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CHIGARU Farai, Malawi, SRO-WA said in Development as an Attitude: Not a Budget Line:
Very insightful LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD . My question would be analogous to the chicken and egg dilemma, in relation to the mindset and development phenomena - would you not argue that development comes first and then mindset follows?
I get your point, I would however, argue that development is an attitude not the other way round.
NDIMBO Gabriel Kanuti,Tanzania,IDEP said in Africa Food Systems Forum 2025:
LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD Thank you for your input. Sure, the African position on GMOs was discussed through two angles: (a) embracing Indigenous knowledge in agriculture and (b) agroecological practices. These two issues, from Africa's perspective, could help to build a resilient food system that sustains cultural identity and the environment.
Thank you for your response.
Thank you for sharing this! The food system in Africa is a great topic that needs to be looked into. One major issue I hope was addressed during the summit is food waste, which has been largely experienced in the industry. More so, the trendy issue on GMOs, too, I hope it was hopped on, and the African position/perspective was clearly emphasised during the summit. More so, like you clearly mentioned, the food system in the country needs to go beyond the farm level and utilised the full value chain of food to eliminate wastage and ensure food security is attained.
ARAGAW Bezawit, Ethiopia, TICID Yes, development is taking ownership!!!
ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS I totally agree with you Martha.
GULE Thandile Tanzile,Eswatini,CFND Thank you Thandile for highlighting more critical topics. I was listening to a webinar organised by ILO last month and the issue of research not meeting reality on ground was strongly stressed. Maybe we need to rethink our approach to research.
CHIGARU Farai, Malawi, SRO-WA Truly, tariff reductions (or elimination) open the door, but the real question is: do we have the muscle to walk through it? For Africa to benefit meaningfully, we must urgently address issues like quality standards, production capacity, and trade logistics.
This could be a catalyst for structural transformation if paired with serious investment in industrialization, skills development (highlighting because it is critical), and SME support (beyond funding). Otherwise, we risk watching the train leave the station, yet again!
The opportunity is real, but readiness is everything!!!
SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA I totally agree with you on this piece! E-governance is a strategic for resilience and sustainability. We need to extend this into other services both public and private as we evolve as a continent.
GULE Thandile Tanzile,Eswatini,CFND Absolutely timely and important! The urgency of climate action in Africa cannot be overstated; and water remains at the heart of both the crisis and the solution. Looking forward to the impactful conversations at CCDA and the Africa Climate Summit.
I particularly, strongly vote for us to move from talk to actionable transformation!!!!
In Africa, we know how to turn a funeral into a festival, a traffic jam into a business seminar, and a power cut into a poetry night. But can we turn mindset into measurable development? That is the real test.
We often treat development like it is something handed to us by outsiders, but what if development isn’t a project or a policy? What if it’s an attitude?
In a small village in Ghana, a chief got tired of waiting for government to fix a borehole. So he taxed himself. Then the community. One month later, clean water. No consultants. Just attitude.
We have graduates fluent in theory but allergic to tools. Roads with ribbon-cutting ceremonies but no drainage. Innovation gets talked about more than it gets lived. Why? Because we have outsourced responsibility!!!
Real development starts small: refusing to litter, resisting bribes, showing up on time. It is in the market woman sending her daughter to school and the boda rider following traffic rules even when no one is watching.
Africa doesn’t lack potential; we lack the consistent attitude to unlock it.
If we want lasting change, let’s stop waiting for “the system.” Let’s be the system.
Because in the end, development isn’t about big money; it’s about bold mindsets!
I am particularly excited about the recent Drive for Data-Powered Social Protection Systems held in Livingstone, Zambia; an initiative that reflects UNECA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the evidence base for social protection across the continent. It is projects like these that fuel my eagerness to continue contributing to solutions that leave no one behind, especially in a region where poverty is multifaceted and requires innovative, data-driven interventions.
Being part of this process by supporting research, shaping narratives, and contributing to policies aimed at transforming lives has been both an inspiring and humbling experience. I remain passionate about the possibilities that lie ahead, not just for my personal growth, but for the future of Africa where policies are powered by data, and every person matters.
You can read more about the Livingstone initiative here: https://intranet.uneca.org/ecanews/livingstone-hosts-drive-data-powered-social-protection-systems
Thank you for sharing this! I love this game.
I managed to result the global warming to 1.87C, of course, did not get to the desired 1.5C but in line with Paris agreement; I managed to keep the world from melting away. am a firm believer that policies that are not people-friendly are not policy-worthy. This helped me in the game and was likewise my woe in this game. So, you have to know when to call the shot, how long it should be, how wide and when not to call it at all. Policymaking and enacting are not piece of cake and indeed as Thomas Sankara said: Governance is not a rocket science.
To combat climate change, we have to take action NOW; not gradual!
Yes, the panic is obvious for the SDGs actualisation! I totally agree with you on rethinking leadership style and likewise the quality of leadership.
This is an interesting topic. Thank you for sharing SHWEHDY Amged B, Libya, SRO-NA
As the Seville Conference on Financing for Development starts today, I can’t stop thinking about one truth: Africa must stop adapting itself to finance and start shaping finance to serve its own future.
It is not enough to ask “how do we bring in more money?” We must ask: who decides where it flows? Into what sectors? Under what terms? With what vision?
The money must meet the mission!!!!!
The continent does not need just more aid or more loans. It needs better-aligned, strategic, long-term investment that respects its agency and accelerates its ambitions.
This is the kind of shift I hope Seville 2025 will ignite. Because when Africa leads its own development story, finance will follow, not the other way around.
ALI Ibrahim Houssen,Djibouti,ACS This is wonder Ibrahim! Thank you for sharing. I totally agree with you with you that we need to leverage AI in agriculture and automate agricultural activities. In Nigeria, there are young people already automating and using technology to farm - Agrictech. We have young people going beyond using soil to plant to soilless agriculture (I have visited one of such farms; and it is a wonder). We have farms using automated irrigation system - we just need to scale and build the capacity of other people in the agriculture sector (who by the way are mostly elderly people). More so, taking Nigeria as a case study - we likewise need to start discussing how to leverage technology to have a warehouse that can preserve agricultural produce and strengthen supply chain. Wastage is another big issue in the agricultural sector in Africa. Importantly, beyond the agricultural activities, we need to discuss how to up the value chain game!
SYAHUKA Hilda, Uganda, DOA Heeeiiii! This is a tough one and a brilliant question. In a world swinging from pandemics to political volatility, like Trump’s executive orders, resilience has become the currency of relevance. One practical approach African governments and institutions can adopt is adaptive strategy rooted in real-time data and local context. The key is agility: building feedback loops into governance, investing in human capital, and forging regional value chains that don’t crumble under global shocks. It's less about having a rigid plan and more about being structurally prepared to pivot, learn, and act fast. Staying relevant isn’t about predicting the next storm, it’s about dancing in the rain with strategy, data, and people-centred solutions.
I wrote a piece on my LinkedIn page specifically for what the USAID freeze means for nonprofit organisations - you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/omolola-ak-fasasi-nee-lipede_the-shut-down-of-usaid-has-ripples-effect-activity-7304795664163479553-ERG5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACQVAUUBk8tEGZ4TqBp_prRrXJ9q7tUusv8
LOMPO Aguima Aime Bernard,Burkina Faso,SPORD Thank you for acknowledging my comment, I cannot agree less that it is always enriching to bridge methodological discussions across micro and macro contexts. Particularly, I have been trying my hands on how to infuse both macro and micro datasets together in research and it has been a rewarding (and honestly, stressful) journey.
LOMPO Aguima Aime Bernard,Burkina Faso,SPORD Great! Thank you for sharing your insight on the concept of "empowerment".