The Africa Center for Strategic Studies currently has an ambitious Topical Outreach Program (TOPS) underway in East Africa. The mission began in Moroni, Comoros, on Jan. 16 and will conclude in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 12. In addition to Comoros and Ethiopia TOPS, programs are also being held in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Djibouti.
TOPS is the Africa Center’s primary program for maintaining active, positive, and substantive Africa Center relationships with its alumni organizations known as “Community Chapters.” It was established in July 2007.
Under TOPS, ACSS outreach staff, faculty, and leaders travel to each African country in which an ACSS community chapter exists (and to selected countries where chapter start-up is imminent) to conduct topical programs for ACSS communities of interest. There are currently 23 chapters. The programs in each country range in length from half- or full-day symposiums to multi-day programs based on the needs and interests of each chapter, American embassies, and host-nation governments.
According to Clifford H. Bernath, Director of the Africa Center’s Directorate of Community Outreach and Public Affairs, “The strength of the TOPS program is that we are very, very flexible and are able to respond to the needs of the community in a responsive and comprehensive way.”
TOPS and other Africa Center education and outreach programs are helping to build long-term relationships between senior U.S. and African leaders. It is, as Mr. Bernath observed, a two-way street: “It helps American leaders to better understand African perspectives on U.S. policies and programs; and also helps African leaders better understand–not necessarily agree with–U.S. goals and policies towards the continent.”
Since the TOPS program began, there have been some 50 TOPS symposia in 25 different African countries. The 4,300 participants have included African military, government, and civil society officials.
The TOPS currently in progress includes the launch of the Comoros Community Chapter, the 23d ACSS Community Chapter in Africa.
In Burundi, where national elections are scheduled for July 23, U.S. Ambassador Pamela Slutz told community members: “We are proud to join forces with the Africa Center, and also with our other international partners to provide financial and technical support for the electoral process in 2010. But it is clearly the Burundians who will make their elections a success.”
The current TOPS trip is being led by community affairs specialist Mary McGurn.
