Africa has seen progress in areas such as life expectancy and health, but on most indices of wellbeing such as average income, many African countries lag further and further behind global averages. Instead of narrowing the gap, the last four decades have seen an acceleration of the growing disparities between Africa and the rest of the world.

What needs to happen to close the gap between Africa and its global peers?

This high-level conference will answer this important question. It builds on more than a decade of strategic foresight analysis, such as scenario planning and forecasting by the Institute for Security Studies African Futures & Innovation programme, and the Gordon Institute of Business Science’s Future of Business project.

Governments, business, academia and key futurists will come together with African leaders to explore how Africa’s potential can translate into prosperity. Drawing on the ISS and GIBS research and forecasting capabilities, stakeholders invested in the future of Africa can jointly explore alternative long-term prospects for the continent.

Call for partners – open to May 2020

Interested organisations are invited to propose specific sessions/themes lasting up to two hours. Short motivation must include the sessions’ focus, structure and content. Panels should have a chair/host and no more than three speakers.

Preference will be given to hosts able to cover the costs associated with their panel but this is not a requirement.

Send bids to Jakkie Cilliers jcilliers@issafrica.org and/or Marius Oosthuizen oosthuizenm@gibs.co.za

The final conference programme will be available on 30 June 2020. On-campus accommodation is available at the Illovo Hotel or at participating hotels within walking distance from the conference venue.

Picture: Pixabay/geralt