Africa House Seeks to Spark Dialogue at WEF Davos 2025

As business and political leaders from across the globe come together for their annual retreat at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, they will have the chance to engage in discussions and negotiations regarding an African continent that many analysts believe holds immense potential. Despite its tumultuous history, Africa’s human and natural resources have attracted the attention of global investors who understand that the solutions to several worldwide challenges – such as climate change, energy transitions, and demographic shifts – may very well be found within the continent.

This principle lies at the heart of Africa House, which will be making its fifth appearance at the WEF in January 2025. Mamadou Toure, co-founder of Africa 2.0, the think tank behind the initiative, notes that their mission is to remedy the oversight that Africa has experienced in global discussions, despite its significant potential. “We believed the continent wasn’t afforded the prominence it requires in international dialogues and decision-making. Thus, we felt it was our duty to address this. It is fundamentally a civil society initiative,” he explains, emphasizing that while other nations have had similar representations at Davos for many years, Africa had until then remained mostly unheard.

Africa House provides a dedicated place for Africa-centered conversations and initiatives.

“It’s a venue where we can not only have open dialogues but also engage in constructive discussions regarding the continent’s future direction and its relationship with the broader world,” Toure states.

And there are numerous topics to address, as he highlights.

“For example, the African Continental Free Trade Area represents the largest single market globally today. This is not to be overlooked. By 2050, seven out of ten children born on Earth will be Africans, and the continent’s population is expected to reach 2 billion. As we contemplate the future, the critical question becomes: how do we initiate conversations that can lead to tangible actions and deliverables?”

Africa House aims to be a venue for frank and sincere discussions about Africa, a space where public and private sector leaders can collaboratively shape the continent’s future.

Leapfrogging technological stages

Toure is notably optimistic regarding the continent’s potential, citing its history of technological leapfrogging and regional integration as evidence of what Africa can accomplish through coordinated efforts and proper investment. Therefore, as global technology continues to expand, Toure expresses concern that Africa is being sidelined in these conversations, despite its success in leveraging technology.

“We are aware of how Africa bypassed fixed-line telecommunications to embrace GSM [Global System for Mobile Communications]. This transition significantly transformed the continent. There is a clear correlation between the launch of GSM and Africa’s GDP growth,” he asserts.

In a similar fashion, Africa could potentially bypass several generations of energy technology to develop new systems that better suit its needs.

“Is it necessary to replicate previous models? Perhaps a decentralized approach featuring smart mini grids, allowing communities to generate their own energy independently, could be more advantageous for Africa,” he reflects.

Africa House, he emphasizes, aspires to be the platform where these pivotal conversations occur and actionable initiatives are launched.

This year, Africa House is collaborating with the Pax Technologica initiative and will host the hip-hop artist will.i.am, who also invests in technology. This focus aligns with the key theme of this year’s WEF meetings, which indicate that technology is central to the discussions.

Toure believes a significant lesson drawn from recent global disruptions is that Africans must claim control over their own futures. In an increasingly unstable world with shifting powers, Africa must acknowledge that it can no longer depend on outdated systems and conventional methods. For instance, he notes that Africans living abroad send nearly $100 billion annually back home, surpassing aid from governments and multilateral organizations from developed nations. Consequently, Africa needs to discover new methods to capitalize on its various assets to foster prosperity rather than rely on external support.

Reconsidering the continent

Among those inquiries will be an examination of the negative perceptions surrounding Africa that can deter investors and lead to a risk premium for African borrowers. Toure is deeply concerned about this issue and has planned a dedicated session to discuss it.

“We are inviting media leaders from Africa and beyond to engage in this dialogue. Unfortunately, perception shapes reality, and risk is fundamentally perceived.”

While Africa experiences default rates lower than those of other continents, it still finds attracting financing for infrastructure projects challenging. Toure suggests a solution might involve seeking local currency financing, which he believes would “mitigate exposure to currency shifts.”

Africa 2.0 takes pride in being more than merely a think tank that produces reports and advocates for policies; it actively seeks to realize its ideas, and Africa House is integral to that mission. Toure points out that previous events have successfully brought together continental leaders and business figures, leading to significant partnerships, many of which have resulted in tangible outcomes.

However, he acknowledges that success largely hinges on the stakeholders involved rather than Africa House, which only serves as a facilitator of these interactions.

“We orchestrate, we facilitate, we encourage, and we direct towards a common goal. Our role is to ensure that Africa’s voice and viewpoints are heard on the global stage. However, we allow the stakeholders to chart the course for Africa’s future. Our experience has shown that when processes become overly centralized, progress stagnates.”

Natural wealth

In at least one arena, Toure is a direct participant.

“Africa’s natural resources are valued at over $100 trillion. Innovative models based on Web3, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence enable the tokenization of these assets,” he notes.

Toure believes that technologies such as tokens can aid in monetizing and enhancing the value of Africa’s resources.

Breaking away from traditional approaches is a recurring theme for Toure. Whether in terms of financing the continent, generating employment, or leveraging its assets, he passionately champions new methodologies and the vision that Africa House can incubate these ideas. He asserts that the upcoming 2025 event will herald some of these new strategies. There are going to be groundbreaking announcements at Africa House, including innovative technological and investment partnerships, Toure hints.

“This is where Africa House intends to set itself apart from many other platforms,” he concludes.