WELCOME AND OPENING COMMENTS

• Stuart Kerr, Counsel, Jones Day
• Mat Tromme, Project Lead Global Rule of Law Exchange, and Senior Research Fellow, The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law

MORNING PANEL - CHALLENGES OF REGULATION IN AFRICA

Good, clear and accessible laws and regulations are necessary for SMEs to thrive. The session will discuss what hampers the development of good laws and regulations, the impact this can have on SMEs in Africa and how the problems can be addressed.

• Timothy Kakuru, mSME Garage(Uganda)
• Affiong Williams, Founder/CEO, Reelfruit (Nigeria)
• Brian Milder, Executive Vice President for Strategy & Innovation, Root Capital
• Oulimata Fall Sarr, Advisor, Office of the Executive Director, International Trade Centre, and Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellow
• Chair: Katrin Kuhlmann, President and Founder, New Markets Lab

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Dr. Donald Kaberuka , former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, African Development Bank (2005-2015)

Lessons Learned on Regulations and Business Development in Africa

Chair: Sheila Khama, Practice Manager, Energy and Extractive Industries Global Practice, World Bank

LUNCHTIME PANEL - LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES IN FINTECH

The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law - in collaboration with the Good Law Foundation (South Africa) - has conducted research on the legal and regulatory challenges for SMEs operating in the 'FinTech' sector in Kenya and South Africa. This session will present and discuss the research findings.

Note: Financial Technology ('FinTech') is a new sort of technology-enabled financial solution that covers a range of financial services (mobile money, online peer-to-peer lending, blockchain, etc). It aims to make financial products more accessible, and thus competes with more traditional financing mechanisms

• Dr Anton Didenko, Research Fellow, Business and the Rule of Law, The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law
• Coryell Stout, Portfolio Engagement Manager, Venture Lab, Accion
• Tazeen Hasan, Senior Legal Specialist, Gender and Development Unit, World Bank
• Chair: Charles Cadwell, Director, Center on International Development and Governance, Urban Institute

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Dr. Moeketsi Majoro , Minister of Finance, Kingdom of Lesotho

The Rule of Law-Economic Development Nexus: Why Law Matters (from an Economist's Perspective)

AFTERNOON PANEL - ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH SMALL CLAIMS AND COMMERCIAL COURTS

The purpose of small claim courts is primarily to make justice inexpensive and accessible to those who cannot afford litigation, and whose claims are relatively small. Often, claimants do not need the aid of a lawyer to defend their cases. Some jurisdictions (e.g. South Africa) provide a legal framework for small claim courts, while others do not. On the other hand, the court system may be a break for investors, and commercial courts aim to improve the business environment by addressing business disputes. This panel will map out good practices in this area, discuss challenges and identify ways forward with both small claim and commercial courts.

• Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice of the Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court of Uganda, previously Justice of the Commercial Division of the High Court of Uganda
• Charles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, Senior Partner at Strachan Partners, President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA)
• Dr Jan van Zyl Smit, Associate Research Fellow, The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law
• Judge Eva Mappy Morgan, Chief Judge, Liberia's Commercial Court (via video)
• Chair: Stuart Kerr, Counsel, Jones Day

CLOSING PANEL - WHERE NEXT? MAKING IT WORK FOR SMEs IN AFRICA

Rounding off the day's discussion, this panel will draw on previous panels to highlight what are the best ways to develop the legal and regulatory framework for SMEs in Africa. The panel will highlight good practice initiatives, practical approaches and existing or proposed policies that would achieve this objective.

• Kazuhiro Numasawa, Principal Investment Officer, Financial Sector Development Department, African Development Bank
• Andreja Marusic, Global Lead, Business Environment, World Bank
• Odunoluwa Longe, DIY Law (Nigeria)
• Chair: Toni Weis, Program Officer, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)