Building communities for change
Part 2 and Part 3 of the history of WEF milestones that have been adopted and helped to shape Africa
PART 2: History of WEF This is the second article in a three-part series on 25 Years of the World Economic Forum in Africa.
WORLD Economic Forum meetings are convened so that leaders can come together to discuss the challenges affecting the global, regional and industry agendas, discern solutions and catalyse collective action in the spirit of public-private co-operation.
The occasion of the 25th meeting of the World Economic Forum on Africa (Cape Town, 2015) allows us not only to do this, but also to look back on the many milestones that have been achieved since 1990.
By learning lessons from the past, and bringing together the greatest minds of the present, the Forum is committed to acting as Africa’s trusted partner in transformation as it faces the challenges that will shape its future.
Social Entrepreneurs Africa – 2001 in
Then-First Lady Zanele Mbeki of South Africa joins the founding board of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Among the inaugural class of Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneurs selected in 2002 was Kenyan-based KickStart International and, between 2003 and 2006, several more highly acclaimed African social enterprises joined the network, including Riders for Health, Lifeline Energy, the Mobility Aid Center, Camfed, and more. Zanele Mbeki remains an active board member to this day.
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) – June 2002
At the Africa Economic Summit held in Durban in June 2002, the focus is to examine the role of business in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. Some 150 global and regional companies doing business in Africa sign the Business Endorsement of Nepad. Thereafter, the business community is represented by the Nepad Business Group.
Africa Economic Summit – June 2003
The Africa Economic Summit takes place in Durban and turns a spotlight on the business challenges of Africa’s own plan, the Nepad.
Africa Economic Summit – June 2004
The Africa Economic Summit is held in Maputo, Mozambique, under the theme “Aspirations over Africa’s Future”. In 2004, the forum also publishes the book South Africa at 10 to celebrate a decade of democracy in South Africa.
Launch of the Forum of Young Global Leaders – January 2005
A new community, the Forum of Young Global Leaders, is launched, with 16 Africans included in the inaugural class. Five of these go on to take part in the forum’s Africa Economic Summit in 2005.
Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis – January 2006
The Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis (2006-2015) is launched by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Microsoft chairperson Bill Gates and UK chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown at the forum’s Annual Meeting. The project – a coalition of more than 400 organisations – aimed to treat 50 million people and prevent 14 million tuberculosis deaths world wide over a 10-year period.
Business Alliance Against Chronic Hunger – January 2006
Also announced in Davos the same year is the Business Alliance Against Chronic Hunger. With government and civil society partners, the alliance’s aim was to deliver scalable, market-based solutions to the persistent problem of hunger in Kenya.
Investment Climate Facility for Africa – June 2006
During the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, the Investment Climate Facility for Africa is launched as a public-private partnership trust focused on removing barriers to private investment in Africa.
Investing in Africa’s Agriculture – June 2007
Kofi Annan launches the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. The announcement is made in a plenary session on Investing in Growth. Agra was singularly recognised as an effective public-private partnership for improving smallholder farming in the G8 in 2008 and 2009.
Social Entrepreneur of the Year South Africa – 2007
A South African country competition for Social Entrepreneur of the Year is created with the support of Ernst & Young. Each year a new award winner joins the Schwab Foundation network, which today has grown to over 70 social enterprises that have significant operations across African countries.
Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) – June 2007
Launched in Cape Town during the World Economic Forum on Africa, the fund awards grants and repayable grants to companies to improve incomes of smallholder farmers and the rural poor. It is established as a special partnership initiative of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra).
World Economic Forum on Africa – June 2008
Under the theme, “Capitalising on Opportunity”, African leaders at the 18th World Economic Forum on Africa focus on raising the quality of leadership and education to capitalise fully on the growing opportunities available, thanks to strong economic growth and the significant decrease in conflict.
De-worm the World – 2009
An initiative by four World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Michael Kremer, Kristin Forbes, Sriram Raghavan and Esther Duflo is launched in Africa, aimed at providing anti-parasite medicine to students in Kenya.
The initiative grew rapidly, earning praise from the development community for its effectiveness and support from the government of Kenya, allowing it to reach millions of school-age children. In 2013-2104, De-worm the World was able to treat 37 million people in India and Kenya, and in 2015 launched a programme to treat children in Ethiopia.
A New Principled Economy – January 2010
At the 40th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates, co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and founding partners of the Gavi Alliance, pledge $10 billion (R131.63bn) to vaccinate more than 8 million children in the next decade.
Supporting Small-Scale Farmers – January 2010
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete launches an investment blueprint at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, showing how to achieve a green revolution in East Africa by promoting “clusters” of profitable agribusinesses that incorporate small-scale farmers. At the launch, USAid administrator Rajiv Shah announces a $2 million investment into the corridor’s $50m Catalytic Fund.
World Economic Forum on Africa – May 2010
The 20th World Economic Forum on Africa is held outside Southern Africa for the first time, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, under the theme “Rethinking Africa’s Growth Strategy”. The meeting convenes 13 African heads of state and more than 1 000 participants