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It's home to almost half of the 40 fastest-growing emerging and developing countries and has the youngest population of any continent: so how can Africa build on its potential?
That's what the more than 1,000 regional and global leaders from politics, business, civil society and academia will discuss at the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa, from 4-6 September.
Many of Africa's leaders will be in Cape Town for #AF19 whose theme this year is "Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution". The agenda will cover four key areas: innovation, sustainable development, digitalization and governance.
What is the World Economic Forum on Africa?
With elections taking place in more than 20 African countries in 2019, the world’s youngest continent is facing a new era.
Held under the theme 'Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution' the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa will convene more than 1,000 regional and global leaders from government, business, civil society and academia.
The event (held 4-6 September 2019) will explore new regional partnerships and entrepreneurial and agile leadership to create pathways for shared prosperity and drive a sustainable future.
Participants will discuss ways to accelerate progress on five transformative pan-African agendas in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, addressing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 priorities.
Read more about the Forum's Impact in Africa and our launch of a new Africa Growth Platform to scale the region’s start-ups for success.
Read our guide to how to follow #af19 across our digital channels. We encourage followers to post, share, and retweet by tagging our accounts and by using our official hashtag.
Become a Member or Partner to participate in the Forum's year-round annual and regional events. Contact us now.
A leg up for start-ups
While young Africans are 13% more entrepreneurial than the global average, start-ups on the continent are 14% more likely to fail than elsewhere in the world. That’s why the World Economic Forum will launch the Africa Growth Programme at #AF19, a new platform to bring enterprises together with investors and institutions, helping them secure smarter funding. Among the 29 entrepreneurs heading to the meeting are fintech start-up Flutterwave and Evergreen, a Tanzanian company recycling waste plastic into furniture.
Meet the co-chairs
Helping guide talks on Africa’s regional priorities are: Sipho M Pityana, Chairman of AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa; Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, Geneva; Jeremy Farrar, Director of the UK-based Wellcome Trust; André Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman of Roche, Switzerland; Ellen Agler, CEO of The END Fund; Jim Ovia, Chairman of Nigeria’s Zenith Bank; and Alex Liu, Managing Partner and Chairman of AT Kearney.
Inspiring stories
Beyond the political and business leaders, delegates will include Africans with unique stories that could help inspire others, such as Peter Tabichi, who won this year's Global Teacher Prize for his success teaching science in a remote part of Kenya; South African model and activist Thando Hopa, who has changed the way albinism is viewed in Africa and beyond; and Yetnebersh Nigussie from Ethopia, who has won global acclaim for her work on disability rights.
How can I follow #AF19
Here, on the Forum's Agenda platform and across social media, using the hashtag #AF19. Many sessions will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel and our homepage where we'll be running a liveblog.
