[A2k] Invitation: Second Geneva Seminar on Development Research (GSDR): Copyright and Access to Knowledge in Africa - Evidence from an Eight Country Study (20 May 2009, WMO, Geneva)

Wed May 13 12:47:11 2009

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On behalf of IQsensato (www.iqsensato.org) and the African Copyright and Ac=
cess to Knowledge (ACA2K) Project (www.aca2k.org) I am pleased to invite yo=
u to the Second Geneva Seminars on Development Research (GSDR) which will f=
ocus on the above subject.

The purpose of the seminar, to be held on the morning of Wednesday, 20th Ma=
y 2009 in Room B at the World Metrological Organization (WMO) will be to pr=
esent and debate the research findings of the ACA2K project following more =
than 18 months of interdisciplinary empirical research involving 30 experts=
 in eight African countries. The study countries are Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, M=
orocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. These research findin=
gs are particularly relevant to the work of the WIPO Standing Committee on =
Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) which will be holding its 18th Session =
in Geneva from 25th to 29th May 2009. The findings are also relevant to the=
 work of the WIPO Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP)=
 as well as to discussions and/or negotiations on IP Chapters in economic p=
artnership agreements (EPAs) and free trade agreements (FTAs).

The invited speakers and panellist at the seminar include, among others, th=
e ACA2K lead researcher Dick Kawooya as well as WIPO; Christoph Spennemann =
(UNCTAD); Dr. Falou Samb (CSEND); Viviana Munoz (EPFL & South Centre); Andr=
ew Rens (Shuttleworth Foundation, South Africa); and Susan Isiko Strba (Gra=
duate Institute, Geneva).

The ACA2K Project, which is financially supported by Canada's International=
 Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Shuttleworth Foundation and man=
aged by the LINK Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand, was launche=
d in October 2007 with the primary aim of establishing the extent to which =
copyright is fulfilling its objective of facilitating access to knowledge (=
A2K), in particular, educational and learning materials in Africa. Followin=
g the completion of the research phase of the Project, ACA2K and its partne=
rs have now commenced the dissemination phase in support of evidence-based =
policy-making. This session of the GSDR is one of the first opportunities t=
o debate and interrogate the findings of the Project and to consider option=
s on how this work can be used in international, regional and national poli=
cy-making.

We hope you will be able to attend and look forward to a lively discussion.

Due security requirements at the WMO building pre-registration is required.=
 Please send your attendance confirmation to Alexander Mabelle at alexander=
@iqsensato.org.

With best regards,

SF.

Sisule F. Musungu
President
IQsensato
Rue de Vermont 37 - 39
1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 332 2560 (main)
Tel: +41 22 332 2562 (direct)
Fax: +41 22 332 2561
E-mail: sisule@iqsensato.org
Website: http://www.iqsensato.org
Blog: http://www.iqsensato.org/blog/
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