1st
Kono Global Conference London – 28-29 July 2016 University of London School of
Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Vernon Square, London, WC1X, UK
Paving the Way For Better Prospects: Understanding the past, marking the
challenges and setting our future
Hosted by the Kono District Development Association UK in
association with the KDGO & all national and international Kono
Organisations
CALL FOR PAPERS
The 1st Kono Global Conference
will be the first of its kind concerning
the Kono Peoples and District of
Sierra Leone, West Africa. l
Highlighting the debates on Kono’s current condition and its l future
sustainable development, as well as minority, indigenous and human rights
issues rarely if ever openly discussed.
The
conference l introduces
Kono and Kono’s little known unique identity and historic significance to the
world stage. It provides a balanced mix of speakers from individuals to
non-governmental organisations, stimulating challenging debates on the state
and future of Kono and its people.
It
moves the discourse on from problems, to finding resources, lessons learned and
solutions within the international global community.
OUTPUTS:
1 Past
and current: Raise the profile of Kono District and Kono indigenous ethnic
group and the issues facing them. Benchmark each sector of sustainable
development (health, environment, social, economic) and human rights
2. Problems
and challenges: Engage and involve stakeholders to identify problems, their
root causes and challenges
3. Future:
Enable stakeholders to identify solutions to root causes and formulate a stakeholders’
action plan.
4. Agreed
motions, resolutions, position papers, benchmarks
TARGET AUDIENCES:
• Kono’s
and descendants of the Kono District globally
• Governmental
and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s and CBO’s)) and activists (sustainable
development, agriculture, human rights, indigenous rights, environmental
degradation, mining impacts, female and child rights, social political and
economic security, legal action on behalf of communities)
• Academics
• UK,
European and Sierra Leone civil society, local government, politicians and
traditional authorities
THEME:
Paving the way for
better prospects: Understanding
the past, marking the challenges and setting our future
SUGGESTIONS FOR PAPERS:
You’re invited to submit your paper and
presentation addressing issues relating to, but not limited to the subjects
below. Please send us a brief abstract before you send your full presentation.
• Introduction to the Kono District, its
peoples, history, issues, challenges, threats, opportunities
• Role of the Diaspora
• Non-sustainable development in Kono – past/
present.
• Mining and land, community revenue and
rights
• environmental impact, degradation, deforestation restoration of soils, lands
conservation
• The Resource Curse – stories from our neighbours.
• The future of sustainable development in
Kono
• UN Article 8 Declaration On the Rights Of
Indigenous Peoples, identity, self-definition, the right to exist, minorities,
Diversity vs homogeny.
• Human rights, international advocacy and
litigation on behalf of communities
• Improving institutions
• Economic development- diversification of
livelihoods, (eg. Agriculture, agroforestry)
• Local Government - action plan
implementation
• Building our networks and partnerships
• Motions and resolutions to ratify and support
existing international instruments, treaties, policies & networks
• International and Global Mobilising and
action planning
• Diaspora investment and settlement in Kono – the butterfly effect, the
snowball effect.
Human resources in Kono – raising; standards, skills, quality, supervision, dependability, organisational capacity, motivation to excel, strategic thinking.
Human resources in Kono – raising; standards, skills, quality, supervision, dependability, organisational capacity, motivation to excel, strategic thinking.
CALL FOR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS:
An exhibition will run alongside the conference
offering organisations an outstanding opportunity to promote their campaigns
and products to the influential speakers and delegates. Space is limited so
book early to get prime space and avoid missing out. Suppliers can also gain
additional exposure through the variety of promotional opportunities for sponsors.
See web site for exhibition details, floor layout and sponsorship
opportunities.
BACKGROUND:
For a decade in the 1990’s the Kono District was
decimated and its people displaced during the Sierra Leone war and the mad
scramble for Kono’s ‘blood diamonds’. Many Internally Displaced People and
refugees have returned but Kono is still one of the most underdeveloped and
neglected regions of Sierra Leone, suffering the environmental and social
impacts of kimberlite and alluvial diamond mining. The Kono, district, people,
land and culture are all under threat, the Kono language is yet to be
recognised in the national curriculum. Kono’s trunk road is one of the last to
be built. Because of this the people of Kono are becoming motivated to raise
their self-awareness, become a cohesive force for sustainable development and
find their way forward.
Template for abstract:
As a guide you can use the following format:
Proposals for papers should be in English and comprise a cover page plus an abstract of the paper.
(Presentation time will most likely be around 25 minutes of which 10 minutes will be allocated to introduction and questions).
The abstract should contain:
Title of the paper
Full name and title (Mr., Ms., Dr., Prof.)
Name of your organisation if applicable
Job Title
A brief CV of 100 words
A brief description of the main points of the proposed presentation in 200 – 300 words plus three key messages or learning points stated at the end
The proposed abstract should be submitted using Word
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