Africa Resilience Forum 2021: Threats and solutions…Does local capacity hold the key? Take-aways from public and private experts

The fourth edition of the African Development Bank's Africa Resilience Forum took place 28-30 September, with the theme "Covid-19 and Beyond: Working Together for a Resilient Continent". The Forum is a flagship African Development Bank platform that brings together thought leaders from government, civil society, the private sector, development partners, and academia, to promote state-building and peace initiatives across the continent.

During the opening ceremony of the Forum, African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina summed up the "hydra-headed challenge" confronting the continent: Covid-19, conflict and climate change.

Over the three-day conference, sessions focused on various topics, and offered possible solutions. Themes included vaccine access, women's entrepreneurship, youth unemployment, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Here are some of the take-aways that emerged from the virtual discussions:

1. Investing in security is an investment in development

Adriano Afonso Maleiane, Mozambique's Minister of the Economy and Finance, whose country has been hit by security challenges, said: "Today, spending on security is equal to investment. Without security (there is) no investment, no growth, nothing."

He welcomed an announcement made by President Adesina, who said the Bank would work closely with regional member countries on security-indexed bonds to address the root causes of insecurity by protecting investments and livelihoods.

1. Climate change, a threat to resilience

As explained by Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation: "Africa is highly threatened by climate change. Even if we were to live up to the Paris Agreement of a 1.5 °C world, there will still be a massive need to invest in adaptation."

Vulnerable populations are most at risk, said environmental activist Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim from Chad, one of the fragility hotspots on the continent. "Each season we are seeing the climate changes. From the flood to the drought…resulting in food insecurity, community conflicts and migration."

1. Build manufacturing to create wealth and withstand future crises

Khaled Sherif, African Development Bank Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, reminded the participants about the Bank's resilience agenda, focusing on human capital development, creating wealth and diversifying economies: "If we keep depending on the import of foodstuffs and medicines, we will always remain vulnerable to the generosity of others in moments of crisis."

Stavros Nicolaou, Group Senior Executive for Strategic Trade at Aspen Pharma, said Africa is a serial importer of vaccines and medicines: "This pandemic has taught us that local capacity can solve our problems… Multi-lateral and medical agencies have to support local manufacturers, so they can be sustained."

1. Women entrepreneurs at the center of resilience in transition states

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said: "When we talk about women and ensuring resilience in transition states, one area where women are predominant in is food security. A lot of women entrepreneurs are involved in food processing, and the preservation businesses."

1. Bring young people to the table

The challenge of creating jobs for young people on the continent can seem tremendous. But solutions are out there if we know where to look: "If we are looking for solutions for the youth, we must have them at the table. We need the perspective of the youth. They are walking in their shoes, and they know where the shoe pinches. They have so much innovation and creativity that we need to have them at the table," said Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Solomon Quaynor, Vice President Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation at the African Development Bank Group, highlighted Bank-led initiatives that supporting youth entrepreneurship and youth-led job creation, namely Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks: "The idea is to look at the whole life cycle of youth entrepreneurs' journey -- not just give them grants but also look at where their failures are. We try to understand for each country we go into: where are the points of failure?"

Philippe Baudrier, General Manager of Africa Konnect, said: "The purpose is to bring opportunities throughout the broadband. It is not only about connectivity but also to partner with locals to provide content as well."

1. "A bold step forward": The promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, said: "The pandemic has exposed real gaps in Africa's capacity to be resilient. The African Continental Free Trade Area can help close these gaps. It is a bold step forward on economic integration."

Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, Acting Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank Group, reinforced the promise of the free trade zone: "Africa is not a poor continent, but it has been challenged by significant under-investment in many areas, and this is what the resilience agenda aims to change. One of the continent's greatest hopes for strengthening resilience is harnessing the promise and potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area."

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