From constraint to catalyst: unlocking Africa’s demographic potential

Targeted investments can turn Africa’s population boom into a driver of productivity and prosperity.

Africa’s population is growing faster than any region globally, yet this has not translated into a demographic dividend. Instead, high fertility rates and dependency burdens continue to constrain growth, delaying Africa’s window of opportunity by decades.

Using forecasts from the Institute for Security Studies’ (ISS) African Futures and Innovation programme, this seminar examines how investments in health, education, gender equality and job creation can unlock productivity and accelerate economic growth. Speakers will also consider the effect of Africa’s demographic structure on employment, urbanisation, governance and stability, and what this means for achieving Agenda 2063.

This webinar is co-hosted by the ISS and the AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). It is the second in the 2026 Erudite seminar series convened by the two organisations.

Moderator: Mahao Leuta Mahao, Advisor, Africa Policy Bridge Tank, AUDA-NEPAD

Panellists:

• Prof Samir KC, Shanghai University and Senior Research Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria
• Alize le Roux, Senior Researcher, African Futures & Innovation, ISS
• Fasil Birega, Senior Programme Officer, Strategic Planning, AUDA-NEPAD

Image: REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

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