1st Regional Family Colloquium, Strathmore Auditorium, February 24th and 25th 2005

It was hosted by the Strathmore Business School. The colloquium brought together a total of 40 participants, 25 of them from different countries in Africa.

These included Congo, Cote d’ivoire, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Cameroon. Congo and Nigeria had the most scholars.

The topics were divided into two; Marriage and Children and Family and development. Some of the best papers will be published in the 2007 prestigious volume of “The Family in the new Millennium”.

There was collaboration with, among other academic centers and institutions, the World Family Policy Centre - Brigham Young University, (www.worldfamilypolicy.org) and the newly created Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development. The work of the Institute was coordinated with appropriate non-governmental, inter-governmental and other entities dedicated to researching, supporting and implementing the Doha Declaration.

2nd Regional Family Colloquium, Brackenhurst conference Centre Tigoni area, Nairobi, November 22nd to 24th 2007.

The colloquium presented recent and ongoing research on various topics related to the family in Africa and interrelated aspects of its role in globalization and the various social settings and how they affect the family.

This event is organized in conjunction with the Strathmore Business School and the Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development, who are the main sponsors for the colloquium.

Seven countries participated. These were; Kenya (5), Uganda (2), Nigeria (6), Congo (4), Cote d’ivoire (1), Sudan (2) and Benin (1).

We had two participants from the Doha International Institute for family Studies and development (member of Qatar foundation); Dr. Amina Mesdoua, Director, Policy division and Dr. Marya Reed, Deputy Managing Director. They presented on the vision and goals of the institute.

Other participants from Kenya included the operational team; 4 couples and a young gentleman and other interested persons.

23rd afternoon was spent at the Nairobi Serena in a forum with HRM’s on work family life balance. Researched papers in this area were presented.