We are determined to put our research to work, to be used by policymakers, businesses and other key actors to make transformation happen.
Sharing Insights
Through our Transformation Dialogues, we share our knowledge with stakeholders for debate, feedback, refinement and implementation. Our first Dialogue, held in April 2011, brought together more than 30 leading thinkers, policymakers, private actors, and scholars, including the president of the AfDB, the Chief Economist of the World Bank, business leaders and policymakers from Africa, Asia and South America. The overarching question discussed was: Why is economic transformation not already happening in Africa?
Starting in 2012 we will convene global Dialogues as parallel events at major international gatherings such as the AfDB’s and World Bank’s annual meetings, ensuring economic transformation is part of the growth and development debate at the very highest levels—an agenda formulated for Africa by Africans.
On the regional level, ACET will gather policymakers from neighboring African countries to share experiences related to selected thematic cross-border studies, such as those on export promotion, education and skills development, and state capacities for economic management. The regional Dialogues will provide a forum for comparing country experiences, sharing lessons, and spurring collaboration.
We will hold national Transformation Dialogues as part of the launch of the African Transformation Report. These public forums will bring together various actors to discuss the findings of their country’s case study and its performance on the African Transformation Index as well as explore practical options for improvement.
Exchanging Knowledge
Recent high-level discussions on improving aid effectiveness, such as the Seoul G20 Development Consensus for Shared Growth, have spotlighted the potential for South-South learning through peer networks for knowledge exchange. With ACET Knowledge Exchange, we are taking a major step in realizing that potential for Africa. The program is designed to broker knowledge between African governments, businesses, and academics and their counterparts in countries that have made major progress in transforming their economies, such as Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil and India.
ACET will work with institutions in these fast-transforming countries to conduct joint analysis of their growth experiences and their applicability to Africa. To implement those lessons, we will arrange study visits for African policymakers to those countries and bring their experts to advise and support African policymakers on the institutional underpinnings of transformation.
In addition, we are planning to build a facility in Accra to amplify the efficiency, reach, and impact of these exchanges. The new facility will incorporate audio, video, web, and social media capabilities to nurture networks such as the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN). From meetings to media briefings to Transformation Dialogues, the Platform will engage governments, business, the media, and the African public in ongoing exchanges knowledge and ideas.
Involving the Private Sector
Too often the private sector is seen as an add-on in the development agenda. At ACET we recognize that it is the private sector that will ultimately drive transformation, with support from the government, we are actively engaging companies to incorporate their voice in the transformation debate.
Our growing portfolio of analytical studies generates data and insights into the challenges, export prospects, global market dynamics and policy environments of sub-sectors of the economy with high potential for African countries. The studies form the basis for industry-level engagements with key private sector players and policy makers to turn those opportunities into reality.
We also seek the perspectives of existing businesses and potential investors as we support countries develop their strategies for transformation and for managing extractive industries.
As an honest broker, we will continue to facilitate dialogues to make government policy informed by business realities and industry, in turn, realizes its role as an agent of transformation.
