African Futures Conference in Pretoria
Insight, Imagination, Action
Alize Le Roux, acting Head of African Futures and Innovation, Institute for Security Studies, with Speakers on Day 1 of the conference in Pretoria
HSF
The engaging African Futures Conference at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria this week had many renowned experts and young change-makers among the speakers, and hundreds of participants from over 40 countries.
Here are some key insights from the hybrid conference and our African Futures partner team’s research presented and discussed there as well:
Ambitious yet realistic interventions in key areas can accelerate inclusive development in Africa – as shown by data-based long-term scenario studies for 8 themes, including Demographics and Health; Agriculture; Education; Manufacturing and others. They find significant progress for crucial indicators, compared to the current path.
Recommendations from the new Africa Report introduced and discussed at the Conference
ISS
Full implementation of the AfCFTA is pivotal to facilitate economic growth, poverty reduction, and a more equitable income distribution.
Governance reforms such as prioritizing anti-corruption work, the rule of law / functioning criminal justice systems, and effective administration are paramount to enhance investor confidence and fiscal efficiency.
Africa is in need of energy - this includes renewables‘ expansion, and off-grid and mini-grid solutions, but for now, also gas and nuclear, taking into account population growth and the urgent need to create jobs. Investments in regional power integration are crucial as well.
Many of the top submissions among the 295 presentations and papers handed in by young change-makers were about food security or related themes. To provide food for the continent and develop the agricultural sector remains a top priority.
To achieve impact, foresight work must combine quantitative and qualitative research methods. It should include diverse participants from many disciplines. And it must ultimately aim to inspire and inform creative imagination, evidence-based policy-making, and collaborative implementation with stakeholders from all sectors.
Find the new Africa Report by our ISS partner team here:
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