Mozambique is rich in mineral reserves, arable land and a coastline but remains one of the poorest globally, with high levels of poverty and inequality. Mozambique will likely continue to have a larger number of people living in extreme poverty in 2043, implying that the Current Path is not a good option. An integrated development push across key sectors is essential. Progress will depend on the quality of governance and institutions, as weak governance leads to public financial mismanagement, macroeconomic instability and poor policy implementation.

ECOWAS faces significant challenges, including threats of withdrawal by member countries, security issues, governance problems, economic stagnation, and the impacts of climate change. The analysis suggests that current progress is insufficient to overcome structural challenges without aggressive interventions. To improve its development trajectory, ECOWAS must undertake targeted socio-economic policy interventions across all sectors.

Although there are promising developments in several African countries, the continent has yet to have a modern revolution in agricultural production. The impact of the Agriculture scenario is impressive, with Africa’s agriculture production volumes more than doubling in the next two decades. Raising agricultural productivity serves as a foundation for broader sustained economic development.

Africa’s foreign policy and development efforts should unequivocally support the policies and approaches that would advance the Sustainable ‘best of world’ objective through greater convergence and more robust, more effective continental institutions, which support and sustain Africa’s aspirations and values as enshrined in Agenda 2063. The priority for African leadership is to focus laser-like on every obstacle to maximise its sustainable development prospects.

The growing divide between the Global North and Global South is driven by economic, political and environmental factors and has impacts on global governance and stability.