Transforming Africa: An Agenda for Action

Without a doubt, the development outlook for Africa has changed considerably since I became Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa decade ago. In 1995 our countries were looking back on a bruising period of slow or negative growth, a disastrous record of dictatorship and poor governance, a burgeoning of conflict and above all a deep lack of confident. In the 10 years since, we have seen growth rates steadily accelerate, democratic systems widely adopted, continental leadership and direction renewed and civil society rapidly expand at the grass roots. We have also seen a rising conviction that Africa can and must lead its efforts to develop. As I look back over my 10 years at the Commission’s helm, I am grateful to have had such a fascinating vantage point from which to observe and analyze socioeconomic tends on the continent. I also value the many opportunities to engage in extensive dialogue with Africa’s leaders, policy makers and stakeholders both on the continent and farther a field. Thanks to ECA’s position as one of Africa’s leading regional institutions, I have received many invitations to present our perspectives on today’s development challenges, often through a lecture or keynote address to audiences in the region and around the world. With valuable inputs from my colleagues at the Commission, I have tried to meet these requests in thought-provoking ways, always with the goal of proposing action that will help African economies and societies to advance. This collection of lectures reflects my views on how to respond to the opportunities and limitations of globalization. Individually, they pinpoint the structural constraints and the policy and institutional weaknesses that must be addressed urgently in several core areas. Together, they present an overview of the holistic policy responses required to tackle Africa’s daunting challenges.