Skip to main content

The Eleventh Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Conference: Protecting Consumers During the Pandemic and Beyond - October 13-14, 2020 - Virtual Event

Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 13:00–15:30 p.m. Central African Time (GMT+2)

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 13:00-15:30 p.m. Central African Time (GMT+2)

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and COMESA Competition Commission invite you to attend the Eleventh Annual African Consumer Protection Dialogue Virtual Conference, entitled “Protecting Consumers during the Pandemic and Beyond,” on October 13-14, 2020.

While this year's detailed in-person Eleventh Annual Conference is postponed, we are planning a shorter, virtual program to continue our mission in the wake of Covid-19.

The spirit of the program remains the same, consumer protection officials, stakeholders and thought leaders will again come together for meaningful Dialogue on the most salient issues impacting consumers.

The Conference will include invited speakers from African consumer protection and competition authorities, sectoral regulators, the U. S. Federal Trade Commission, The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), U.S. Product Safety Commission, Australia Competition and Consumer Commission, and civil society organizations, among others. This event is by invitation only and is not open to the public.

The agenda includes panels covering a range of topics with a nexus to the pandemic, including ecommerce, consumer remedies and redress, cross border cooperation, complaints trends, consumer education and business guidance, data privacy and product safety.

Colleagues are also invited to share consumer education and business guidance on topics with a nexus to the pandemic.

If you have any questions or comments please email AfricanDialogue@ftc.gov.

You may register for the conference at https://www.ftc.gov/registration-eleventh-annual-african-consumer-protection-dialogue-conference.

Agenda

Download agenda (PDF, 228 KB)

Day 1: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 (13:00 PM-15:30 PM) GMT+2

CONSUMER REDRESS, E-COMMERCE AND CROSS BORDER COOPERATION

13:00

Opening Session

George Lipimile
Director and Chief Executive Officer
COMESA Competition Commission
Hugh Stevenson
Deputy Director
Office of International Affairs
U.S. Federal Trade Commission 

13:20

Session 1: Consumer Remedies and Redress: E-commerce and Cross Border Cooperation

Charles Harwood, Northwest Regional Office, U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Babatunde Irukera, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nigeria
Chilufya Sampa, Competition and Consumer Protection, Zambia
Kondwani Kaonga, COMESA Competition Commission
Sini Omar John, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria

14:20

Break

14:30

Session 2: Complaints, Consumer Education and Business Guidance

Thezi Mabuza, National Consumer Commission, South Africa
Ahmed Samir Farag, Consumer Protection Agency, Egypt
Jennifer Leach, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Consumer & Business Education, U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Boniface Kamiti, Competition Authority of Kenya
Joe-Anne Riddiford, Office of International Affairs, ACCC, Australia
Sameh Saied, National Telecom Regulatory Authority, Egypt

15:30

Virtual Networking - End of First Day

Day 2: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 (13:00-15:30) GMT+2
HOT TOPICS: CONSUMER PRIVACY AND PRODUCT RECALLS

13:00

Opening Remarks

Babatunde Irukera
CEO/Executive Vice Chair
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
Nigeria
13:10

Session 1: Protecting Consumer Data in Online Transactions

Francis Kariuki, Competition Authority of Kenya
Deon Woods Bell, Office of International Affairs, U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Nomsa Motshegare, National Credit Regulator, South Africa
Laura Best, National Consumer Tribunal and Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
Morayo Adebayo, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nigeria

14:10

Break

14:20

Session 2: Consumer Product Recalls

Stellah Onyancha, COMESA Competition Commission
Richard W. O’Brien, Office of International Programs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Muzi Dlamini, Eswatini Competition Commission
Andile Mange, National Consumer Commission, South Africa
Neville Matthew, Consumer Product Safety Divison, ACCC, Australia

15:30

Closing Remarks

Consumer Education and Business Guidance Virtual Exhibits

Australia Competition and Consumer Commission

COMESA Competition Commission

Eswatini Competition Commission

Lesotho Ministry of Trade and Industry

Nigeria Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Seychelles Fair Trading Commission

South Africa National Consumer Commission

Zambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

U.S. Federal Trade Commission

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission