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The document argues that climate finance for Africa is grossly insufficient, with an estimated annual shortfall of $112 billion for the 2020-2030 period. It calls for a total commitment of $1.3 trillion from rich countries to cover adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage, while advocating for the use of natural gas as a transition fuel and the reform of the global financial architecture.

The policy brief asserts that current policy approaches in most African countries are insufficient for long-term development and resilience. It highlights that growth has been unstable, hampered by the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis and the 2014-2015 end of the commodities boom, while Sustainable Development Goals remain off track. The text identifies 'megatrends' such as climate change, population growth, and technological innovation as critical challenges. It specifically criticizes the continued reliance on primary commodity production and natural resource extraction, which leads to 'jobless growth' and leaves economies vulnerable to external shocks.

The authors argue that current international financial institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank, are not designed to handle concurrent global crises including climate change, pandemics, and debt. They propose a strategic financing framework to increase annual investment in low and middle-income economies by over one trillion dollars, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, human capital, and nature conservation. Short-term priorities include the reallocation of 100 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), restructuring debts for countries pursuing green transitions, and increasing concessional finance. Long-term goals involve strengthening national and global coordination, leveraging public capital to mobilize private investment, and ensuring G7 countries are held accountable for their own domestic climate and SDG policies.

The commentary assesses the challenges of the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) partnership, noting that while common interests exist, translating them into impact remains difficult. It calls for a shift from a donor-recipient model to one based on African ownership and private sector engagement. Key areas for cooperation include a just green transition that supports African industrialisation, coordinated health systems for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and technical support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The authors emphasize that the EU must recognize global climate injustice and provide sufficient financing to ensure African economies benefit from the green transition.

The report examines the synergy between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) to foster green intra-continental trade and investment. While the AfCFTA is intended to transform Africa's production and trade landscape, the document notes that environmental and climate considerations have not been prominent in its development. The report specifically analyzes how the combined implementation of these frameworks can support recovery in Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa.

A keynote speech delivered by Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi of the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) at the Youth Connekt Africa Summit, advocating for increased regional labor mobility to address youth unemployment and skills gaps in Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted African food supply chains through reduced urban demand, export market collapses, and movement restrictions, though it also increased demand for local produce and accelerated the use of digital tools. While agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa grew modestly between 2000 and 2018, innovation is now being driven by urbanization and private sector technical assistance. The author recommends that governments shift from temporary subsidies toward long-term investments in rural infrastructure, health, education, and agricultural research, while establishing 'nerve centers' to analyze food chain data and resolve bottlenecks.

The authors argue that traditional linear models of innovation policy in Africa often fail to reduce poverty and inequality because they focus narrowly on R&D without strong implementation or governance. They propose shifting toward Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP), which targets societal challenges like climate change, and Smart Specialization Strategies (S3), which prioritize innovation based on a territory's specific resources. Case studies of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire reveal critical evidence gaps, particularly regarding the informal sector and sub-national data, which hinder the effective application of these frameworks.

The policy brief outlines a framework for cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) to leverage green transitions for sustainable growth and climate resilience. It identifies six key areas for action: energy transitions, the circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. The authors emphasize that while the EU aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, African priorities focus on poverty reduction and adaptation. The brief recommends that the EU avoid creating new trade barriers, such as carbon border taxes for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and instead invest in green infrastructure, sustainable waste management, and grant-based adaptation funding to ensure a socially inclusive transition.

This research paper by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) examines the gap between the signing of regional trade agreements and their actual implementation in Africa. It highlights the 'crisis of implementation' affecting the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and discusses the potential and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The authors argue for a shift from top-down agreements to a bottom-up, problem-driven approach centered on regional public goods to ensure sustainable economic integration.

The policy brief examines the current state of digitalization in Africa and Europe, highlighting a significant digital divide where only 28.2% of Africans used the internet in 2019 compared to 82.5% of Europeans. It identifies key barriers including connectivity gaps, funding shortfalls, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. To strengthen the AU-EU partnership, the authors recommend prioritizing Digital4Development (D4D), establishing a digital single market in Africa via the AfCFTA, enhancing STEM education and digital skills, and collaborating on data sovereignty and digital taxation.

The author advocates for the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organization, citing her international experience and African perspective as essential for restoring faith in the multilateral trading system. The text emphasizes that a revival of world trade is critical for Africa's sustainable development, noting that the continent must generate 20 million jobs annually over the next 20 years through agriculture and manufacturing to avoid poverty and conflict. While acknowledging the qualifications of Yoo Myung-hee, the author asserts that Okonjo Iweala's background as a former World Bank Managing Director and Finance Minister of Nigeria makes her better equipped to handle current global uncertainties, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The policy brief examines how the EU can support the implementation of the AfCFTA to foster African economic integration and resilience. It identifies structural hurdles such as non-tariff barriers and infrastructure deficits, and recommends that the EU reorient its trade support, focus on institutional capacity building, coordinate efforts to match local needs, and engage directly with the African private sector.

The document outlines the role of blended finance in mobilizing commercial capital for sustainable development goals, emphasizing the need for DFOs to anchor these activities in local contexts. It recommends that DFOs develop explicit local context policies, align investments with national development strategies, and deepen partnerships with local financial institutions. Additionally, it highlights the critical need to increase local currency financing and develop cost-effective foreign exchange solutions to mitigate risks for international investors.

The policy brief argues that African governments should leverage the urgency of the COVID-19 crisis to implement lasting reforms that protect the continent's long-term growth trajectory. It outlines ten priorities divided into resource mobilization, governance, business environment, and digital innovation. Key recommendations include closing tax loopholes, streamlining government bureaucracy, improving the ease of doing business, and crowding in venture capital to support a tech-driven innovation ecosystem.

The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) and various global leaders call on the G20 to implement urgent health and economic measures to combat COVID-19. The proposal includes committing $8 billion for immediate health gaps, $35 billion for weaker health systems, and significant financial relief for poor countries, including the waiver of $44 billion in debt repayments for Africa. Economic recommendations include an additional $500-$600 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and expanded resources for the World Bank and regional development banks to prevent a global depression.

The policy brief examines the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting a critical gap between the growing youth workforce and the availability of formal jobs. It argues that while 4IR technologies like AI and robotics pose a threat to traditional labor-intensive manufacturing, they also offer opportunities in services and agro-processing. The document emphasizes that realizing a demographic dividend requires systemic education reform—specifically in STEM and TVET—and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost regional productivity. It warns that failure to create approximately 20 million jobs annually until 2035 could lead to increased unemployment and instability.

The policy brief examines the conflict between the boom in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and the sustainability of smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Burkina Faso. While ASM provides immediate income and employment, it often displaces farmers, contaminates water sources with mercury and cyanide, and draws young labor away from agriculture. The document highlights that ASM is frequently an unsustainable tool for poverty reduction due to the non-renewable nature of minerals and the shift toward capital-intensive operations funded by external investors. It recommends strengthening institutional capacity, implementing rigorous land-use mapping, and dismantling patronage structures to ensure the coexistence of mining and farming.

Africa is identified as the region most vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on rainfed agriculture and natural resources. This vulnerability is compounded by megatrends such as urbanization, technology, and a projected population increase to 2.4 billion by 2050, which will strain food, water, and energy supplies. The document proposes climate-smart agriculture as a mechanism for smallholder farmers to adapt to these stressors while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The report highlights a critical mismatch in Sub-Saharan Africa between a rapidly growing youth population and the availability of formal sector jobs. Despite increased access to education, graduates often lack the STEM skills required by employers, while the 4th Industrial Revolution disrupts traditional labor-intensive manufacturing. Projections to 2030 suggest manufacturing will only account for 6.5% of employment, with women and youth remaining highly vulnerable to informal, low-earning work.