How NOT to run events in Africa

Looking to run events in Africa soon? Here are 15 things you must NOT do if you want to increase your chances of successfully organizing an event in Africa.

Do not think you can get away without doing full and thorough research
Do not go without an up-to-date and verified database
Do not forget that Africa has 53 countries, and that each one of them has a different culture and different values
Do not assume that just because something works in West Africa, it will also work in the East, the South and the North
Do not arrive with preconceived ideas about anything
Do not organize events that have no actual relevance to African issues
Do not think you can succeed without a trustworthy and knowledgeable local partner
Do not assume that your team on the ground can be fully operational without a learning curve
Do not assume time has the same meaning in Africa as it does elsewhere – things will not happen as fast as you want them to
Do not be surprised if ‘yes’ ultimately turns out to mean ‘no’
Do not bank on having a reliable or fast Internet connection
Do not assume that hotels will be either cheap or comfortably equipped
Do not assume that prices are not negotiable
Never bank on a successful outcome even after you have already paid out thousands to local participants
And finally, whatever happens, do not forget to smile, to learn and to take something positive from the experience.