The event brought together governments, investors and development institutions to explore new strategies for financing Africa’s economic transformation.
Held under the theme “Financing the Future of Africa: Jobs and Innovation for Sustainable Transformation”, the forum aimed to mobilise capital and partnerships capable of generating large‑scale employment, particularly for Africa’s rapidly expanding youth population.
Speaking to Channel Africa on Tuesday, Aboubakri Diaw, Chief of Staff at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said this year’s forum is designed to move from dialogue to delivery. He noted that Africa’s demographic profile places enormous pressure on labour markets, with between 10 and 12 million young people entering the workforce each year while formal job creation absorbs only a quarter of them.
Diaw said the forum aligns with three core continental priorities: industrialisation and value addition under the African Continental Free Trade Area, scaling high‑employment sectors such as agro‑processing, light manufacturing, digital services and green industries, and strengthening the link between capital mobilisation and tangible employment outcomes through the Jobs Index and accountability mechanism. He said the goal is to structure markets and finance in a way that converts demographic potential into productive jobs.
Against a backdrop of tighter global financial conditions, shifting supply chains and mounting geopolitical tensions, Diaw said Africa can no longer rely primarily on external flows. Instead, the continent must strengthen domestic capital markets, deepen regional integration and position itself as a competitive production base rather than a commodity exporter.
On closing the continent’s financing gap, Diaw highlighted three approaches gaining traction at the forum. These include expanding blended‑finance instruments to de‑risk private investment, unlocking Africa’s more than one trillion dollars in pension, insurance and sovereign wealth assets, and improving investment climates through regulatory reforms, digital tax systems and deeper capital markets. He said the issue is not a shortage of capital, but fragmentation and persistent risk perceptions that are often not based on evidence.
When asked how Africa should position itself to attract investment, Diaw said political stability, transparency and a predictable business environment remain essential. He noted that investors already operating in Africa have a far more positive view of risks than those assessing the continent from afar, underscoring the need for stronger engagement and partnership.
–ChannelAfrica–
