AGENDA 2063: THEMATIC FUTURES

The document concludes that African development is a non-linear, complex process requiring a shift from 'grand schemes' to the 'mundane functions' of governance and technical implementation. It emphasizes that success depends on national ownership, a social contract between citizens and the state, and consistent investment in knowledge creation and innovation to move up the productivity curve. The author outlines eight requirements for transformation, including strategic prioritization of catalytic interventions like agriculture and digital infrastructure, and the capacity for implementation through capable civil services.

• Development in Africa is characterized by diversity and non-linear progress, often involving 'persistent failure, wastage, exploitation and misery' rather than smooth forecasts, meaning countries will follow varying trajectories and may not advance across all transitions simultaneously.
• Effective transformation relies on improving 'mundane functions' such as land reform for food security, creating facilitative investment environments, and meticulous bureaucratic efforts to remove impediments to innovation and entrepreneurship.
• To achieve higher welfare and productivity, African governments must consistently invest in knowledge creation, research, and development, particularly within the manufacturing sector, as global value chains are becoming increasingly knowledge-intensive.
• The realization of AU Agenda 2063 requires eight specific pillars: visionary leadership, national ownership (avoiding outsourcing to donors), strategic prioritization of catalytic interventions (e.g., agriculture in low-income settings or digital infrastructure in urban areas), implementation capacity, a practical developmental state, management of the political economy, resilience against shocks (such as climate events), and a belief in African potential.

APA

Cilliers, J. (2026). AGENDA 2063: THEMATIC FUTURES. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=17-combined-agenda-2063&topic=07-conclusion

Chicago

Cilliers, Jakkie. AGENDA 2063: THEMATIC FUTURES. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=17-combined-agenda-2063&topic=07-conclusion.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cilliers |first1=Jakkie |title=AGENDA 2063: THEMATIC FUTURES |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=29 March 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=17-combined-agenda-2063&topic=07-conclusion |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cilliers2026agenda, author = {Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{AGENDA 2063: THEMATIC FUTURES}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=17-combined-agenda-2063&topic=07-conclusion}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }