The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) has published its Unstoppable Africa 2024 Executive Summary, highlighting key strategies to redefine Africa’s financial landscape and drive economic development.
The report calls for an inclusive financing framework to address the continent’s economic challenges. It emphasizes concessional financing, increased private sector investment, and mobilization of domestic resources as essential tools to unlock Africa’s growth potential.
GABI also underscores the need for African institutions to take charge in reshaping global perceptions of risk, advocating for innovative financial solutions that can help de-risk projects and attract long-term investments.
Now in its third year, the Unstoppable Africa conference has solidified its status as a major Africa-focused event in New York, coinciding with the high-level opening week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The gathering attracts global leaders and key stakeholders.
Sanda Ojiambo, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, described the report as a reflection of the groundbreaking solutions and impactful discussions from the 2024 event. She emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing Africa’s role in global economic transformation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063.
The 2024 Unstoppable Africa event took place on September 25–26 alongside the UNGA, drawing more than 4,000 participants. This included 1,545 attendees in person and 2,531 online. High-profile figures such as six Heads of State and Government from Barbados, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, the Netherlands, and Poland, as well as 14 government ministers from 13 countries, were in attendance. Leading figures from the private sector, business, sports, music, and the creative industries also participated.
The report highlights significant achievements in Africa’s energy sector, including the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide clean energy access to 300 million people by 2030. It showcases successful renewable energy projects in Togo, Mauritania, and Ghana, where mini-grids and distributed solutions are expanding electricity access in rural areas. The document also emphasizes the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa’s energy transition and the need to enhance financial and climate action support for these businesses.
In the digital space, the report highlights Africa’s rapid technological adoption and youthful population as key drivers of economic growth. It underscores the importance of digital skills development programs that equip young Africans for success in the evolving digital economy. The launch of Itana, Africa’s first Digital Economic Zone, is featured as a major milestone, providing a platform for global and Pan-African businesses to operate remotely and tap into Africa’s talent and market.
The creative sector is recognized as a major economic force, with Africa’s fashion, film, music, and entertainment industries identified as key contributors to job creation, tourism, and global brand-building.
In sports, the report calls for investments in modern infrastructure and the establishment of continental leagues to boost economic growth, foster social unity, and promote African culture on the global stage. It highlights initiatives such as the Queens of the Continent Foundation and the NBA Africa Startup Accelerator Award, which are creating opportunities for young athletes and entrepreneurs.
GABI will host the fourth edition of the Unstoppable Africa conference on September 21–22, 2025, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, alongside the UN General Assembly.