A Day on Capitol Hill with Young African Leaders, Power Africa, and the Library of Congress

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Africa Policy Breakfast Series, Cote d'Ivoire, Ex-Im Bank, General Electric, Ghana, Heirs Holdings, IVLP, Karen Bass, Liberia Newspapers, Mimi Alemayehou, OPIC, Power Africa, Power Africa focus countries selection criteria, Rwanda, Shaka Ssali, Symbion Power, Togo, Tony Elumelu, YALI

The room was dominated by portraits of old white men, including one holding a poodle.

Yesterday feelings of patriotism stirred in my bosom as I attended the Africa Policy Breakfast Series sponsored by Rep. Karen Bass (D – CA), a two panel Senate hearing on Power Africa, and I then passed a few hours reading Liberian newspapers at the Library of Congress before venturing over to New America and Arizona State.  It still strikes me as pretty cool that I can rub shoulders with prominent dignitaries and attend congressional hearings in person.

Guest Post: CSIS Looks at Powering Africa’s Progress

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African Development Bank, Africare, CSIS, Darius Mans, Donald Kaberuka, Heirs Holdings, ONE Campaign, Power Africa, Tony Elumelu

Read on for a guest post on an event sponsored by CSIS last Friday that consisted of a “conversation on impact investing, electricity access, and increasing infrastructure delivery through public-private collaboration” with the head of Africare, President of the One Campaign, President of the African Development Bank, and a Major Nigerian financier.

Even though it was raining cats and dogs, the room was completely packed (standing room only).  The room was filled with official looking people in their best business attire. Speaking of business attire, I was surprised at the number of women who showed up in heels and flats ( I repeat, it was raining cats and dogs). You notice these kinds of things when your feet are sweating in your rain boots.