Nordic Africa Institute Annual Report: Africa on the Global Agenda

Today the Nordic Africa Institute releases its Annual Report for the working year 2007. Titled Africa on the Global Agenda the report attempts to capture some of the dramatic changes currently taking place in Africa, outlining the emergence of an African century, born out of the present resource boom and the quest for a more accountable and democratic state. As Professor Fantu Cheru, research director of the Institute, writes in an introductory article in the report, “the pervasive 'Afro-pessimism' of the 1980s and 1990s has given way to an image of Africa that is socially and economically vibrant and politically more open, with an assertive civil society, an entrepreneurial indigenous private sector and an aggressive free press playing a central role in articulating an independent and authentic African development agenda”. Articles in the report open a window to fascinating and innovative research on issues that have tremendous impact on everyday realities in Africa. They cover issues spanning urban and rural life, economy and culture, gender and sexuality. In 2007, the Institute embarked on a thorough reform initiative. As the Institute's Director Carin Norberg writes in the report, the aim of the initiative is to develop a roadmap to respond to new challenges and demands. The reform initiative will support the Institute in becoming a centre of excellence in social science research on Africa in the Nordic countries. The reforms are centred on the development of a distinct research profile with an emphasis on quality and relevance in order to enhance the Institute's identity and visibility. To download the Nordic Africa Institute Annual Report 2007 as a pdf document or to place an order for a hard copy, please go to http://www.nai.uu.se/about/organisation/annualreport/. For more information, please contact Information Manager Susanne Linderos, susanne.linderos@nai.uu.se, +46 18 56 22 06. The Nordic Africa Institute (Nordiska Afrikainstitutet) is a center for research, documentation and information on modern Africa in the Nordic region. Based in Uppsala, Sweden, the Institute is dedicated to providing timely, critical and alternative research and analysis on Africa in the Nordic countries and to co-operation between African and Nordic researchers. As a hub and a meeting place in the Nordic region for a growing field of research and analysis the Institute strives to put knowledge of African issues within reach for scholars, policy makers, politicians, media, students and the general public. The Institute is financed jointly by the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden