrument that aims to enhance Spain-Africa relations and to facilitate cooperation between non-governmental entities working on these issues.

Date:          Monday, 15 March 2010

Time:         12:15 for 12:45 to conclude by 14:30

(light refreshments will be served from 12:15)

Venue:       CSIR Conference Centre, Meiring Naude

Road, Brummeria, Pretoria

RSVP:        Ndumi Nqunqa

Tel:            (011) 339 2021

Fax:           (011) 339 2154

Email:        Nondumiso.Nqunqa@wits.ac.za

This meeting  is kindly sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in South Africa and is being held in association with the  Spanish Embassy in Pretoria and Casa Africa