Global business and research pioneer, Dalberg, has partnered The Africa Center and the African Leadership Institute to launch (AFLI) the “Future Forum” initiative in New York City.
According to a
release by African Media Agency, AMA, made available to OpenLife, the future-forward
project brings together leaders and innovators from across Africa, and the
world, to create a shared vision around today’s challenges and tomorrow’s
opportunities – especially those related to African youth and employment.
The event, structured around Africa @ Work, created a platform promoting
curated conversations between Africans and Diaspora. “Africa@Work is a
conversation between Africans and the Diaspora that aims deepen our shared
understanding of African labor market complexities, highlight and accelerate
innovative ideas and channel investments towards solutions that positively
impact the future of work on the continent”, explains Dalberg Partner and
event co-host, Robin Miller.
Africa’s fast expanding youth population presents a unique opportunity to
prepare an emerging workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. This generation is
projected to reach 40% of the world’s total youth population by 2030, which
could have incredible economic implications. As emphasised by the African
Development Bank (AfDB): “Youth are Africa’s greatest asset. Africa’s
youth population is rapidly growing and expected to double to over 830 million
by 2050. If properly harnessed, this increase in the working age population
could support increased productivity and stronger, more inclusive economic
growth across the continent”. However, given high unemployment, there is a
significant risk that if labor market challenges are not fully understood, the
potential of this influx can be lost. At the same time, digital technologies
are rapidly shifting the nature of work around the world. This is an
opportunity to think strategically and plan interventions that not only address
yesterday’s problems, but also tomorrow’s global opportunities.
Uzodinma Iweala, CEO of the Africa Center note, “We’re delighted to
partner with Dalberg and the AFLI Tutu fellows to curate frank discussions
about the future of our continent. It’s through these dialogues that we open up
understandings for not just why we need to but how we need to focus on
developing creative solutions for the present and the world to come.”
Participating in the event’s talks were James Mwangi (Executive Director of the
Dalberg Group), Bright Simons (Founder and President of mPedigree), Akintunde
Oyebode (Special Advisor: Trade, Investment and Innovation of Nigeria’s Ekiti
State Government) and Charlotte Ashamu (the Smithsonian National Museum of
African Art’s Associate Director of Advancement and External Affairs). All
contributing speakers had insightful information to share, each from their own
perspectives yet supporting a common focus, namely the African employment
landscape and African youth in particular. Dr Jackie Chimhanzi, CEO of AFLI,
said “it was heart-warming and gratifying to witness Archbishop Tutu Fellows
collaborating on such a critical issue. This is in keeping with the vision of
AFLI to curate a network of young leaders who will transform Africa
together.”
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