The annual World Economic Forum in Davos brings together the world’s most influential leaders with the aim of improving global economic conditions. This year, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa is once again a key topic of conversation at the gathering. But when it comes to Africa’s development, debate is often mistaken for progress. The continent hosts some of the world’s fastest growing economies, but average growth is below global standards. This paradox requires more than analysis. Decisive action is required.
Africa’s potential is extraordinary. With 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, a young and dynamic population and vast natural resources, the continent has all the ingredients for transformative growth. The question is not whether Africa can develop, but how to remove the obstacles that impede its progress.
Today’s development environment often resembles an elaborate maze of requirements, reports, and conflicting guidelines from hundreds of agencies. Accountability is important, but too much bureaucracy stifles progress. What Africa needs is practical, focused investment in fundamental areas that will drive economic growth.
Depriving the energy challenge: Only 50% of Africa’s 1.37 billion people have access to electricity. By 2030, investment in Africa’s energy sector needs to reach $25 billion annually to close the energy access gap. This is a dramatic increase compared to today’s spending. But investment alone is not enough. It is necessary to come up with a practical and home-made solution. The key is regional integration of energy sources. This is how we solve the energy crisis. Africa has huge hydropower, solar, and other energy resources in different regions. By devising the right energy mix and establishing pooled power sources, we can power entire continents through a strong and resilient grid. Such achievements will have an impact on the history-making rate in the development of our continent.
Similarly, it defies logic that the continent with most of the world’s arable land has more than 280 million undernourished people. This is not due to a lack of ability. This is the result of neglected rural infrastructure, fragmented markets, and lack of investment in agricultural technology. This solution requires strategic investments in roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities, coupled with policies that encourage local processing and value addition.
Intra-African trade represents only 15% of the continent’s total trade and represents another major opportunity. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) offers promise, but its success depends on practical implementation. Building roads, modernizing ports, and eliminating trade barriers. These are not revolutionary concepts, but proven fundamentals of economic development.
The path ahead is clear. First, you need to streamline your development process. African countries need partners, not directors. Second, investments in infrastructure must be practical and immediate. Roads, power plants and ports enable real economic activity, interconnectivity between nations and are framed within a continent-wide strategic vision. Third, we need to trust local leadership to set priorities based on realities on the ground, not theories from distant conference rooms.
Our young people deserve an education system that prepares them for the modern workplace, whether in the Maghreb, Central Africa or the Horn of Africa. Current curricula often resemble outdated assembly lines and fail to equip students with the tools for the future. This needs to change. Similarly, our health care systems require targeted investments to reduce mortality rates and address stark health disparities across the continent.
Leaders in Davos should focus on concrete steps to accelerate Africa’s inclusive growth agenda. The continent does not need more seminars on development theory. This requires practical, results-focused support that enables nations to build robust economies and societies.
This isn’t just ambitious thinking. They are realistic goals backed by the continent’s immense potential.
The choice is clear. Continue business as usual or embrace a development model that prioritizes results over process. The world’s response to this choice will determine not only Africa’s future but also the course of global prosperity for decades to come. The time for endless debate is over – Africa needs action and it needs it now.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
