Turning Research into Jobs and Opportunity Across Africa
Every year, millions of young Africans join the job market, looking for a chance to earn a living and build a future. Accelerating economic growth and creating more and better jobs is essential to keep pace with the working-age population, which is expected to increase by over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa alone between now and 2050. What will it take to create enough opportunities for them?
The Africa Growth and Opportunity: Research in Action (AGORA 2026) conference will focus on exploring how investments in skills can be translated into jobs that drive growth at scale in Africa. Launched as the flagship platform of the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development, AGORA was created to bring together policymakers, researchers, development institutions, think tanks, and private-sector leaders around one goal: translating knowledge into action to unlock Africa’s economic potential and turn growth into lasting jobs.
To fulfill this goal, following the first 2025 AGORA conference, partners and participants called for deeper collaboration and continued engagement beyond a single annual event. AGORA in Motion responds to that call.
Throughout the year, AGORA in Motion has become a space where ideas are tested, partnerships are strengthened, and evidence informs real-world decisions. At the Growth Academy Africa in Pretoria, experts and development practitioners discussed how to help businesses grow and create more jobs. In Kigali and in Abidjan, policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders looked at how to keep expanding access to energy to power economies. In Nairobi, local experts and researchers from around the world analyzed the latest evidence on industrial policy and how countries can build stronger industries to create jobs, strengthen trade, reduce food insecurity, and support innovations.
Knowledge dissemination and scaling what works remain at the heart of the initiative. In the last year, AGORA in Motion has supported consultations that connect researchers with policymakers and practitioners. These consultations help address real needs and fill the gaps on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to economic transformation and using standards to strengthen agrifood systems. The collaborations help ensure that research reflects the realities and priorities of those working on the ground.
AGORA in Motion is also about customizing knowledge and making it more accessible. Working with partners, the platform has produced policy briefs, research papers, multilingual podcasts, and webinars, like the AgriConnect Knowlede Series, that translate evidence into scalable solutions that help countries tackle pressing challenges. Recent products include briefs on creating better opportunities in agriculture and expanding energy access, and two research papers on trade and investment, and jobs and economic opportunities based on AGORA 2025 discussions. Podcast series exploring solutions for improving Africa’s agrifood systems, reducing air pollution, and connecting more people to reliable power are available in seven languages. An upcoming companion report to the World Development Report 2025: Standards for Development focusing on strengthening Africa’s agrifood sector and creating opportunities for smallholder farmers is under development.
Year-long engagements help build and expand bridges across institutions in Africa and Europe. Collaborations with universities, think tanks, development partners, the private sector, and networks such as the Africa Clean Air Forum, the International Network on African Energy Transition, and the On Think Tanks Global Conference are creating new opportunities to share knowledge, build partnerships, identify solutions, and expand policy impact.
The lesson from AGORA in Motion is simple. Lasting change comes from steady collaboration, not a single event. When researchers, governments, and businesses keep working together, evidence turns into action, and action can mean more jobs, stronger economies, and better opportunities for Africa's people.
AGORA 2026 will take place in Palermo on October 26-27, 2026. Check the program and speakers, and join the AGORA in Motion network. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay connected.
AGORA in Motion: A Continuous Platform for Collaboration and Impact
