About Lesson
CHAPTER1: Introduction
Chapter 1 outlines the genesis of Agenda 2063 anchoring it on the AU Vision, and the eight ideals of the Solemn Declaration of the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the OAU. It situates Agenda 2063 in the historical context of Pan Africanism, as well as the various transitions marking the responses of African countries to the exegeses of the times. The chapter shows that Agenda 2063 builds upon past and present continental initiatives such as the Monrovia Declaration, the Lagos Plan of Action, the Abuja Treaty and NEPAD, as well as on Africa’s recent positive performance in the economic, social and political fields to put the continent on a new positive trajectory of growth, peace and prosperity. The Agenda draws upon the continent’s rich history, natural resources, people, culture, as well as its institutions at all levels, and capitalizes on the opportunities of changing African and global trends and dynamics.
CHAPTER 2: The Vision and African Aspirations for 2063
This chapter presents the Vision for 2063. Africans of diverse social formations1 and in the Diaspora affirmed the AU Vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena” as the overarching guide for the future of the African continent. Further, they reaffirmed the relevance and validity of the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration.
The converging voices of Africans of different backgrounds, including those in the Diaspora have painted a clear picture of what they desire for themselves and the continent in the future. From these converging voices, a common and a shared set of aspirations has emerged:
1. A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development;
2. An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance;
3. An Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law;
4. A peaceful and secure Africa;
5. An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics;
6. An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children; and
7. Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner.
These seven aspirations show strong convergence with the AU Vision, and are in line with the eight priorities of the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration. Collectively these shared aspirations demonstrate strong continuity of thinking between the OAU founders and the present generation of Africans, albeit in a new dynamic global context.
The chapter details what achieving each of the seven aspirations would mean for Africa and her citizenry. For example, the attainment of Aspiration 1 (A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development) would mean that:
• African people will have a high standard of living and quality of life and well-being;
• Well educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation for a knowledge society will be broad-based, and no child misses school due to poverty or any form of discrimination;
• Citizens are healthy, well-nourished and have long life spans;
• Cities, peri-urban and rural communities are equipped with modern communication, sanitation, education and health facilities and are vibrant, dynamic market economies, people have access to affordable and decent housing including, housing finance together with all the basic necessities of life, and social capital is valued and preserved;
1 Different consultations were made with the following stakeholders: Academicians and Think Tanks, Civil Society, Planning Experts from Ministries of Planning, Women, Youth, Media, Private sector, RECs representatives, Forum for Former African Heads of State and Government and others.
• Economies are structurally transformed through industrialization, manufacturing and value addition to create shared growth through private sector development, entrepreneurship and decent jobs for all;
• Modern agriculture for scaled-up production, improved productivity and value addition through commodity transformation and services, contribute to farmer and national prosperity and food and nutrition security; and
• The continent embeds principally adaptation processes to maintain healthy ecosystems, preserve the African natural environment – as the largest remaining reserve of pristine waters, old growth forests and land in the world.
The chapter concludes by indicating that at current rates of performance (i.e. a “business as usual” scenario), the continent would neither catch up nor be able to meet the rising expectations of her citizens, especially the youth and women as:
• Only a tiny number of countries, which had consistently high growth for the last two decades, will converge with the rest of the world, while the majority of the other countries do not converge, and the fragile countries stay fragile.
• Per capita incomes continue to rise at 1.9 per cent annually but given growth in the rest of the world, however, Africa’s per capita incomes would actually diverge further from those of the rest of the world.
• The middle-class would increase but after decades would still be only a third of the population. Nearly one in five Africans would, correspondingly, still be mired in poverty.
• Finally, given growth elsewhere in the world, Africa’s share of global GDP would stagnate at a low level.
Such a scenario, or at worst one of stagnation does not correspond with the aspirations of Africans for their future and is certainly unacceptable.
CHAPTER 3: Africa the last Fifty Years and the Present: Progress, Challenges and Implications for Agenda 2063
This chapter takes each aspiration as a point of departure, and presents a comprehensive analysis of progress made and identifies some of the key issues and challenges to be addressed if the vision outlined in chapter 2 is to be attained. While recognizing the tremendous progress the continent has made in all areas, the following summarizes some of the main priorities for action (see annex 1 for a more elaborate summary):
• Aspiration 1 (A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development): ending poverty, inequalities of income and opportunity; job creation; addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization, improvement of habitats and access to basic necessities of life; providing social security and protection; developing Africa’s human and social capital (through an education and skills revolution emphasizing science and technology and expanding access to quality health care services, particularly for women and girls); transforming Africa’s economies through beneficiation from Africa’s natural resources, manufacturing, industrialization and value addition, as well as raising productivity and competitiveness; radically transforming African agriculture to enable the continent to feed itself and be a major player as a net food exporter; exploiting the vast potential of Africa’s blue/ocean economy; and finally putting in place measures to sustainably manage the continent’s rich biodiversity, forests, land and waters and using mainly adaptive measures to address Climate change risks.
• Aspiration 2 (An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance): accelerating progress towards continental unity and integration for sustained growth, trade, exchanges of goods, services, free movement of people and capital through: (i) establishing a United Africa; (ii) fast tracking of the CFTA; (iii) improving connectivity through newer and bolder initiatives to link the continent by rail, road, sea and air; and
(iv) developing regional and continental power pools, as well as ICT.
• Aspiration 3 (An Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law): consolidating democratic gains and improving the quality of governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law; building strong institutions for a development state; and facilitating the emergence of development-oriented and visionary leadership in all spheres and at all levels.
• Aspiration 4 (A peaceful and secure Africa): strengthening governance, accountability and transparency as a foundation for a peaceful Africa; strengthening mechanisms for securing peace and reconciliation at all levels, as well as addressing emerging threats to Africa’s peace and security; and putting in place strategies for the continent to finance her security needs.
• Aspiration 5 (An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics): inculcating the spirit of Pan Africanism; tapping Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to Africa’s growth and transformation; and restoring and preserving Africa’s cultural heritage.
• Aspiration 6 (An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children): strengthening the role of Africa’s women through ensuring gender equality and parity in all spheres of life (political, economic and social); eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls; creating opportunities for Africa’s youth for self-realization, access to health, education and jobs; and ensuring safety and security for Africa’s children, and providing for early childhood development.
• Aspiration 7 (Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner): improving Africa’s place in the global governance system (UNSC, financial institutions, global commons such as outer space); improving Africa’s partnerships and refocusing them more strategically to respond to African priorities for growth and transformation; and ensuring that the continent has the right strategies to finance its own development and reducing aid dependency.
CHAPTER 4: Agenda 2063: Goals, Priority Areas, Targets and Indicative Strategies
Chapter 4 presents the transformation framework, including the foundation of Agenda 2063, the conceptual approach, and importantly the goals, priority areas, targets and indicative strategies. These are presented in detail in Annexes 3 and 4.
Below is a schematic presentation of the foundation of Agenda 2063, the aspirations, as well as the goals.
The Table below presents the Aspirations and the related goals and priority areas at national level.
Aspirations Goals Priority Areas
A prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development A high standard of living, quality of life and wellbeing for all citizens • Incomes, jobs and decent work
• Poverty, inequality and hunger
• Social security and protection, including persons with disabilities
• Modern, affordable and liveable habitats and quality basic services
Well educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation•Education and science, technology and innovation (STI) driven skills revolution
Healthy and well-nourished citizens•Health and nutrition
Transformed economies•Sustainable and inclusive economic growth
• STI driven manufacturing, industrialization and value addition
• Economic diversification and resilience
• Tourism/Hospitality
Modern agriculture for increased productivity and production•Agricultural productivity and production
Blue/ocean economy for accelerated economic growth•Marine resources and energy
• Port operations and marine transport
Environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities•Sustainable natural resource management
• Biodiversity conservation, genetic resources and ecosystems
• Sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Water security
• Climate resilience and natural disasters preparedness and prevention
• Renewable energy
An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance A United Africa (Federal or Confederate) • Frameworks and institutions for a United Africa
Continental financial and monetary institutions established and functional•Financial and monetary institutions
World class infrastructure criss – crosses Africa•Communications and infrastructure connectivity.
Aspirations Goals Priority Areas
An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law Democratic values, practices, universal principles of human rights, justice and the rule of law entrenched • Democracy and good governance
• Human rights, justice and the rule of law
Capable institutions and transformative leadership in place•Institutions and leadership
• Participatory development and local governance
A peaceful and secure Africa Peace, security and stability is preserved • Maintenance and preservation of peace and security
A stable and peaceful Africa•Institutional structure for AU instruments on peace and security
• Defence, security and peace
A fully functional and operational APSA•Fully operational and functional APSA pillars
Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics African cultural renaissance is pre- eminent • Values and ideals of Pan Africanism
• Cultural values and African Renaissance
• Cultural heritage, creative arts and businesses
An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by African people, especially
its women and youth, and caring for children Full gender equality in all spheres of life • Women and girls empowerment
• Violence and discrimination against women and girls
Engaged and empowered youth and children•Youth empowerment and children’s rights
An Africa as a strong, united and influential global player and partner Africa as a major partner in global affairs and peaceful co-existence • Africa’s place in global affairs
• Partnerships
Africa takes full responsibility for financing her development•African capital markets
• Fiscal systems and public sector revenue
• Development assistance
The transformation framework recognizes the diversity of the continent. Each country while being inspired by the same set of goals and targets will develop policies and strategies adapted to its circumstances. Agenda 2063 also emphasizes the need to build on existing frameworks and of integrating the Flagship programs in the First 10-Year Implementation Plan, namely:
i) The Integrated High speed Train Network;
ii) African Virtual and e-university;
iii) African Commodity Strategy;
iv) Annual African Forum;
v) Continental Free Trade Area;
vi) A Single African Airspace;
vii) African Passport and Free Movement of People;
viii) Continental Financial Institutions;
ix) The Grand Inga Dam Project;
x) The Pan African e-Network;
xi) Silencing the Guns;
xii) Outer Space.