The 2024 African Economic Conference (AEC 2024), jointly organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is planned with the theme “Securing Africa’s Economic Future Amidst Rising Uncertainty”. It will be held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 23-25 November 2024.
The AEC 2024 theme highlights opportunities and prospect for Africa amidst an increasingly unpredictable global landscape. The conference will explore four key pillars:
- Global, regional and national uncertainty impacts on Africa’s development
- prospects;
- Practical African strategies to build resilience to emerging shocks;
- Innovative development financing in an era of growing uncertainty;
- The role of technology in fostering predictability, creativity and resilience.
While global factors such as economic volatility, climate change, and trade dynamics contribute to uncertainty, internal efforts to strengthen governance, diversify economies, and foster regional cooperation can help promote economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
The AEC 2024 will provide an opportunity for the participants to review the continent’s experience with shocks (Covid-19 pandemic, wars, political instability) and identify opportunities and strategies for building resilient development pathways.
The conference will also provide a platform for established academics and young researchers to present their solution-oriented research on how to strengthen Africa’s resilience to shocks to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 aspirations.