The African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the OECD concluded the 2026 African Economic Conference with a shared observation: the continent must now turn its resilience into a driver of sustainable growth. An ambition based on local transformation, investment, and more effective public policies.
At the end of the 2026 African Economic Conference, the organizers called for accelerating the continent’s economic transformation. Faced with an international environment marked by geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and financial uncertainties, Africa is invited to go beyond its mere capacity to adapt to build a more competitive and sovereign economy.
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For the AfDB, UNDP, and OECD, this transition primarily involves creating value on the continent. The development of industrial transformation, strengthening regional value chains, and increased investment mobilization should enable African economies to reduce their dependence on raw material exports.
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The institutions also emphasize the need to improve the quality of public policies to create a favorable environment for businesses, innovation, and employment. More effective governance, combined with targeted investments, appears as an essential lever to stimulate inclusive growth.
The stated ambition is clear: to make the resilience demonstrated by African economies during recent crises the foundation of a productive, commercial, and financial power capable of defending the continent’s interests in an increasingly fragmented world.
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