Nena Stoiljkovic, Vice President for Business Advisory Services
IFC

Conflict-affected states are often unable to mobilise resources, both domestic and foreign. In part, this stems from international perceptions of risk. In some cases, the global business community has outdated knowledge and may be missing opportunities due to presumptions of unresolved conflict. This panel will look at the divergence between reality and perception in some of Africa’s conflict-affected states.

• How does risk perception affect financing? What tools can help businesses who may be struggling to raise investment due to inaccurate risk perception?
• What can governments do to convey an accurate picture of business risk in a country, and what information sources should businesses look to for credible risk insight?
• What can companies do to manage social conflict in and around their investments, and what is best practice in terms of communicating to the public what businesses are doing?

A discussion of the main area of investment climate reform typical of countries emerging from conflict and in-depth look at the institutional, financial and political preconditions necessary before entering, or reentering, a conflict-affected country.

• What are the typical investment reforms that countries pursue to attract investment after conflict?
• How can businesses surmise reform credibility in a post-conflict country?
• How should businesses manage problems related to historical assets in a conflict-affected country?

Nick Allan, Regional Director, Europe & Africa
Control Risks

Neil Upton, Partner, Energy and Infrastructure
SJ Berwin

Omari Issa, CEO
Investment Climate Facility for Africa

Gitahi Gachahi, Regional Managing Partner
Ernst & Young Africa

Moderated by:

Pierre Guislain, Director Investment Climate Department
World Bank Group

Liberia Outlook

Natty B. Davis, Chairman, Investment Commission
Liberia

Simon O'Connell, Regional Director, West and Central Africa
Mercy Corps

South Sudan

Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs
South Sudan

Kengen Jakor Beyo, Deputy Minister, Commerce, Industry and Investment
South Sudan

Judith Poultney, Africa Analyst
Fti Consulting

Coco Ferguson, Co-Founder
Maris Capital

From Crisis to Opportunity - investing in the new Africa

Manoj Kohli, CEO
Bharti Airtel

Cote d'Ivoire outlook

Guy Mbengue, CEO, National Agency for Export Promotion (APEXCI) and Head, Millennium Challenge Committee, Cote d'Ivoire

Orli Arav, Head of Project Finance
Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund

Aly Khan Satchu, CEO
East Africa Financial Portal

Guinea Outlook

Moukaram Chanou, CEO
Ecobank Guinea

T. Habib Hann, Program Manager, Investment Climate Advisory Services in Africa
World Bank Group

Sierra Leone

Hon. Richard Konteh, Trade Minister
Sierra Leone

Cecil Williams, General Manager, National Tourist Board
Sierra Leone

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Investments Director
IDEA (UK)

Paddy Docherty, Chief Executive Officer
Phoenix Africa

Moderated by:

Adam Green, Senior Reporter
This is Africa

• Security-related business issues
• Conflict resource supply chains governance
• Conflict sensitive business and investment practice

Sophia Pickles, Campaigner
Global Witness

Comfort Ero, African Programme Director
Crisis Group

Kathryn McPhail, Director
Social and Economic Development: Mining Partnerships for Development

Zahed Yousuf, Senior Programme Officer, Private Sector & Peace-Building
International Alert

Terry Heymann, Director, Responsible Gold
World Gold Council

Professor Seth Kaplan, Professorial Lecturer
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University

Moderated by:

Joel Hellman, Director, Global Center on Conflict, Security and Development
World Bank Group