Such a timely and important piece! Internet shutdowns are too often dismissed as short-term political measures, yet their ripple effects extend far deeper, stifling SMEs, disrupting cross-border trade, and undermining the very digital ecosystems Africa is working so hard to build under frameworks like the AfCFTA. As someone working at the intersection of technology, and development, I’ve seen how connectivity is not just about communication, it’s infrastructure for innovation, digital skills, financial inclusion, and market access. When the internet goes dark, it’s not only freedom of expression that suffers, but also the livelihoods of young entrepreneurs, farmers, and educators who rely on digital tools daily. Your call to think about legal precedents and pathways forward is especially critical. If Africa is serious about unlocking digital trade and positioning itself competitively in the global economy, safeguarding connectivity must be seen as both an economic imperative and a human right.

Thanks Naomi for sharing this reflection. I find it powerful how often the AfCFTA is described using words like “the next logical progression,” “landmark,” “milestone,” “ambitious,” “comprehensive agreement,” and even “game changer.” These phrases really capture just how transformative this agreement is in driving intra-African trade.

Reading through UNECA’s Economic Report on Africa (2025), I was struck by the scale of its potential impact: accelerated implementation of the AfCFTA could raise Africa’s GDP by US$141 billion and boost intra-African trade by US$276 billion. With the backdrop of shifting global trade dynamics and new tariffs from the US, the urgency for Africa to fast-track its integration and open up alternative markets could not be clearer. This raises an important question I’ve been reflecting on: should Africa stop at creating a Continental Free Trade Area, or should we already start charting the path towards a Customs Union and eventually a Common Market?

I am particularly excited about the launch of the 11th edition of the Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA XI): “Delivering on the African Economic Community: Towards an African Continental Customs Union and African Continental Common Market.” To me, this theme signals the natural progression for the Continent after AfCFTA implementation. As a Fellow in Tech, this excites me even more because I see how technology can accelerate this vision whether through digital trade platforms, interoperable payment systems, e-customs solutions, or AI-driven data analytics to support trade policy. The digital dimension of integration will be critical in turning these ambitious frameworks into practical realities that reach businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities across Africa.

Thank you for sharing your experience at the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum 2025 in Dakar. The insights you’ve gathered are both timely and deeply relevant, not only to your fellowship research, but to the broader conversation on Africa’s development. The fact that Africa imports nearly $50 billion worth of food annually, despite having the natural potential to feed itself, highlights a critical gap in our agri-food systems. Transforming these systems is not just about increasing production it’s about building inclusive, resilient value chains that create jobs, empower youth and women, and reduce dependency. Your emphasis on transitioning from policy to implementation is especially important. We’ve seen many commitments made, but without action, they remain aspirations. Placing youth at the center of this transformation is not optional, it’s essential. Their energy, innovation, and lived experiences are key to driving sustainable change. As for your closing question, Are young people ready to participate in transforming agri-food systems? I believe they are. But readiness must be matched with opportunity. We need to invest in skills, access to finance, and platforms that allow youth to lead and thrive.

Thank you for sharing your reflections on PANAFCON-3. I completely agree, water truly is life, and the urgency to act has never been greater. The Africa Water Vision offers a powerful framework to drive sustainable and inclusive water and sanitation services across the continent. As you rightly pointed out, access to water and sanitation is foundational, not only for health and education, but also for food security, gender equality, climate resilience, and economic development. Mainstreaming natural resources into national development plans is essential, and aligning efforts with SDG6 and the AU Agenda 2063 will help ensure that our actions are both strategic and transformative. Let’s move from vision to action, together.

LOMPO Aguima Aime Bernard,Burkina Faso,SPORD LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD SOUMTANG BIME Valentine, Cameroon, DES-P BANENGAI KOYAMA Torcia Chanelle,Central African Republic,MFGD SYAHUKA Hilda, Uganda, DOA Thank you all for these rich contributions. As someone working with community level datasets, I’ve found both micro and macro perspectives incredibly valuable. Ensuring data completeness is especially critical when our work directly informs interventions in underserved populations. Imputation, particularly MICE, has helped us maintain the reliability of our insights while accounting for local constraints like infrastructure gaps or survey non-responsiveness. That said, I agree, whether micro or macro, it’s essential to balance methodological rigor with contextual realities, and to remain transparent about our assumptions and limitations. Great to see this exchange of approaches!

NDIMBO Gabriel Kanuti,Tanzania,IDEP Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I completely agree. Tax issues really have setbacks. It’s not just about compliance or systems, but about the social contract (As ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS stressed) between citizens and the state. When people don’t see tangible returns like quality public services, they naturally start questioning the purpose of paying taxes.

Thanks ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS This really resonates with me as well. In my work and PhD research, the idea of the social contract is central. It reminds me that technology, research, and innovation must tangibly improve people’s lives. It’s not just about building systems, but about building trust, ensuring that communities truly benefit from the work we do. Like you, I’m reflecting on how we move from promises to practice, and how inclusive, community driven approaches can help public institutions fulfill that contract in real, lasting ways.

ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS I feel similarly moved by the opportunity to be part of this fellowship during such a pivotal time. Being here while the UN reflects on its identity and role ahead of its 80th anniversary feels like more than coincidence, it feels like a call to action. It’s prompting me to think not just about institutional reform, but also about the kind of leadership that will be needed in the next era: leadership that is inclusive, agile, and accountable to the people it serves.

For me, UN80 stirs a mix of urgency and hope. Urgency because the world is facing complex, interconnected challenges that demand bold, collective action and hope because I believe we, as young professionals, bring fresh perspectives that can help reimagine systems for greater equity and justice.

I’d love to hear how others are processing this moment too. What kind of contribution do we want to make towards the future of multilateralism?

SYAHUKA Hilda, Uganda, DOA Absolutely, that stood out to me as well. The statistics highlighting how much women are excluded, yet still contribute 60%, were incredibly thought provoking. It really underscores both the systemic inequalities and the immense, often overlooked, value that women bring to the table.

ALI Ibrahim Houssen,Djibouti,ACS LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD This is a compelling and urgent call to action. You’re absolutely right, agriculture in Africa is more than just food production; it’s the bedrock of our development, a key to unlocking inclusive growth, and a frontline defense against poverty and climate vulnerability.

The statistics you shared are staggering, but they also highlight untapped potential. With 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, Africa should not be struggling with food insecurity. What’s holding us back is not land or labor, but limited access to infrastructure, finance, technology, and markets.

I particularly appreciate your emphasis on agriculture as part of a value chain from farm to fork and how AI can revolutionize decision making for smallholder farmers. When farmers have access to climate data, predictive analytics, and market insights, they’re no longer just producers they become empowered entrepreneurs.

But to truly scale these innovations, we need more than technology, we need policy support, digital literacy, inclusive financing, and localized solutions that center rural communities, especially women and youth.

Investing in agri-tech isn’t just about growing crops, it’s about growing futures, building resilience, and restoring dignity. Thank you for spotlighting this critical intersection of agriculture, technology, and sustainable development.

LIPEDE Omolola Mary,Nigeria,GPSPD In my view, empowerment is best understood as the sustained ability to make informed decisions and act on them, even in the face of systemic barriers. It’s not tied to a single milestone like earning a paycheck or launching a business. Although those can be important parts of the journey. True empowerment happens when a person has both the internal confidence and the external support to consistently shape their life according to their values, goals, and needs.

So, to me, empowerment looks like:

• A young woman who says no to societal pressures and yes to her own dreams.
• A community member who challenges injustice, not because it’s easy, but because they know they should and can.
• Someone who redefines success on their own terms, not just by achieving something, but by claiming ownership of their path.
• Empowerment is not a finish line, it’s a process of becoming. It’s also collective, not just individual. We’re most empowered when we create environments where others can thrive too.

Thank you for sparking this important conversation.

This week’s hybrid Policy and Programme Dialogue was truly eye-opening for me. It deepened my understanding of the complex challenges surrounding taxation management across African countries. One of the key takeaways for me was the discussion on the reasons behind widespread tax evasion. The question, “Why do people evade tax?”, sparked important reflections, not just about non-compliance, but also about the underlying mistrust between citizens and governments.

Another critical point raised was the paradox where citizens do pay taxes, yet governments often fail to deliver quality public services in return. This failure contributes to a cycle of disillusionment and reduced tax morale, where citizens feel little incentive to contribute to a system they perceive as inefficient or corrupt.

I also found the conversations around solutions particularly thought-provoking. The emphasis on leveraging technology to improve tax administration and service delivery was inspiring especially for me as a fellow in Tech. Technological platforms for taxation management when designed with accountability and user access in mind, could significantly enhance efficiency, transparency, and trust in the system.

Overall, the meeting reinforced the importance of good governance, citizen engagement, and digital innovation in strengthening tax systems. For taxation to work as a tool for development, it must be grounded in a social contract where both the state and its citizens uphold their responsibilities.