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This commentary, authored by four policy institutes, evaluates the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) ahead of the sixth EU-AU Summit. It argues that for the partnership to move beyond institutional circles in Brussels and Addis Ababa, both parties must shift away from donor-recipient models toward a more balanced relationship based on African ownership, private sector engagement, and a recognition of divergent interests in areas such as the green transition and digitalization.

This report examines how the African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can jointly foster resilient and sustainable economic recoveries in six specific African nations.

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.

This research paper by Chux Daniels and Mafini Dosso examines the limitations of current science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies in Africa and proposes the adoption of Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) and Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) to achieve broader societal and economic transformations, using Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria as case studies.

This policy brief examines how the European Green Deal can foster cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) across six priority areas: energy transitions, circular economy, trade, agricultural adaptation, climate diplomacy, and financial instruments. It emphasizes the need to align EU ambitions with African priorities, such as poverty reduction and climate adaptation, while avoiding the creation of new trade barriers for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

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.

This policy brief outlines a framework for strengthening the digital partnership between Africa and Europe. It highlights a significant digital divide, noting that only 28.2% of Africans used the internet in 2019 compared to 82.5% of Europeans. While both regions have strategic goals—such as the AU's Digital Transformation Strategy (2020-2030) and the EU's Digital Europe Programme—progress is hindered by funding gaps, fragmented regulations, and infrastructure deficits. The brief recommends prioritizing 'Digital4Development' (D4D), creating a digital single market in Africa via the AfCFTA, enhancing STEM education, and establishing collaborative frameworks for data sovereignty and taxation.

This policy brief examines the strategic opportunities and challenges for cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Africa following the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It argues that the AfCFTA allows the EU to move beyond traditional development aid toward a political partnership based on equal terms, while highlighting the need for the EU to align its investment and trade support with the AfCFTA's goals to foster African economic resilience and productive capacity.

This policy brief by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) examines the role of blended finance in mobilizing commercial capital for sustainable development goals (SDGs) in developing countries. It emphasizes the importance of anchoring blended finance to local contexts, priorities, and financial market development, providing recommendations for Development Finance Organizations (DFOs) to improve their organizational strategies, partnerships with local actors, and the use of local currency financing.

This policy brief from the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines ten priority policy areas to support Africa's economic recovery and long-term transformation following the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations are categorized into resource mobilization, governance, business environment, and digital innovation.

This policy brief by the African Center for Economic Transformation examines Africa's readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), emphasizing the urgent need to equip its rapidly growing youth population with STEM and ICT skills to avoid economic instability and harness a potential demographic dividend.

This policy brief from the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines the vulnerability of Africa to climate change and the impact of global megatrends on the region's economic transformation, suggesting climate-smart agriculture as a potential solution for smallholder farmers.

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.

This chapter examines the state of land tenure and administration in Africa, identifying systemic barriers to agricultural productivity and proposing reforms to secure land rights and improve land market efficiency.

This report by the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines a strategy to transform agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through the generation and diffusion of modern technology and improved management practices. The study identifies rice as a promising crop for a 'Green Revolution' in the region and suggests that technology transfer from advanced regions like South Africa and tropical Asia (specifically India) can help close yield gaps. The paper emphasizes that technological innovation must be coupled with improved agronomic management and marketing to be effective.

This fact sheet from the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines the potential for green industrialization in Africa, emphasizing the need to move from raw material extraction to value-adding industries through integrated policy, finance, and digital infrastructure.