Past, Present, Future: The role of the public sector and strategic policymaking in enabling Africa's development

Africa faces significant challenges in education access, delivery, and quality, spanning from elementary to tertiary levels. These issues undermine the continent's ability to prepare its youth for a rapidly changing labor market and emerging industries. 98 million children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are out of school.. On the delivery side, ~17 million additional teachers are needed to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030. The Fourth Industrial Revolution demands skills such as coding, AI, and digital literacy, which are often absent from traditional curricula. Local economies, unable to meet these demands, rely heavily on foreign talent for high-skilled jobs—highlighting deficiencies in the domestic education system and the urgent need for innovative approaches to address these gaps. This panel discussion seeks to explore how regional partnerships and innovative education models, particularly in STEM, can tackle these challenges, equip African youth with future-ready skills, and drive sustainable economic growth on the continent

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Despite flashes of global attention, African fashion brands often struggle to achieve lasting prominence. Too often, Africa’s fashion industry is measured against Western frameworks - fashion houses, fashion weeks, and global runways - that fail to align with the continent’s unique resources, market dynamics, and strengths like sustainability and local artisanship. This panel will challenge these conventions, exploring how African brands can forge a resilient and distinctly African fashion ecosystem by harnessing the talent, traditions, and opportunities already present within the continent, to create a model that thrives locally and competes globally.

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Across the African continent, historical and cultural sites are being transformed into engines of economic resilience. This panel will explore how heritage trails, conservation efforts, and agritourism initiatives are not only preserving Africa’s rich history but also driving sustainable development and community empowerment. By reclaiming historical narratives and showcasing pre-colonial innovations, African nations are attracting global visitors while fostering local entrepreneurship and environmental stewardship.
Join us for a dynamic conversation, in collaboration with the Uganda Embassy, Theodore Roosevelt East Africa Sustainable Development Initiative (TREASDI), and the Business of Doing Good Summit Series Consortium, as we highlight innovative approaches to leveraging Africa’s heritage for economic growth and exchange ideas on expanding these efforts across the continent.

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