2026 Global Africa People-to-People Forum

Watch: Full Forum Recording

Recording

Full recording of the 2026 Global Africa People-to-People Forum, held virtually on 21 July 2026.

About the Forum

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) convened the 2026 Global Africa People-to-People Forum on Tuesday 21 July 2026 as a virtual meeting. The theme was "Advancing into the Second UN International Decade for People of African Descent."

The Forum connected the African continent with its Diaspora across the Caribbean and beyond. Sessions covered reparative justice, solidarity with Haiti, water and sanitation, and the implementation of commitments made at the Second Africa–CARICOM Heads of Government Summit. It was convened by ECOSOCC with the Caribbean Pan African Network (CPAN), the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) and Reform Initiatives.

Proceedings were moderated by Ms Ruth Ogbewekon (PALU) and Dr Asha Kambon, and ran from 09:30 to 12:40 AST.

Date: Tuesday 21 July 2026
Format: Virtual meeting
Time: 09:30 – 12:00 AST | 13:30 – 16:00 GMT | 15:30 – 18:00 CAT | 16:30 – 19:00 EAT
Convened by: AU ECOSOCC, CPAN, ESCTT and Reform Initiatives

Opening Address

Welcoming remarks by Mr Louis Cheick Sissoko, Presiding Officer of the AU ECOSOCC General Assembly.

Programme

Tuesday 21 July 2026

All times Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−4).

Opening Ceremony

Time09:30 – 10:10

ProgrammeCall to order, African Union Anthem, CARICOM Anthem, welcome and opening remarks.

RemarksMr Louis Cheick Sissoko, Presiding Officer, AU ECOSOCC; Amb David Commission, Chairperson, CPAN.

Session 1: The UN General Assembly Resolution on African Enslavement

What it is, and how it will advance the reparative justice campaign

Time10:10 – 10:50

FocusArchitects of the Ghana-led UN Resolution A/RES/80/250 and key players in the AU–CARICOM reparations partnership on how the campaign unfolds from here, in relation to decolonisation and the restoration of nationhood.

SpeakersAmb Amr Aljowaily, Director, CIDO, AU Commission; Professor Gaynel Curry, Chairperson, UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent; Professor Justin Hansford, Member, UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent.

Youth respondentsAnne Rose, Campaign and Advocacy Lead, Africans Rising; Renee E. Francois, Programme Officer, ESCTT.

Cultural Performance

Time10:50 – 10:55

PerformanceAfrican dance by the Africa Padmodzi Arts Group, Zambia.

Session 2: Global Africa's Role in Supporting Haiti

Time10:55 – 11:25

FocusAn update on the situation in Haiti and efforts to deliver enhanced security and new general elections, and the role the nations and people of Global Africa must play.

SpeakersNixon Boumba, Historian and Reparations Expert, NYU Law School; Ms Monique Clesca, Writer and Development Specialist.

Youth respondentsLucia Dominique Pascale Solages, Co-founder and General Coordinator, NÊGÈS MAWON; Stéphanie Sophie Louis, Political Scientist and Educator.

Diaspora Performance

Time11:25 – 11:30

PerformanceUniversal Ethiopian Anthem, by the Marlon Legal Voice Project.

Session 3: Implementing the 2026 AU Theme of the Year

Assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems across Global Africa

Time11:30 – 12:00

FocusWater and sanitation initiatives on the continent and in the Diaspora, and the synergies and partnerships between them.

SpeakersDr Simphiwe Laura Stewart, WASH expert; Dr Marystella Simuyi, International Press Institute; Dr the Hon. Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, Barbados.

Session 4: Follow-Up on the Second Africa–CARICOM Heads of Government Summit

Time12:00 – 12:30

FocusKey decisions taken at the 2025 Second Africa–CARICOM Heads of Government Summit, and a call for speedy implementation by the AU Commission and the CARICOM Secretariat.

SpeakersAmb Amr Aljowaily, Director, CIDO, AU Commission; Ms Gretchen Rohr, Senior Adviser on Reparations Strategies, Reform Initiatives; Ms Elizabeth Solomon, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat.

Youth respondentsLavender Namdiero, Racial Justice Campaigner, Afalab; Christopher Brathwaite, Barbados' CARICOM Youth Ambassador.

Closing Segment

Time12:30 – 12:40

RemarksVote of thanks and closing statements by Ambassador William Carew, Head of the ECOSOCC Secretariat, and Dr Chenzira David Kahina, CPAN.

Outcome Document

Outcome Document, 2026 Global Africa People-to-People Forum English, PDF

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