By 
The future can be shaped by our collective imagination, so we must share our vision. That is one of the core principles that has guided the Africa 2.0 community as it has come together in recent weeks to compile the paper “Collateral Benefits” that launches today on the organisations website. The paper brings together 27 opinion pieces from 17 thinkers and doers, providing a nuanced, multi-country-multi-sector outlook on both the challenges and opportunities for Africa, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Africa 2.0 is a pan-African civil society group
made up of emerging and established leaders who have a shared vision for the
transformation of the continent. This paper draws on the experience and
expertise of the organisation’s membership community, to bring a much-needed
Africa perspective to the global conversation surrounding the impact of
COVID-19. Mamadou Touré, Chairman and Founder of Africa 2.0 said “there is
much to be proud of within Africa and its Diaspora, but also much that needs to
improve and the COVID-19 pandemic is a test to our African resilience. With
Collateral Benefits we want to use this situation to ignite actions that leave
behind a long-lasting legacy based on unity, freedom and prosperity”.
Lead editors of the paper, Susana Edjang and
Sarah J Owusu explain: ‘we wanted to create a rich resource, that lifts up the
human perspective and encourages African people everywhere to start imagining
what may be possible beyond the immediate disruption caused by the spread of
the virus.’
The contributions to the paper span topics such
as agriculture, gender relations, media and culture, youth, health and
education, leadership, entrepreneurship and diaspora. The editors want this
paper to encourage people to join the conversation, bring visibility to what is
happening and spark action so that, as they say in the paper, “when we
emerge from our lockdowns, the narrative has changed for the better, for the
benefit of all”.
Read the article here: https://tinyurl.com/y9ha6aln
Collateral Benefits – Africa 2.0 paper
List of articles
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
The accelerated transformation of Africa’s digital economy
Grace Obado
At last a pan-African synchrotron
Susana Edjang
Platform revolution for Africa rising
Teddy Waria
AGRICULTURE & SUSTAINABILITY
A green revolution: Putting agribusiness first
Caleb Tamfu
A chance for sustainable food security?
Ayo Sotinrin
ECONOMY, FINANCE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Opportunities on the financial front
Caleb Tamfu
Africa’s energy: a sudden confluence of uncertainties
Adebowale Lukanmbi
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Time for sleeping giants to wake
Doreen Mbaya
Africa’s secret weapon: women and youth
Mireille Tushiminina
We all must be entrepreneurs
Ruth Dresseign Deneke
Let entrepreneurs redefine the economy
Sefa Gohoho Boatin
HEALTHCARE
Agrihealth: expanding Africa’s superfoods
Caleb Tamfu
Healthcare is an ecosystem
Ngu H. Morcho
Investments in health are investments in our future
Ngu H. Morcho
A renewed value for African health workers
Susana Edjang
LEADERSHIP & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
After the masks
Ciku Kimeria
Seize the moment and look within
Dr. Elizabeth Mary Okelo
A new narrative: the rise of African leadership
Sarah J. Owusu
INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Accelerating the case for women’s empowerment
Marina Diboma
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for
Sefa Gohoho Boatin
CLIMATE CHANGE
A greater commitment to green growth
Ayo Sotinrin
ARTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Overcoming fake news and media
Obi Asika
Nurturing the thirst for African original content
Obi Asika
Created in our own image
Sefa Gohoho Boatin
COMMUNITY, CULTURE & DIASPORA
Recognition, justice and development
Susana Edjang
Time to put people first
Rita Chami
FABA. For Africa. By Africa. (an origin story)
Obi Asika
