World Economic Forum on Africa

The 2011 World Economic Forum on Africa report outlines a strategic framework for the continent's 'next chapter' of growth. It emphasizes the need for unprecedented regional cooperation to address critical infrastructure gaps, mature the economic relationship with China, and establish a unified African position on climate change ahead of COP 17. The document highlights the rise of an African middle class and the potential of ICT and tourism as growth drivers, while warning that rapid population growth and political instability in North Africa necessitate a shift toward inclusive development and sustainable resource use.

• Africa faces three immediate critical challenges to establish its global role: closing the infrastructure gap, reducing economic dependence on China by diversifying trade, and creating a unified international framework to address global warming.
• The continent's economic growth is increasingly driven by a growing middle class, estimated by the African Development Bank to comprise 30% of Africa's 1 billion people, which is stimulating investment in consumer industries.
• Infrastructure deficits significantly hinder economic progress, with poor infrastructure reducing annual growth by up to 2% and causing a business efficiency loss of approximately 40%. The annual spending requirement for sub-Saharan Africa is roughly US$ 93 billion.
• Rapid urbanization presents a major challenge and opportunity, with nearly half of the African population projected to live in cities by 2025.
• High fertility rates—averaging nearly 4.5 children per woman in Africa compared to a global average of 2.5—threaten sustainable growth, as 40% of the population is currently under 15 years old.
• To achieve a low-carbon future and protect the livelihoods of the poor, African leaders aimed to speak with a single voice at COP 17 in Durban to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which was set to end in 2012.
• Regional integration is essential for competitiveness; for example, Tanzania's exports to Kenya rose from US$ 90 million to US$ 400 million following the formation of the East African Community (EAC).

APA

World Economic Forum (2011). World Economic Forum on Africa. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/AF11/WEF_AF11_Report.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. World Economic Forum on Africa. 2011. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/AF11/WEF_AF11_Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=World Economic Forum on Africa |date=2011 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/AF11/WEF_AF11_Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2011world, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{World Economic Forum on Africa}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2011}, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/AF11/WEF_AF11_Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }