Continuing African Society Growth Reinforced During Executive Committee of African Committee Meeting in Neuilly-sur-Seine
On 7-8 February, the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Regional African Committee (CAF) was held at CISAC in Neuilly-sur-Seine, uniting 8 people from 6 countries. CAF Chair Irene Assa Vieira welcomed all participants and underscored the importance of prioritising development activities for the year to come. CISAC Director General Gadi Oron then provided an overview of activities planned for 2017.
Newly appointed CISAC Regional Director for Africa Samuel Sangwa detailed progress on the strategic plan for Africa. This plan focuses on the needs of the societies with medium and long-term strategic development support activities in order to harness the potential of creators across the continent. Cooperation with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) was presented by Gadi Oron and Samuel Sangwa. CISAC and ARIPO reached an agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding to increase collaboration on developing society operations in Africa.
The CISAC Secretariat presented updates on Governance Reform as well as African society compliance with CISAC’s declarations, including the Income & Expenditures statements. ExCo members approved launching a CMO development review, which will provide systematic development support, later in 2017.
Director of Business Standards and Rules Sylvain Piat reported on the digital licensing and distribution workshop that was held in Harare, Zimbabwe in November 2016 and jointly organised by ARIPO, NORCODE and CISAC.
SAMRO CEO Rev. Abe SIBIYA and Assa Irène Vieira opened the second day of the ExCo meeting by giving an update on the Africa Common Database project. Assa Irène Vieria followed in summarising society and collective management developments in Africa.
Samuel Sangwa spoke on private copying management training for Anglophone and Lusophone societies before ONDA CEO Sami Bencheikh El-Hocine discussed audiovisual works management training for societies. Concluding the CAF ExCo was Pan-African Composers’ and Songwriters’ Alliance (PACSA) President Sam Mbende.
Members approved launching a collective management organisation (CMO) needs assessment campaign throughout Africa.
The next African Committee (CAF) meeting will be held in Kigali, Rwanda in mid-July.