African Futures launch

On 14 November 2019, the EUISS officially launched its African Futures Task Force at the event 'Strategic and Policy Responses to Peace and Prosperity: African Futures Conference', co-organised with the World Bank in Paris.

Following up to the Paris Peace Forum, the conference discussed socio-economic, conflict and other structural trends affecting peace and prosperity in Africa by 2030. Against this backdrop, the event gathered foresight experts, stakeholders representing governments, international organisations, civil society, expert communities and the private sector to engage in a constructive and energising conversation on forward-looking approaches and strategies for Africa. Presentations and panel discussions revolved around two complementary initiatives: The World Bank’s forthcoming Fragility, Conflict and Violence Strategy and the official launch of the African Futures 2030 Task Force established by the EUISS together with African and European institutions.

The overarching focus of the African Future task force is on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a step towards deeper economic integration, and key drivers that will have an impact on its implementation by 2030, including climate change, demographics and urbanisation, stability and conflict dynamics, regional dynamics and digitalisation. The Task Force includes leading research institutions from Africa and Europe, under the coordination of the EUISS Senior Analyst for sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Giovanni Faleg.

The final report is expected to be released by the end of 2020. Alongside the analytical work, the task force will organise activities aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and interactions between experts and policy makers. The initiative is part of the EUISS Africa research programme.