The African Union launched its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) for Agenda 2063 on February 17, 2024.
The continent is moving forward, and leadership from the African Union is driving the direction of development with the powerful Agenda 2063.
There are rivers still to cross, but we don’t walk alone in Africa; we walk together.
The document for the launch of the STYIP defines 7 aspirations for the continent, 20 accompanying goals, and 10 moonshot interventions to attain the aspirations.
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Africa’s GDP growth trajectory (4%) is much higher than the global average (2.7% – 3.2%).
70% of African countries are already upper or lower-middle-income countries.
60% of Africa’s population is under 25, and by 2030 42% of global youth will be in Africa.
In 37 African countries, less than half the population can afford 1GB of data a month (giving context to improvements needed for the continent).
The STYIP launch notes that Africa has partnerships across the world and that it will “increasingly engage in alliances,” such as its recent membership in the G20.
The STYIP also notes that African countries are increasingly taking common positions on many issues pertaining to the continent’s development, such as the AfCFTA (the Continental Free Trade Agreement), Africa’s Common Position on Food Systems, Environment, and Climate Change Issues, and Collectively Addressing Pandemics such as Ebola and COVID-19.
This all comes at a time of shifting geopolitics, slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and slowing global growth in the decade preceding it. Africa is rising as a strong and growing continent.
Taken together, these facts and the language of the STYIP show that the stage is set for Africa to be a partner for countries like Australia for mutual benefit and development.
As Africa advances to a unified position in the world and the African Renaissance occurs, nobody will want to be left out of the chance to be friendly with this majestic and growing continent.
This short piece was written by Estelle Stambolie for the ANU African Studies Network.
