History

Over the past two decades since mid-80s, career and professional growth path constitute one of the major principles that visibly inform the origin of AC - DSI / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre on one hand.  However, on the other hand, the immensely retarded socioeconomic levels of development of continental Africa in comparison with other continents complemented by least levels of scientific and technological development in a context of other continents registering higher comparative advantage necessitate the establishment.  

On a juncture of justification, the cause for a robust and inclusive Pan African Forum, the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre constitutes a logical legacy reclamation outcome of the 16^th Ordinary Session, held in Monrovia, Liberia, July 1979. On this historical Monrovia Conference, the "Monrovia Declaration of Commitments” by the African Heads of State and Government was adopted and comprised a statement on the guidelines and measures for national and collective self-reliance in economic and social development for the establishment of a new international economic order, and an Integrated African Common Market founded commensurately on an African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)".

Concerted efforts by the Pan African Community and Progressive Global Frontiers on the restorative mission for Africa and the African in digitally competitive world, has seen many Initiatives designed to drive the legacy reclamation Pan African Dream to fruition. Among these initiatives there exists the Lagos Action Plan (1980); Abuja Treaty (1991); AGOA (2001); TICAD Process (1993); NEPAD (2001); UNECA (1958); and Africa Agenda 2063. These form a critical component of the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre research, training, teaching and advocacy generation changing program.

Nevertheless, the recently launched AfCFTA (2021) destined to realize the Pan African Dream through enhancing the growth –development momentum generated by the former highlighted Initiatives, has all good rationale to usher the Continent into a Single Diversified Common Market in a digitally competing global village. Post COVID -19 restoration drive combined with the COP 27 Sham el Sheikh Egypt six (6) point resolution strategically create very conducive conditions for an extensive AfCFTA inspired industrialization and transformation drive – strategy in rural-urban and resettled communities within Southern and Sub Saharan Africa. Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre considers this scenario positively and commends that receptive dispensations in Southern and Sub Saharan Africa are paramount in this AfCFTA driven historical process. Indeed, AfCFTA industrialization and transformation drive for marginalized rural – urban and resettled communities in Southern and Sub Saharan Africa would be better perceived from an envisaged extensive exploitation of the digital technologies factor, over and above other secondary factors as social, political, economic, cultural and environmental. Throughout the major phases of industrial development/scientific and technological revolution (1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 4.0 and 5.0) all above factors interplayed leading currently (2023) to a world average GNI ppp at US$18601, yet the GNI ppp US$ 5212 for Africa remained questionably lowest, with a crushing debt burden; higher than economic, population growth rate ultimately leaving no other option but to turn to digital technologies as a panacea. At this juncture major questions arise as to what digital transformation strategy the AfCFTA industrialization and transformation program for rural –urban and resettled communities should be based on? What should be the indicators for qualification of the AfCFTA digital technologies industrialization and transformation impact; and What are the chances of cross sector development of SMEs, employment creation and poverty eradication in rural – urban and resettled communities under the AfCFTA digital technologies driven industrialization and transformation strategy. Immediate scenario changing interventions are needed to guarantee uplifting living standards, increasing per capita wealth for the currently marginalized rural-urban and resettled population. Through its well-developed faculty, the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre to meet its mission and vision, will seek partnership, associateship and affiliation with local and international institutions of higher learning, research and training as efforts are made to bridge the development gaps within Sub Saharan Africa and between the Sub Saharan Africa and the Greater digitally progressing World.

Nevertheless, some of the key objectives in addressing the mission and vision; industrialization and transformation; research and advocacy programs of the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre constitute:

• Formation of an AfCFTA Immediate Scenario Change Culture; Robust AfCFTA Analytical Conscience;
• Promotion of an understanding of the AfCFTA industrialization and transformative essence for marginalized rural - urban and resettled communities, as a typically Pan African Project destined to change Africa and the African for generations to come;
• Uniformity, standardization and quality controlling of our programs, qualifications-competences match with internationally established standards;
• teaching, conscientize African Member States and their Parliamentarians about the AfCFTA; what the AfCFTA Economy and AfCFTA GNI per capita US$ / RTGS ZW constitute; and
• transforming rural –urban and resettled communities in Zimbabwe, Southern and Sub Saharan Africa in step with the fast advancing digital world;
• empowering the African and Africa in step with the digitally advancing and contested global world.

Widening its business scope locally and internationally by entering into relationships of partnership, associateship and affiliation with progressive local and international higher learning and research establishments; industry, private sector and the communities; Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre will seek further to:

• extensively engage with Member States Ministries in holding annual ASC AfCFTA Online International Conference Series held annually in efforts to eradicate poverty;
• combine our efforts in resources mobilization for the effective launching of our programs and guaranteeing higher welfare for our local and international staff; staff and student exchange programs as we carve our AfCFTA biased niche in the global circles; budgets for a smooth running of business at the ASC AfCFTA Secretariat;
• promote teaching/advocacy/training national and international Pan African Cadre; African Member States Parliamentarians, beginning with Parliament of Zimbabwe as to what the AfCFTA implies as a pan African Generation Changing project by 2063;
• systematically and regularly pursue an AfCFTA Public Lecture, Staff Exchange; Webinars on Enlightening Member States Parliamentarians and stakeholders as a guarantee for maximization of the cross sector industrial value in African and from the World Economy.

To date, having begun in 2021, Our institution launched successfully and respectively in 2021; 2022 under MSU Logo AfCFTA Online International Conferences on AfCFTA driven industrialization and transformation of rural-urban and resettled communities in Southern and Sub- Saharan Africa; and COVID 19 and Climate Change driven AfCFTA. On attaining full autonomy and maintaining the critical business momentum and constituency, the former MSU AfCFTA cum ASC AfCFTA emerged with robustness to independently launch its 2023 ASC AfCFTA Online Digital Technologies driven AfCFTA industrialization of rural-urban and resettled communities in Zimbabwe, Southern and Sub Saharan Africa during the digital era.

Consolidating its niche in the local, continental and global research and higher learning and advocacy institutions, the   Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre registers outputs on You Tube under:

• “YouTube presentations under title “2023 ASC AfCFTA Digital Technologies International Conference”;
• Facebook presentations under title “2023 ASC AfCFTA Digital Technologies International Conference”; on Midlands State Radio Station. Zvishavane.
• Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) Controlled Vocabulary Symposium 4-7 November 2023”

Destined to conduct research, teaching, training and advocacy the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre has an evolving set of Specialization Units / Departments with special courses to be developed and launched in the departments, which are namely: 

• Transformative AfCFTA, Afrocentric Philosophy and Development
• Development and Transformation Studies Department;
• Monitoring and Evaluation Studies Department;
• Trade, Integration and Development Studies Department;
• Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management Studies Department;
• Health, Water and Sanitation Studies Department
• Peace and Security Studies Department
• International Relations and Social Development Studies Department
• Industry, Agriculture and Labor Studies Department.
• Heritage, Ecotourism, Ecotainment, Hospitality and Recreation Studies

To keep step with the development trends and relevance of the programs to be pursued at under and post graduate level, short courses will be conducted and this will be the core business of the Centre as a knowledge generating arm of the Institute.  Inclusivity and diversity, coexistence will remain central guiding principles to the business of the Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre, with partnership, exchange programs; affiliation and association being consistently pursued vigorously across nations, regions of the world with the Global Pan African Community and the Greater World that shares the interests, aspirations and expectations of the African as a key player in the global economy in particular and global affairs in general.

STAFFING

As an inclusive global Pan African Institution, a distinctly competent, highly qualified local/international staff complement cutting across racial lines and gender balanced will be recruited to conduct business effectively in the Secretariat; Specialization Units and the Steering Committees and Boards to assist the Executive Director and Other Critical Staff. Remuneration will be apportioned in the denomination in which it is deposited in the FCA and Local Bank Accounts of the Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre with no prejudicial encroachments whatsoever to parties involved.

 HOSTING VISITING SENIOR SCHOLARS / HONORARY FELLOWS /CITIZENS: Local and International

Africa Change Development Studies Institute / ASC AfCFTA Studies Centre in its resource mobilization has launched a fund-mobilization related hosting of Senior Scholars/ Fellows/ Honorary Citizens from across regions and nations of the world with a passion for widening and deepening and shifting the Transformative AfCFTA program of the institute. Honorary Members/ Senior Scholars and Retirees with a fund-raising edge and influence in transformative studies are welcome at our Institute for a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years upon proof of availing and raising funds and resources for the Institute to aid programs on establishing Specialized Centre Headquarters in Norton.