BMZ conference
Shaping the Future with Africa – Young Entrepreneurship as Key to a Just Transition
On 21 November 2023, in the context of the G20 Compact with Africa Summit, Minister Svenja Schulze welcomed 40 young African entrepreneurs and innovation champions to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. At the conference, they presented recommendations for strengthening the role of young entrepreneurs in resolving global challenges and giving shape to the just transition of economies and societies, and they discussed these recommendations with a high-ranking panel that included Dr Rania A. Al-Mashat, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and Lacina Koné, Director General and CEO of the Smart Africa Alliance.
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Recording: BMZ conference Shaping the Future with Africa – Young Entrepreneurship as Key to a Just Transition
Young African entrepreneurs play a key role for sustainable development in Africa. As change makers, they have the potential to develop socially and environmentally viable answers to the most urgent challenges of our times, such as climate change, social inequality, and the digital transformation. Young African start-ups, especially women-led enterprises, create jobs and income in rising industries such as renewable energy, electric transport, and the circular economy. They are key players for a just transition.
In order to make the best possible use of their innovative capacity, it is vital to give them tailor-made forms of support and create an enabling environment. This requires a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities that young African entrepreneurs are facing.
By hosting the conference “Shaping the Future with Africa – Young Entrepreneurship as Key to a Just Transition”, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development provided a platform for an exchange between Africa's start-up scene and decision-makers from politics, business and civil society, and start-up companies from Berlin. The purpose of the conference was to facilitate personal encounters and networking and to identify practical options for action for the benefit of all stakeholders, in line with the vision of a just transition.
Conference programme
File type
PDF
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Date of status
11/2023
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File size
779 KB,
Pages
2
Pages
What is needed to unlock the potential of young entrepreneurs for a social and ecological transformation of the economy?
40 young entrepreneurs and change makers will share their policy recommendations elaborated during a workshop the day before together with Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, Executive Vice President, African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET).
Entrepreneur, investor and mentor Kola Aina is Founding Partner of a Ventures Platform that fosters Africas entrepreneurs oft he next generation.
He provides his personal view on the potential of young entrepreneurs in Africa as well as the particular challenges they are confronted with.
High-Level Panel
Taking up on Minister Schulze’s opening speech, the policy recommendations from the young entrepreneurs and the insights from the keynote speech, this panel will discuss how African and European policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors can work together to promote a conducive business and regulatory environment that supports young entrepreneurs and further enhances their power to innovate.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank
Lacina Koné, Director General & CEO, Smart Africa
Audrey S-Darko, Founder & CEO, Sabon Sake, Ghana
Mariatheresa Kadushi, Founder & CEO, Mobile Afya, Tanzania
