Africa Has Big Plans

Africa has big plans. It is a continent with more peaceful, stable, democratic countries than ever before. It is a continent with some of the fastest growing economies in the world. It is a continent with increasing opportunities for women and youth. And, it is still a continent with more than its share of conflict, poverty, and corruption. But it is certainly both of those things these days. Africa knows what Africa needs, and its leaders and citizens are more capable than ever. 

So, all of us need to update our views of Africa, recognize its potential and opportunities, and support the agenda of Africa’s leaders and citizens so they can achieve and sustain their development goals. 

That is what I have learned this week participating in the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which has brought more than 50 African heads of state to Washington, DC to meet with President Obama and many of the other most senior officials of the U.S. Government. The African leaders have also met with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, who have pledged $14 billion in new investments by their companies in Africa. What’s more, 500 young African leaders have expressed their vision and plans to their leaders, President Obama, the First Lady, Secretary of State, Members of Congress, and to development organizations like Plan. 

This vision includes the importance of women and youth as major contributors to Africa’s brighter future. 

President Obama said, “One of the best measures of whether or not a country succeeds is how it treats its women.” 

The Head of the African Union, Dr. Zuma of South of Africa, displayed her wisdom and storytelling abilities in the same vein. 

“We always hear about getting ahead through hard work,” she said. “Well, if African women were paid for their hard work in agriculture, they would be billionaires!” 

“African women want agriculture to be modernized,” she later added. “ At the moment, the image of agriculture in Africa is of a woman with a garden hoe and a baby on her back. But the women I speak to want to see that hoe put into a museum!” 

And, one of the young African leaders from Tanzania added that programs should “build the capacity for women to be confident in finance and management and how to start a business.” 

These elements of local planning, local leadership, and tapping the potential of woman and youth will all be essential parts of the African success story in the decades ahead.