Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action
Check the schedule and meet the speakers on the AGORA page. Stay tuned for updates from Palermo and join the online conversation using #AGORA25.
AGORA Day 3 Highlights
The final day of AGORA focused on exploring Africa’s vast agribusiness potential by aligning initiatives, promoting innovation, and mobilizing investment. Agnes Kalibata, Founder and Chair: C4Impact Advisory Group, in her keynote address shared insights on Africa’s food systems and how to drive inclusive economic transformation to create jobs.
Our panels discussed how Africa can pursue a new generation of agriculture-led transformation, linking research, education, and trade to a modern vision of agriculture-led structural transformation.
Research in action means going to the field, asking questions, and trusting the people who are facing the challenges. For research in agriculture, it also means listening to the farmers and learning from them.
- Yaw Nyarko, Professor of Economics at New York University and Director of the Africa House and the Development Research Institute
A dedicated private sector panel discussed policies and financing tools that can unlock enterprise potential, strengthen local capital markets and accelerate private-sector solutions in Africa.
Africa’s transformation depends on private investment that connects agriculture, energy, and logistics. IFC’s integrated approach through initiatives like AgriConnect and Mission 300 is building pathways for job creation.
-Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa
The closing session, Research in Action, led by the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development, showcased the Institute’s tools, such as the Accelerating Development podcast and the AVA research assistant, and offerings to connect, share knowledge, and partner.
This podcast episode explores new research from the African Center for Economic Transformation, one the Institute's partners.
Indermit Gill, World Bank Group Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, provided closing remarks and reflected on the conversations, networking, and ideas discussed during the panels, fireside chats, keynote addresses, and in between session.
AGORA is just getting started as the work continues with our partners with follow up engagements to track progress, respond to new challenges, and deepen partnerships for Africa’s future.
AGORA Day 2 Highlights
Today at AGORA, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, delivered the Mattei Lecture on Trade and Investments. She was introduced by Luigi Federico Signorini, Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Italy.
Discussions in Palermo also focused on energy transformation in Africa. Experts and participants agreed that reliable electricity doesn’t just power machines – it powers jobs.
Mission 300 sets a sure pathway to job creation. In the spirit of the Mattei Plan, and through strong partnerships with governments, other MDBs, the private sector, and philanthropies, we aim to push forward access to electricity in the region.
- Guangzhe Chen, World Bank Group Vice President, Infrastructure
A special session on the recently launched AgriConnect connected policymakers, partners, and private sector leaders to explore practical approaches and partnerships to deliver on the ambition.
Young researchers from Africa injected new voices into the policy conversation. They shared data-driven insights on jobs, agriculture, and macroeconomic reform in the region.
AGORA Day 1 Highlights
Florizelle Liser, President and CEO for Corporate Council for Africa, delivered a keynote address on Growth and Opportunity for Africa.
AGORA officially started with opening remarks from local leaders from Palermo and Sicily; Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italian Minister of Economy and Finance; and Luigi Federico Signorini, Senior Deputy Governor, Bank of Italy. The sessions kicked off with the first keynote address from Florizelle Liser, President and CEO for Corporate Council for Africa.
High-level sessions on jobs and growth, investing in energy, and creating partnerships for a resilient and interconnected Africa underscored a shared goal: transforming collaboration into opportunity.
The Vice President of Ghana, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, gave a keynote address on job creation in Ghana and shared about opportunities for her country and the continent.
Partnership must now evolve from rhetoric of assistance to the reality of shared prosperity. Africa and Europe must build together as equals, investing in innovation, technology, and creating jobs.
- Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of Ghana
A session from the Ministry of Economy and Finance spotlighted two initiatives that reflect Italy’s Mattei Plan vision: Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain enhancement for green energy transition, and A Roadmap to Connect Africa to Europe for Clean Energy Production.
A fireside chat on Investing in Energy looked at practical building blocks for investments in energy to turn into development opportunities.
The day concluded with Ted-style presentation from African and European entrepreneurs who showcased bold ideas transforming African markets through agri-tech and energy.
Salma Seetaroo, Cashew Coast Co-Founder & CEO, shared how her company is creating jobs by exporting cashews to Europe.
See the latest photos from AGORA, hosted at the historic Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo, Italy.
From November 3-5, the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development, the Bank of Italy, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, and African partners host the Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action conference in Palermo, Italy. Held at the Palazzo dei Normanni, the event is bringing together experts and leaders from Africa, Italy, and Europe to align research, investment, and policy around one goal: creating jobs and opportunity for Africa’s next generation.
