Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

Agenda 2063 seeks to deliver on a set of Seven Aspirations each with its own set of goals which if achieved will move Africa closer to achieving its vision for the year 2063. These 7 Aspirations reflect our desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women and youth are realised, and with freedom from fear, disease and want.

Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development

We are determined to eradicate poverty in one generation and build shared prosperity through social and economic transformation of the continent.

Goals:

1. A high standard of living, quality of life and well-being for all
   • ending poverty, inequalities of income and opportunity; job creation, especially addressing youth unemployment; facing up to the challenges of rapid population growth and urbanization, improvement of habitats and access to basic necessities of life – water, sanitation, electricity; providing social security and protection;
2. Well educated citizens and skills revolutions underpinned by science, technology and innovation
   • developing Africa’s human and social capital (through an education and skills revolution emphasizing science and technology)
3. Healthy and well-nourished citizens
   • expanding access to quality health care services, particularly for women and girls;
4. Transformed economies and jobs
   • transforming Africa’s economies through beneficiation from Africa’s natural resources, manufacturing, industrialization and value addition, as well as raising productivity and competitiveness
5. Modern agriculture for increased proactivity and production
   • radically transforming African agriculture to enable the continent to feed itself and be a major player as a net food exporter;
6. Blue/Ocean Economy for accelerated economic growth
   • exploiting the vast potential of Africa’s blue/ocean economy;
7. Environmentally sustainable climate and resilient economies and communities
   • 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 and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance

Since 1963, the quest for African Unity has been inspired by the spirit of Pan Africanism, focusing on liberation, and political and economic independence. It is motivated by development based on self-reliance and self-determination of African people, with democratic and people-centred governance.

Goals:

1. United Africa (Federal/Confederate)
   • accelerating progress towards continental unity and integration for sustained growth, trade, exchanges of goods, services, free movement of people and capital through establishing a United Africa and fast tracking economic integration through the of the CFTA
2. World class infrastructure criss-crosses Africa
   • improving connectivity through newer and bolder initiatives to link the continent by rail, road, sea and air; and developing regional and continental power pools, as well as ICT
3. Decolonisation
   • All remnants of colonialism will have ended and all African territories under occupation fully liberated. We shall take measures to expeditiously end the unlawful occupation of the Chagos Archipelago, the Comorian Island of Mayotte and affirming the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Aspiration 3: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law

An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

Africa shall have a universal culture of good governance, democratic values, gender equality, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

Goals:

1. Democratic values, practices, universal principles for human rights, justice and rule of law entrenched
   • consolidating democratic gains and improving the quality of governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law;
2. Capable institutions and transformed leadership in place at all levels
   • 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

Mechanisms for peaceful prevention and resolution of conflicts will be functional at all levels. As a first step, dialogue-centred conflict prevention and resolution will be actively promoted in such a way that by 2020 all guns will be silent. A culture of peace and tolerance shall be nurtured in Africa’s children and youth through peace education.

Goals:

1. Peace security and stability is preserved
   • strengthening governance, accountability and transparency as a foundation for a peaceful Africa;
2. A stable and peaceful Africa
   • strengthening mechanisms for securing peace and reconciliation at all levels, as well as addressing emerging threats to Africa’s peace and security
3. A fully functional and operational APSA
   • putting in place strategies for the continent to finance her security needs.

Aspiration 5: An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics

Pan-Africanism and the common history, destiny, identity, heritage, respect for religious diversity and consciousness of African people’s and her diaspora’s will be entrenched.

Goal:

1. Africa cultural renaissance is pre-eminent
   • 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, including its languages.

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.

All the citizens of Africa will be actively involved in decision making in all aspects. Africa shall be an inclusive continent where no child, woman or man will be left behind or excluded, on the basis of gender, political affiliation, religion, ethnic affiliation, locality, age or other factors.

Goals:

1. Full gender equality in all spheres of life
   • 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;
2. Engaged and empowered youth and children
   • creating opportunities for Africa’s youth for self-realisation, access to health, education and jobs; 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. 

Africa shall be a strong, united, resilient, peaceful and influential global player and partner with a significant role in world affairs. We affirm the importance of African unity and solidarity in the face of continued external interference including, attempts to divide the continent and undue pressures and sanctions on some countries.

Goals:

1. Africa as a major partner in global affairs and peaceful co-existence
   • improving Africa’s place in the global governance system (UN Security Council, financial institutions, global commons such as outer space);
2. Africa takes full responsibility for financing her development
   • 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.

The flagship projects of Agenda 2063

The flagship projects of Agenda 2063 refers to key programmes and initiatives which have been identified as key to accelerating Africa’s economic growth and development as well as promoting our common identity by celebrating our history and our vibrant culture.

The Flagship projects encompass amongst others infrastructure, education, science, technology, arts and culture as well as initiatives to secure peace on the continent.

1. Integrated High Speed Train Network

The project aims to connect all African capitals and commercial centres through an African High Speed Train Network thereby facilitating the movement of goods, factor services and people. The increased connectivity by rail also aims to reduce transport costs and relieve congestion of current and future systems.

Find out more about our Transport, Infrastructure and Energy Initiatives 

2. Formulation of an African Commodities Strategy

The development of a continental commodities strategy is seen as key to enabling African countries to add value, extract higher rents from their commodities, integrate into the Global Value chains, and promote vertical and horizontal diversification anchored in value addition and local content development. The strategy aims to transform Africa from simply being a raw materials supplier for the rest of the world to a continent that actively uses its own resources to ensure the economic development of Africans

Find out more about our programmes to boost Africa’s production and trade in commodities

3. Establishment of The African Continental Free Trade Area (Afcfta)

Accelerate intra-African trade and boost Africa’s trading position in the global market place. The AfCFTA aims to significantly accelerate growth of Intra-Africa trade and use trade more effectively as an engine of growth and sustainable development by doubling intra-Africa trade, strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations

Find out more about our initiatives to foster regional integration and to boost intra-African trade 

4. The African Passport And Free Movement of People

Remove restrictions on Africans ability to travel, work and live within their own continent. The initiative aims at transforming Africa’s laws, which remain generally restrictive on movement of people despite political commitments to bring down borders with the view to promoting the issuance of visas by Member States to enhance free movement of all African citizens in all African countries.

Find out more about our initiatives to remove border restrictions and foster continental integration by promoting free movement of Africans within the continent 

5. Silencing The Guns By 2020

To achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, Africa needs to work towards ending all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and preventing genocide. In addition progress in the areas are to be monitored through the establishment and operationalisation of an African Human Security Index (AHSI)

Find out more about our peace keeping activities 

6. Implementation of The Grand Inga Dam Project

The development of the Inga Dam is expected to generate 43,200 MW of power, to support current regional power pools and their combined service to transform Africa from traditional to modern sources of energy and ensure access of all Africans to clean and affordable electricity.

Find out more about our Transport, Infrastructure and Energy Initiatives 

7. Establishment of A Single African Air-Transport Market (Saatm)

The SAATM aims to ensure intra-regional connectivity between the capital cities of Africa and create a single unified air transport market in Africa, as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration and growth agenda. SAATM provides for the full liberalisation of intra-African air transport services in terms of market access, traffic rights for scheduled and freight air services by eligible airlines thereby improving air services connectivity and air carrier efficiencies. It removes restrictions on ownership and provides for the full liberalisation of frequencies, tariffs and capacity. It also provides eligibility criteria for African community carriers, safety and security standards, mechanisms for fair competition and dispute settlement as well as consumer protection.

Find out more about our Transport, Infrastructure and Energy Initiatives 

8. Establishment of An Annual African Economic Forum

The annual African Economic Forum, is a multi-stakeholder meeting that brings together the African political leadership, the private sector, academia and civil society to reflect on how to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation harnessing its vast resources to enhance the development of the African people. The forum discusses key opportunities as well as the constraints that hamper economic development and proposes measures to be taken to realise the Aspirations and goals of Agenda 2063.

Find out more about our economic integration initiatives and programmes to boost Africa’s private sector growth and investment 

9. Establishment of The African Financial Institutions

The creation of African Continental Financial Institutions aims at accelerating integration and socio-economic development of the continent through the establishment of organisations which will play a pivotal role in the mobilization of resources and management of the African financial sector. The financial institutions envisaged to promote economic integration are the African Investment Bank and Pan African Stock Exchange; the African Monetary Fund and the African Central Bank.

Find out more about the initiatives to create Africa’s continental financial institutions 

10. The Pan-African E-Network

This aims to put in place policies and strategies that will lead to transformative e-applications and services in Africa; especially the intra-African broad band terrestrial infrastructure; and cyber security, making the information revolution the basis for service delivery in the bio and nanotechnology industries and ultimately transform Africa into an e-Society.

Find out more about our programmes to grow Africa’s ICT sector 

11. Africa Outer Space Strategy

The Africa outer space strategy aims to strengthen Africa’s use of outer space to bolster its development. Outer space is of critical importance to the development of Africa in all fields: agriculture, disaster management, remote sensing, climate forecast, banking and finance, as well as defence and security. Africa’s access to space technology products is no longer a matter of luxury and there is a need to speed up access to these technologies and products. New developments in satellite technologies make these accessible to African countries and appropriate policies and strategies are required to develop a regional market for space products in Africa.

Find out more about our programmes aimed to boost innovation and to grow science and technology 

12. An African Virtual And E-University

This project aims to use ICT based programmes to increase access to tertiary and continuing education in Africa by reaching large numbers of students and professionals in multiple sites simultaneously. It aims to develop relevant and high quality Open, Distance and eLearning (ODeL) resources to offer students guaranteed access to the University from anywhere in the world and anytime (24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Find out more about our programmes aimed to education through the use of innovative technology

13. Cyber Security

The decision to adopt Cyber Security as a flagship programme of Agenda 2063 is a clear indication that Africa needs to not only incorporate in its development plans the rapid changes brought about by emerging technologies, but also to ensure that these technologies are used for the benefit of African individuals, institutions or nation states by ensuring data protection and safety online. The Cyber Security project is guided by the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection

Find out more about our Initiatives to address the growth of Africa’s internet economy, internet governance and managing online security 

14. Great African Museum

The African Charter for African Cultural Renaissance recognises the important role that culture pays in mobilising and unifying people around common ideals and promoting African culture to build the ideals of Pan-Africanism. The Great African Museum project aims to create awareness about Africa’s vast, dynamic and diverse cultural artefacts and the influence Africa has had and continues to have on the various cultures of the world in areas such as art, music, language, science, and so on. The Great African Museum will be a focal centre for preserving and promoting the African cultural heritage.

Find out more about our projects aimed at building and celebrating Africa’s diverse historical and cultural heritage 

15. Encyclopaedia Africana

The Encyclopaedia Africana aims to provide an authoritative resource on the authentic history of Africa and African life. The Encyclopaedia provides Africans a body of truth to guide and unite them in their development with foundations in all aspect of the African life including history, legal, economic, religion, architecture and education as well as the systems and practices of African societies.

The Encyclopaedia Africana provides an African worldview of the people, culture, literature and history of Africa and is a key tool to be used to educate, inform and set the records straight regarding the history, culture and contributions of African people throughout the world.

Find out more about our projects aimed at promoting and celebrating Africa’s contribution and the contribution of African’s to the world both within Africa and in the Diaspora by visiting CIDO