From March 14 to15, 2016, the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, will convene the first African Transformation Forum (ATF) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The first objective of the ATF is to facilitate knowledge sharing and peer learning across global and African luminaries from the public and private sectors. These participants will contribute their rich insights, and uncover challenges and solutions for galvanizing economic transformation in Africa. The discussions will fall into two categories: i) the coordinated development and implementation of national development plans; and ii) catalyzing transformation within critical sectors, notably: extractives; light manufacturing; agriculture; skills development; entrepreneurship; financial inclusion; infrastructure; and regional integration.
The second objective of the ATF is to launch the Coalition for Transformation in Africa – a new leadership network organized in chapters, each addressing a specific thematic area. These chapters – and the policy makers, business leaders and development partners who will constitute their membership – will examine and develop implementable solutions for development. ACET will serve as the Secretariat for the Coalition, building consensus, coordinating activities and assisting the membership in securing funding to support their agreed initiatives. The chapters will also report their progress at subsequent African Transformation Forums.
“Each country must chart its own course toward development. But cooperation – even just to exchange ideas and emulate best practices – can help the process considerably. The ATF will discuss practical next steps toward transformation in Africa, and the broader push to build globally competitive economies” – Paul Kagame
The chapters will be chaired by a Transformation Ambassador, a businessperson or public figure who is renowned in the theme of each chapter.
CET will convene friends and partners in government, business, civil society, and the donor community in a peer-to-peer exchange of ideas on transformation pathways and on the actions to secure them.
Additionally, the forum will help advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals that are most related to economic transformation, including inclusive growth, sustainable agriculture, and industrialization.
The Forum will also launch the Coalition for Transformation, a diverse network of experts and practitioners who will work together long after the conference comes to a close to develop policy and program ideas, share best practices, and drive policy implementation across the continent.
Benefits of Attending
- Network – with key government and business leaders, policymakers, development partners and donors, multinational organizations, and influentials from civil society
- Learn – evidenced-based strategies for economic transformation from leading thinkers and practitioners
- Engage – through interactive sessions on manufacturing, the future of agriculture, public-private partnerships, and financial inclusion
- Discover – how to apply insights from the pathbreaking Africa Transformation Report
- Share – your vision and experiences with an engaged community committed to transformation
- Join – the leading cross-sector coalition for economic development on the continent
