2022 Africa Braintrust: Fostering Resilient Partnerships in Africa

U.S. interests are inextricably linked to a prosperous and peaceful Africa, the fastest-growing continent in the world. Given the numerous opportunities for robust engagement in areas such as communications technology, transport, health, and climate, this Africa Braintrust will delve into strategies to advance and foster resilient partnerships with Africa. The Africa Braintrust will include four sessions on several key issues, and address ways in which the United States and international community can advance African-led solutions to these challenges.

This session will review the performance of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) since the last reauthorization in 2015 and consider areas in which it could be improved in a future reauthorization, particularly, identifying ways in which AGOA can be reoriented to approach preferential trade regionally and furthermore be amended to support the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Malawian President will give an address during the Africa Braintrust as the keynote speaker.

The fireside chat will focus on ways to improve development and trade assistance to meet development needs of the continent, such as major infrastructure development, agricultural investment, and employment opportunities for young African population.

This session will examine how the United States can work with African leaders – including heads of state, regional communities, and the African Union – to address the rising prevalence of armed conflicts on the continent. The panel will reflect on the implications of armed conflicts for global economic and security instability as well as the ensuing humanitarian and refugee crises that stem from these conflicts and will offer insight on the root causes of the conflict and exacerbating factors