Governance evolves around several facets. However, in light of ECA, I think before ECA initiates governance related initiatives, the institution needs to reflect on its own readiness to convene diverse perspectives of members states, understand their policy, and programme dimensions, and instigate relationships/channels across countries to leverage benefits for them.

Wow ABNER Martha,Namibia,DES-PS, interesting question.

I think and propose that as fellows, we can have a weekly convening to share best practices based on past experiences to enhance work processes. For instance, a fellow can share a practical session on their experience. This would be a learning and sharing platform for us all. Here, we can address hiccups on day to day work and life shocks. It would be a platform to physically network.

We can also invite an individual to share their day in a life journey.

It is with such a platform that we can support divisions, sections, units develop or craft out proposals, concept notes, business plans, ideas to enhance programming.

This reduces the time-lag and delivery process for both countries, and I believe this can steer more trade collaborations across various services and products all factors kept constant.

Thanks for the update on the AFS.

I think young people are ready to take on the mantle in transforming agri-food systems.

Several models have be utilized to leverage AFS especially at community level. For instance, in Uganda, the president launched the Parish Development Model, a strategy for delivering services and interventions for wealth creation and employment generation at the parish level in which several young people have greatly benefited. The model has seven pillars, 18 prioritized commodities, and a policy and regulatory framework to streamline service delivery.

However, markets are majorly monopolized, and middlemen majorly link farmers (young and old) throughout the value chain, with little and unfair benefit/income generated. Among the several challenges AFS faces, streamlining each item in agri-value chains gives young people the opportunity to compete.

I think scouting for talent beyond resume, and limiting complete reliance on AI to sieve talent during recruitment.

Nice piece of thought. Thanks for sharing Lola.

Thanks for sharing this article

Managing unpredictable external forces shows how existing systems can withstand and recover from unexpected threats and disruptions. For Africa, assessing the soundness of existing systems may guide their functionality; and ECA can utilize such assessment in improving resilience while ensuring efficiency.

Interesting call. In my view, this could be a shock resulting into an opportunity for Africa. This gives Africa an opportunity to learn how to improve the quality of its products while at the same time leveraging on its niche to compete in the global economy.

I think empowerment encompasses several things. For example, during an end of project evaluation on a project titled: Women transformative leadership, I interacted with young women and girls who underwent several facets of empowerment namely, leadership, skills enhancement, sexual reproductive health, mental health, etiquette and much more. During a key informant interview, one of the stated that, she never thought to become a woman district councilor. But, through the project, she was able to compete, share her manifesto and win. To her empowerment was building her confidence in speech.

So, I think empowerment varies with an individual, their conditions, the environment and much more.

For everyone else, these are the details/link to registering for the CCD4 conference

For your planning purposes, kindly be informed that the 13th conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XIII), co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia, the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance, will take place on the 5-7 September 2025 in Addis Ababa. The conference will be convened in a hybrid format on the sidelines of the second UN Climate week of 2025 (taking place on the 1-6 September) and the second Africa Climate Summit (taking place on the 8-10 September). The conference concept note is available here: https://tinyurl.com/3fnehzpc and a registration form is at: https://tinyurl.com/mr2nckba. If you would like to participate, kindly register and we will send you a formal invitation letter. To access the conference venue, you are also required to register for the second Africa Climate Summit at: https://www.africaclimatesummit2.et/registration/

Further information will be posted on the conference website at: https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/CCDA-XIII. Lastly, you are welcome to also participate in the following official second Africa Climate Summit parallel events that ECA is leading: Day2 - Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience through South-South Technological Innovation Day2 - Collaborative Solutions: Leveraging Al for Resilient Agriculture, Energy, and Risk Systems in Africa Day2 - Delivering Adaptation and building resilience at scale, and what African Leadership Looks Like Day3 - Protecting Fiscal Space and Addressing Indebtedness While Mobilising Climate Finance Day3 - Shifting from Aid to Partnership for Investment in African-Led Solutions The concept notes and background notes for the these events are available here: https://www.uneca.org/eca-events/eca-second-africa-climate-summit

Thanks for sharing the link via teams. Let me register right away.

Dr Thandile, I tried to register but failed. Is there a way I could register or perhaps there is an option to attend virtually.

Indeed, there is no better time than now that CCDA conference challenges African countries to step-up amidst the pressing climate change issue.

I think African will achieve the demographic dividend way after 2030, when the proportion of working-age individuals to dependents surpasses 2:1 or, when the dependency ratio falls below 0.5. I believe Africa may start to reap the benefits of the demographic dividend by taking advantage of a favorable age distribution. The demographic dividend offers nations a rare chance to boost economic growth. To ensure that the expanding workforce can effectively contribute to the economy, however, this potential must be realized through deliberate investments in economic policies, health care, and education. As their populations age and dependency ratios rise, nations that miss this chance could face serious socioeconomic problems.

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Thanks for sharing this piece with us. Making social protection inclusive and resilient using data driven systems is interesting. I am delighted to see what comes out of this initiative.

I agree. It is interesting how our survival is solely dependent on aid. There tends to be limited discussion on how sustainability can be maintained and retained. With 5 years away from the SGDs, the panic is evident. Africa needs to rethink its leadership styles, involvement of stakeholders and learn through this phase to remain relevant to development agenda.

Thanks for sharing this great piece.

Not that I know of or seen any; What's currently emphasized is a gazette on the Traffic and Road Safety Regulations. Let me find out more real-time details and share.