ASROCO – Africa Speaks

The Africa Speaks Roundtable Consultation (ASROCO) is an initiative by Africa Speaks to seek actionable solutions to systemic industry challenges facing the Christian publishing industry in Africa. It is designed as a three-phased cycle that includes:

Preliminary issue presentations,
An in-person consultation of leading Christian publishing professionals,
A formation of working committees to tackle the issues raised.

This is in line with the AFRICA SPEAKS ACCORD signed in the first gathering in 2018 with the vision of seeing flourishing of a Christian publishing industry in Africa.

Phase One

Preliminary Issue Presentation: Articulation of three Issues by three leading Christian publishers via a position paper presented virtually to members.

Phase Two

In-person Consultation: Leading Christian publishing practitioners will gather physically at an African City to deliberate on the issues and propose solutions.

Phase Three

Working Committees: Three working committees implement the proposals agreed at the gathering and will report in the next ASROCO.

We are currently in this phase

Each consultation will have a maximum of three pressing issues to be tabled for discussion. Thereafter, we will launch a working committee to oversee the implementation of the proposed solutions. The working committees will become the connection points for publishers based on the problems they identify and attempt to solve.

ASROCO NAIROBI, 2024

ASROCO Nairobi, 2024 was the second gathering and was held in Nairobi, Kenya from Tuesday 5th to Saturday 9th March 2024. The focus of the meeting was to reflect together on the presented positional papers and propose possible answers. The working committees are developing the proposed thoughts and are working towards practical initiatives.