Gender equality could be a game-changer for Africa’s prospects

ISS research quantifies improvements in Africa’s economic outlook as a result of gender equality advances.

Although researchers agree that gender equality could significantly improve Africa’s development prospects, data on the exact contribution is lacking.

Using the International Futures forecasting platform, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) research found that by 2043, ambitious but reasonable progress towards gender equality would see an African economy that is US$259 billion (or 3.3%) larger than projected in the Current Path forecast. Gross Domestic Product per capita would increase by 5% and 53 million Africans would be lifted out of extreme poverty.

This event is co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and AUDA-NEPAD.

Moderator: Nyiko Khoza, Programme Officer, Private Sector Engagement, AUDA-NEPAD

Presenter: Dr Kouassi Yeboua, Senior Researcher, African Futures & Innovation, ISS

Panelists:

• Prof Gerda van Dijk, School of Public Management and Administration, University of Pretoria
• Abena Oduro, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Ghana

• Emezat Mengesha, Head of Gender, African Center for Economic Transformation

Image: Alamy Stock Photo

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