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Africa Peacebuilding Program

Engaging the U.S. on the issues that affect the African continent

The Africa Program builds a robust and well informed constituency for Africa in order to influence public policy toward the continent.  It also creates opportunities for people in the United States to learn about Africa directly from Africans and to build relationships with them. 

The Life Over Debt Campaign is currently the centerpiece of the Peacebuilding Unit’s Africa work.  This campaign highlights the need for immediate cancellation of the debt of all African countries without the imposition of harmful conditionalities. 

Staff in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Atlanta, Missouri, and Washington, DC and Philadelphia, conduct campus workshops, lead educational forums, lobby policy makers, and organize other activities to build public support for debt cancellation. 

Staff work primarily with communities of African Americans and African immigrants, as well as with Quakers and other faith-based groups.  National staff work in close partnership with Jubilee USA and other national Africa advocacy organizations. 

Over the past year the Peacebuilding Unit’s Trade and Debt Specialist has been bringing together organizations committed to fair trade with Africa advocacy groups based in the U.S. and in southern Africa to understand the implications of the proposed Southern Africa Trade Union Agreement and to advocate for an agreement that promotes fair trade.

Each year PBU’s Africa Program sponsors:

• The Bill Sutherland Institute—an annual conference for Africa advocates, economic justice organizers, students, and others to increase their ability to advocate for U.S. governmental policies toward Africa that support peace and equality.
• Africa Peace Tours—bring the voices of African academicians, journalists and activists to college campuses, places of worship, union halls, and community centers, educating citizens about Africa and how they can advocate for just U.S. policies toward Africa.
• Sub-Saharan Africa Youth Leadership Work—has enabled forty young adults from the U.S. to go to Africa for a joint training on peace and conflict resolution with young African leaders.  On return to the U.S., each young person agrees to devote considerable volunteer time to Africa advocacy work in the U.S.  A part-time youth leadership staff person provides support to them.

For more information about AFSC's Africa focused work and campaigns >

Join Our Email Newsletter

Get inspired with the Peacebuilding Unit Africa Program's National Africa Network Newsletter. Each week you will receive a web digest of African news and updates on debt related work and U.S.-based Africanist community updates.  Each month you'll receive Africa and debt focused action items and an online copy of Amandla, the Africa Program's newsletter. To join click below. 

I understand that I am joining a volunteer network of activists who are committed to making a dramatic change in the United States' relationship with Africa such that Africa's aspirations for peaceful economic development can be fulfilled by its equitable inclusion in a supportive global community. 

Subscribe for updates and the monthly newsletter from the Africa Peacebuilding Program >

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