Top priorities and recommendations for Africa in the year ahead
With this and every edition of Foresight Africa, we aim to capture the top priorities for the region in the coming year, offering recommendations for enhanced economic and political resilience. In doing so, we hope that Foresight Africa 2024 will promote dialogue on the pressing issues facing our continent. We also hope that such ideas will contribute to sound policies and strategies for better development outcomes.
In this edition, you will find essays and viewpoints from Africans in positions of trust and responsibility in multilateral and regional organizations, policymakers, finance ministers, central bank governors, private sector leaders, heads of foundations and civil society organizations, youths, and scholars from think tanks and academia, among others.
In Chapter 1, our authors share policy options to address the economic challenges facing the continent. Now more than ever, it is vital for policymakers to pay attention to mobilizing domestic resources, to strengthening financial systems, and to ensuring that development funds—whether borrowed or raised through taxes—are used strictly for the purposes intended. These measures are critical especially as policymakers will face future, expensive, and likely devastating shocks due to the climate crisis.
In Chapter 1 viewpoints, our authors explore policy options to address economic challenges facing the continent.
Africa is severely impacted by extreme weather events and yet, Africa receives the least amount of global financing to address this difficult collective action problem. With 2023—the hottest year on record—dominated by multiple global convenings (the Nairobi Summit, UNGA and COP28), our authors tackle the existential climate change crisis in Chapter 2, highlighting the inequities and the urgent need for increased financial commitments to address the climate crisis.
In Chapter 2 viewpoints, our authors tackle the existential climate change crisis.
Policymakers are grappling with how to generate more jobs for Africa’s burgeoning youth demographic in an increasingly competitive global environment. From sustainability-focused startups to MSMEs and family-owned businesses, African entrepreneurs have taken on the myriad challenges facing the continent to build a more sustainable and economically prosperous future. Thus, Chapter 3 is dedicated to the entrepreneurs and small businesses that are responsible for most job creation on the continent. Our authors focus on the inclusive and supportive policies needed to foster these ventures and to sustain the high-growth potential of African entrepreneurship.
In Chapter 3, our authors focus on policies to support Africa’s entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Although entrepreneurs have been instrumental to economic growth, it is noteworthy that far greater opportunities abound through the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). Thus, in Chapter 4, our authors explore the status of economic integration and trade, and the policy actions which member states, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders can take to accelerate the implementation of this landmark agreement. Also explored here are the prospects for U.S.-Africa trade and investment relations in view of AGOA’s imminent expiration in 2025.
In Chapter 4, our authors examine trends in regional economic integration and trade.
A key tool for addressing the numerous challenges facing Africa is technology, which has accelerated the digitization of services, commerce, education, and other aspects of life on the continent. Indeed, many countries have developed national digital economy policies to foster innovation and entrepreneurship for job creation and poverty reduction. Thus, in Chapter 5, our authors examine policy options to unlock the digital economy potential necessary for competitiveness and inclusive growth.
In Chapter 5, our authors consider policy options to unlock the potential of the digital economy.
Fostering an inclusive ecosystem means creating the opportunities and the infrastructure to support all workers and entrepreneurs. In this vein, we dedicate Chapter 6 to the women and girls across the continent who, despite setbacks, continue to create and transform the landscape.
In Chapter 6, our authors explore the ways Africa’s women and girls are increasing opportunity for all.
Distrust of the government gained some traction in 2023 as evident in the coups across West and Central Africa. We close this year’s edition of Foresight Africa in Chapter 7, on governance, by focusing on those trends and how African leaders can regain the trust of their citizens.
In Chapter 7, our authors delve into ways African leaders can regain the trust of their citizens.
