ATF2018 in Review: African policy makers, business leaders, and heads of state hold a dialogue for action

African leaders from government, the private sector and civil society gathered together with development partners in Accra, Ghana for the second African Transformation Forum on 20-21 June.  The two-day event dubbed Dialogue for Action was organized by the African Center for Economic Transformation in collaboration with the Government of Ghana. The event brought together more than 300 participants from across the globe to help forge an implementable agenda for economic transformation.

ATF2018 built on the progress of the first forum held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2016, where the Pan-African Coalition for Transformation (PACT) was launched. PACT is an African peer-learning network organized into chapters on agriculture, extractives, manufacturing, resource mobilization, and youth employment and skills.

Working sessions of the five PACT chapters focused on next steps for driving the transformation agenda forward. Highlights of ATF2018 included an inaugural Transformation Distinguished Lecture, the announcement of a new African Transformation Leadership Panel, and a moderated dialogue on transformation perspectives. The climax of the event was a conversation between Heads of State and top CEOs.