The Olympics Analogy: Africa must embrace bold moves to achieve transformation at scale, by Elsie G Attafuah

“As the world cheered for the remarkable feats at the just ended 2024 Olympics, I was impressed by the extraordinary displays of human endurance, focus, and determination. The athletes on the global stage showcased a spirit that transcends sport: the relentless pursuit of excellence. This Olympic mindset serves as a powerful analogy for Africa’s quest for transformation. Just as Olympians embody a blend of discipline, teamwork, and an unyielding drive to surpass limits, Africa must adopt this same fervor and resolve in its journey toward progress.”
In the past decade, global development has surged forward with astonishing speed. Technological advancements, economic shifts, strategic trade evolutions, and unprecedented global investments have propelled nations to new heights. Africa has also made significant strides, but the race is intensifying such that mere incremental progress is no longer enough. The continent must not just keep pace but leap ahead with vigor, wisdom, and foresight. In this high-stakes race, every moment counts — small strides will imply falling further behind.

Consider the stark economic realities revealed by the World Development Indicators. In 1990, East Asia and the Pacific had Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita that was 1.8 times that of Sub-Saharan Africa. Fast forward to today, that gap has expanded to 5.2 times. South Asia, once behind, has surged forward, nearly doubling its GDP per capita relative to Africa. Europe and Central Asia, already seven times wealthier in 1990, have now stretched their lead to an astounding tenfold by 2023. The question is about how swiftly the continent can mobilize to make bold and transformative strides.

To ignite Africa’s transformation, bold, dynamic changes are needed across multiple sectors. Take the agriculture sector — a critical component in the transformation journey. Almost 58% of the continent’s population is experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity, an uncomfortable statistic. Africa can no longer afford to be paralyzed by hunger, and neither should low productivity remain a topic of discussion when the world is awash with emerging technologies that can transform the sector. A radical reinvention of this sector is required, embracing cutting-edge technologies and fostering vibrant, competitive markets. The education system is another crucial area with significant potential for improvement. Many educational institutions are still using traditional methods that sometimes fail to connect theoretical learning with practical application. This gap can leave graduates less prepared for the demands of today’s rapidly evolving job market. There is an opportunity to enhance the system by integrating real-world applications into the curriculum. Investing in a more dynamic education system that fosters creativity and innovation is essential. There is a need to future-proof our education system — transform how our young people learn and most importantly how knowledge transfer systems function.

Productivity is another crucial area where the continent can rise to the occasion. According to international labor statistics, a worker in Sub-Saharan Africa currently produces 13 times less output per hour than a counterpart in North America. While Asia-Pacific workers were 1.5 times more productive than those in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2005, this gap has only widened. Heavy investment in skills development and creating environments where innovation can thrive is essential.

Speaking of innovation, Africa’s young population is a wellspring of creativity and potential. Yet, a critical disconnect exists between the dynamism of the continent’s youth and the ability of states to support, scale up, and sustain these innovations. The 2023 Global Innovation Index starkly reveals this challenge: 17 of the 20 lowest-ranked countries for innovation are in Africa. This gap highlights not a deficiency in talent but a systemic failure to provide the necessary support and infrastructure for innovation to thrive.

UNDP is committed to transforming this potential into a powerful force for the continent’s future. Our timbuktoo Initiative , launched with African Presidents at the 24th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, seeks to bridge this gap by fostering a vibrant ecosystem of tech-driven startups led by Africa’s young innovators solving the continent’s complex development challenges, while promoting growth.

The official launch of UNDP’s maiden state-of-the-art Innovation Centre in Lagos in July 2024 Is a bold commitment by the Organisation and commitment to re-Imagine Its development offer to Nigeria. By playing a dual role, the Innovation Centre will not only power national and sub-regional growth In Nigeria through Innovation, but will also host the recently launched timbuktoo Africa Fintech Hub — a continental initiative aimed at capitalizing on technological Innovations In the financial sector to accelerate growth.

UNDP is also setting up University Pods across the continent. In Nigeria, our ambition is, for starters, is to partner with renowned universities to create centers of excellence where young minds will develop scalable solutions for Africa. We believe in these pods as engines of transformation, designed to address the disconnect between youthful creativity and state-supported scaling. By establishing University Innovation Pods, we are helping to bridge the gap between theory and practice, transforming how knowledge is transferred and positioning Universities as platforms for innovation, problem solving and entrepreneurship.

Make no mistake: innovation should not be a preserve for those with the privilege of formal education. At UNDP, we passionately believe that innovation can flourish even in underserved communities where resilience meets creativity. Our Young Africa Innovates programme jointly designed with Mastercard Foundation is dedicated to nurturing and bringing to life the innovative potential of these communities, ensuring that their ideas are given the support and platform they deserve. Through this programme, user-led solutions will be incubated in response to context-specific challenges.

Africa’s moment to seize transformative change is now! Just as Olympians drive themselves to break barriers and set new records, Africa must harness its full potential with unwavering resolve. The continent is uniquely positioned for a dynamic leap forward, fueled by its immense resources and boundless creativity. The time for incremental progress is over; the need for bold, decisive action is urgent. Africa must act with unprecedented speed and confidence, leveraging its strengths and seizing every opportunity to forge a future marked by excellence. Now is the time to sprint forward and redefine the trajectory of Africa’s development, noting that the power to transform the continent lies firmly in its own hands.

Elsie G. Attafuah, is the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative