Unstoppable Africa 2024 Agenda

Amid competing priorities and limited funding, official development aid flows to Africa have been relatively flat over the past decades, remaining below its peak in 2006. At the same time foreign direct investment flows to Africa have also not materially increased. Despite the enviable potential of the African continent for a green revolution with abundant wind, sun, water, and critical minerals, Africa is facing a critical climate financing shortfall that is preventing the transition to the sustainable future Africa and the world needs. With Africa getting less than 5% of the world’s global climate financing, now is the time to close that climate finance gap. As we approach COP29 - the so-called “Financing COP” - this session aims to address the challenges around investments flow to Africa and the potential of Africa driving the green revolution if those shortfalls can be addressed. 

Curated by UNGC’s Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC), it explores how, in light of the slow mobilisation of capital and the broken promises, Africa's private and public sectors, along with foreign capital providers, can come together to advance bankable projects and how a favourable policy and enabling environment for funding can be fostered.

This session, created in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, fosters a dynamic discussion on the groundbreaking Lobito Corridor. The rail link, described as: “the most significant transport infrastructure that the U.S. will help to develop on the African continent in a generation”, will link the three countries of Angola, DRC and Zambia, encouraging development in mining and other sectors such as digital, financial, energy, agriculture, and health. As we highlight how the railway will fast-track national and regional growth, the presidents of the host countries share the policies and collaborations they are prioritizing to ensure that the Lobito Corridor is a success for generations to come. 

Scene Setting Remarks:

• Ms. Kendra Gaither, President, U.S.-Africa Business Center, U.S. Chamber 

Presidential Panel:

• H.E João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola 
• H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Moderator: Hon. Amos Hochstein, Senior Advisor to the President on Energy and Investment,  The White House

African countries are in danger of being left behind as the world races towards a digital future. The pace of development in areas such as AI is breathtaking and much has changed just in the year since Unstoppable Africa last convened. In this scene-setting panel that kicks off our Digital Transformation conversations, an eclectic mix of business leaders, financiers and innovators candidly lay out what it will take for Africa to accelerate its ambitions to realise a healthy digital economy in Africa. From solving the conundrum of financing to crafting the right policies that will foster growth and inclusivity, to how our young people can harness technology to change a world in crisis, this session is a window into Africa’s digital future.  

On the roads of Kinshasa in DRC, AI-driven Traffic Robots are reducing accidents by 60%. Farmers in Nairobi, Kenya, are harnessing the power of AI to predict droughts and test soil health. The future of our planet is being shaped by Artificial Intelligence as it hurdles along at breathtaking speed. The global AI market is projected to reach $407 billion by 2027, and in Africa AI could double GDP growth rate by 2035. But AI’s promise will not automatically translate into economic growth and opportunity. It will take concerted action - by governments, the private sector and civil society - to create an
environment where Africa gets ahead of the curve and becomes a centre for the creation and expansion of AI, and not merely a market of passive consumers. Plus, how can Africa - in the spirit of ‘ubuntu’ - encourage a global approach to AI that fosters inclusivity and collective growth? 

In this session - created in collaboration with Google - some of the figures on the cutting edge of AI identify how we responsibly create an environment for investments, innovation and partnerships and chart a course to seize the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls associated with this brave new world.

Africa’s future will be shaped by visionaries, investors and entrepreneurs who see the continent’s potential not just for what it is today but for what it can become. Itana is building a unique digital zone for global technology, finance and service-based businesses to operate in Nigeria and scale with ease across Africa, completely online and to operate remotely from anywhere in the world. With business incentives such as tax, immigration and banking, the Itana Digital Economic Zone will be coupled with a live-in accelerator program and physical live-work districts that will showcase the future of cities in Africa. Itana will make an announcement of a major milestone achievement in the evolution of the zone. 

Presentation by: Mr. Luqman Edu, Co-founder and CEO, Itana

Signing ceremony: 

• Mr. Luqman Edu, Co-founder &and CEO, Itana 
• Mr. Amadou Wadda,  Senior Director, Project Development &and Technical Solutions, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Globally, 50 to 85 million people will be needed to fill new technology roles in the next decade.  Africa has the potential to solve this humongous challenge. The reasoning is simple: Africa has the fastest-growing, most youthful population in the world at a time when the rest of the world’s workforce is shrinking. Tech accelerators and incubators can be dynamic launchpads for Africa’s young entrepreneurs, giving them the essential tools to turn clever ideas into innovative solutions. 

Created in collaboration with UNDP’s timbuktoo ecosystem, this session takes a close look timbuktoo and some of the programs and people shaping the continent’s next generation of tech startups.

Panelists:

• Ms. Eva Yazhari, Managing Partner, Beyond Capital Ventures

• Mr. Mohamed Kheir, Co-founder, Objectively Good Media (OGM)

• H.E. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Guardian, timbuktoo Initiative and Immediate Past Vice President of Nigeria

• Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UNDP Africa Bureau

Entreprenuers:

• Ms. Delwende Eliane Birba, Founder & CEO, RoyalPay

• Mr. Emmanuel Obasuyi,  Founder, Onye Sync

• Mr. Joachim Valot, Founder & CEO, CYTO

Moderator: Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs 

Video: timbuktoo

Performance: Patoranking, Singer and songwriter & UNDP Goodwill Ambassador for Africa

The theme Unstoppable Africa: The Solution for a Global Future

In ‘Unstoppable Africans’ some of the continent’s most inspirational changemakers in business, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability take to the stage to share their remarkable achievements and their vision for an Unstoppable Africa.

African sport is going global. From record breakers like Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge, to Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur, to the proliferation of African or Africa Diaspora athletes at the top of their game, African sport is receiving unprecedented attention. On the continent the business of sport is evolving rapidly, with such developments as the Basketball Africa League (BAL), established in 2019, and this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, which some are calling the best tournament yet. In this fast-paced session explore how to build on these successes to realise distinctly African sports economies that attract continental and global investment, boosting lives and livelihoods and building world-class infrastructure.

As we create African solutions for a world seeking answers, powerful imagery can be a visceral window into ourselves and to the Africa We Want. In this rapid-fire session two groundbreaking visual artists share their thoughts on myths, imagination and the business of African art. Groundbreaking painter Ludovic Nkoth captures the essence of the black experience with an unparalleled emotional depth that resonates with the diasporic life and the rich history of his Cameroonian heritage. Kenyan visual artist Wambui Kamiru Collymore creates installations that are imbued with themes of womanhood, history, decoloniality, and online dis-identity.

Some call it the biggest African export ever. Afrobeats artists like Burna Boy, Tems, and WizKid, and Amapiano stars like South Africa’s Tyla are winning Grammys or headlining sell-out concerts in the USA and Europe, shifting millions of dollars of merchandise and doing billions of streams. The world's biggest pop stars are also tapping into the scene with a growing list of collaborations that include Beyoncé, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber. The world's three major music labels - Sony, Universal, and Warner - are signing the continent’s biggest artists, closing licensing deals, and expanding their footprint in Africa. Plus, more established stars like Benin’s Angelique Kidjo and Egyptian crooner Amr Diab are still pulling in crowds globally. As African artists take over the world, we look at what that could mean back home in Africa. How can the continent seize the moment and benefit from this global export to see a boost in skills, investment and infrastructure in its music industry?

There’s an old adage that goes: “You’ll get more with sugar than with salt.” The persuasive power of so-called ‘Soft Power’ to influence the preferences and behaviours of various actors in the international arena is undeniable. African music, film, arts, and sport is a powerful tool to reorientate global perceptions and misconceptions about the continent we love.

To say there’s room for growth in African fashion would be an understatement. The global fashion industry is estimated to be worth $2.5 trillion but Africa’s cut of that cloth, at $31bln, is a paltry 1%. While African fashion continues to make waves around the world, it suffers from a lack of investment and access to markets that curtails its growth. Hope comes in the form of a determined crop of mostly female designers, separated by oceans, but united in their ambition to use fashion as a force for change. 

In the final session of Unstoppable Africa 2024, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, welcomes an eclectic selection of the forum’s dynamic young speakers to join her on the stage to crystalize the essence of the two days and how we will all work for an Unstoppable Africa. 

The Rev Canon Dr. Betsee Parker, Naila Media, the United Nations Global Compact and Spotlight Initiative proudly Presents: Bold Story.

Showcasing African Women Filmmakers at the 2024 UN General Assembly

Featuring remarks by:

Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General

“Bold stories” aims to showcase a curated selection of short films that reflect the vibrant & diverse experiences of African women, emphasising their roles as catalysts for social change & cultural dialogue.

Screening:

• Deafening Silence, Nigeria
• Forgotten Shores, Nigeria
• Ishimwa: from Bloodshed to Grace, Rwanda
• Out of the Box, Kenya

Interested in attending? Please modify your registration and select the session: Interested to Attend Spotlight Initiative's Bold Story Screening. 

Date: Thursday, 26 September 2024

Time: 6:00 p.m.

The Spotlight Initiative team will confirm your reservation and send event details. Space is limited, Reservation is not guaranteed.

Modify your Unstoppable Africa registration to request an invitation.

Event Space: Queen of Sheba Room

This session is curated by Safaricom
 

Safaricom and UNHCR will jointly convene, at the highest level possible, this interactive panel discussion including a unique set of speakers who are championing digital inclusion and transformation for refugees and host communities. The side event aims to:
 

• Showcase how digital transformation and innovation drive sustainable growth, address societal challenges, and create shared value across the continent.
• Examine best business practices in digital transformation and their impact on refugees, local communities, and businesses.
• Highlight the role of long-term strategic partnerships in maximizing digital transformation opportunities for refugees and host communities.
• Foster dialogue among diverse stakeholders including from the private and public sector on digital transformation, to identify opportunities and gaps for driving investment and growth on the continent.

Event Space: Queen Amina of Zazzau Room

This session is curated by Climate Champions and the UNGC Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC)

Combating climate change requires a close collaboration between governments, the private sector, educational institutions, workers, the youth, consumers, activists, and the media. This collaboration is a two- way street where the non-state actors need to articulate their expectations to the governments and global policy makers for effective policy formulations in combating climate change. This session is proposed to be convened with the esteemed ABLC members to get insights from their own experiences and also capture their expectations in the ‘road to climate action.’ It will cover two priority areas from an African context - Just Energy Transition and Policy coordination and the ecosystem of change - that also align with the priorities of the HLC for the upcoming COP29.

Event Space: Mandela

This session is curated by YouTube/Google

Featuring some of Africa’s most popular YouTube content creators, this engaging panel discussion showcases the growth and influence of Africa’s creative economy across key content verticals and the role of YouTube in amplifying the ecosystem. The panel session will end with a networking meet and greet to allow for further engagement with the creators and the audience, and to foster dialogue about Africa’s Creative Economy. Join top YouTube top creators as they share their journey in growing and engaging an audience, and building a sustainable business in the creative industry via digital platforms.
 

Event Space: Queen of Sheba

This session is curated by UNDP’s timbuktoo Initiative 

timbuktoo is UNDP’s flagship initiative which aims become the world’s largest to support Africa’s innovation ecosystem through mobilising and investing USD 1 billion of combined catalytic and commercial capital over ten years through a network of 10 tech-themed timbuktoo Nodes (or Hubs) and a world-class UniPod in universities in every country in Africa. The bold ambition is to funnel 10,000 startups through the network, resulting in 1,000 startups that will scale and have impact on 100 million livelihoods, including at least 1 million jobs, and have a 10 multiplier effect creating economic value of USD 10 billion. The timbuktoo Innovation Event will spotlight the transformative role of the timbuktoo initiative in supporting the growth of Africa’s startup ecosystems.

13:00 - 13:10 timbuktoo Reel – Join the Revolution!

13:10 - 13:40 Panel 1: Meet Africa’s Unexplored Tech Verticals and What timbuktoo is Doing About It 

Africa holds immense potential in sectors such as CreativeTech, HealthTech and Agritech. However, these areas and population remain underdeveloped, and timbuktoo seeks to address these gaps by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. 

13:50 - 14:20 Panel 2: What Will it Take to Create an Enabling Environment for Tech Startups in Africa? 

African startups face numerous challenges, including regulatory issues, limited financial architecture, and cross-border trade barriers. timbuktoo’s Policy Lab seeks to address these barriers and foster an enabling environment for innovation. 

Speakers: 

• H.E. Ms. Emma Theofelus, Minister of ICT, Namibia
• H.E Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberia
• Oswald Osaretin Guobadia , Lead, TPIU 
• Natalie Jabangwe, Head of timbuktoo Foundation

Moderator:  Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director of AfriLabs

Event Space: Queen Amina of Zazzau

This session is curated by UNGC’s Africa Hub and Networks

Fireside chat: Leveraging digital and energy transitions for Africa transformation with the UNGC footprint in Africa. 

With insights from the Executive Director of the Global Compact about how the Global and Africa Strategies resonate with digital and energy transitions, this fireside chat will feature the solutions from the CEO of Nigeria's leading independent investment banking firm.

Moderator: Ms. Achieng Ojwang, Executive Director,  GC South Africa Network.

Panel: Digital and Energy Transitions: Driving sustainable impacts with digital solutions and energy transition. 

Here four companies’ representatives discuss the achievements in the impact stories and extend the reflection on what is needed to bring them to scale. The session contains Q&A:

• Egypt: In line with the Paris agreement, Egytrans’ vision is to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by 2030, using cycle time for reporting and percentage of energy optimization and reduction, to measure and track its results more scientifically, integrating in their risk assessment climate risks, energy consumption recording and management, and working to instigate wider change in Egypt’s freight ecosystem. 

  Nigeria: Oando Clean Energy’s Sustainable Transport Initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and promote cleaner and more sustainable transportation, starting in Nigeria, by stimulating Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption that will support the transition of the country’s current combustion engine mass transport vehicles to EVs. 

  South Africa: Through an innovative use of technology, specifically reverse vending machines (RVMs), in collaboration with Imagined Earth, a green technology and recycling infrastructure provider, Anglo American develops Waste at Work that addresses environmental concerns, creates income opportunities, and empowers their mining communities. 

Event Space: Mandela

This session is curated by the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank)

Documenting Africa’s COVID-19 Response, is a storytelling project on how Africa, through

the power of collaboration and partnership, came together to protect its people during the

Covid-19 pandemic. Spearheaded by Afreximbank, UNECA, Africa CDC, and Econet, the project recounts the COVID-19 story from Africa’s response perspective, at a time of vaccine inequity, when vaccine nationalism from high-income countries led to limited access to the lifesaving vaccines needed during the pandemic. 

The AVAT Initiative will host this side event which will see the launch of a book titled: Riding this Storm: The Untold Story of Africa’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The event will also see the soft premiere of a docu-series that recounts this historic period, from Africa’s perspective, captured and narrated with credibility and authenticity as a legacy for posterity.

Event Space: Queen Amina of Zazzau

This session is curated by UNAIDS & Partners

UNAIDS with its UN partners UNFPA, UNWOMEN, UNICEF and UNESCO together with Aflatoun International, Vodacom Group and the African Guarantee Fund host this side-event on how to ensure the digital inclusion of girls and young women in Africa will unlock the economic opportunities necessary to accelerate poverty reduction, human capital development and countries’ economic growth, while preventing risky sexual and reproductive choices that lead to 3100 new HIV infections each week. 

The session aims to mobilize commitment and investment from governments, the private sector, and development partners in support of Education Plus, an innovative high-level advocacy drive working to safeguard the health, education, skills and opportunities of Africa's adolescent girls and young women. Alongside old and new partners in digital inclusion, the session will feature Ministers from Africa Union member states, Executive leaders of the UN, telecoms and digital skills companies, funds and young women who represent Africa’s demographic dividend.

Event Space: 

This session is curated by Google 

This Google-led side event, organized by UpSkill Universe, aims to equip 50+ policymakers across Africa with a comprehensive understanding of AI and cloud technologies, focusing on their impact, opportunities, and risks. Guided by the Google AI Sprinters Framework - covering Data, Infrastructure, Policy, and Education - the session will explore how these technologies can be harnessed to drive social and economic development. The session dives into Cloud and AI, examining their global impact across diverse industries, with a focus on Africa. It demystifies key concepts through impactful African case studies. 

Participants will explore responsible AI governance, navigating and data protection. Hands-on demos showcase Google's cutting-edge AI tools, sparking ideas for practical applications in their fields. An interactive Q&A wraps up the session, fostering discussion and collaboration to propel AI and cloud adoption in Africa.