Capacity Building for Africa’s Transformation: A Review of Priorities and Research Needs

Abstract

Since the 2000s, Africa’s economic growth has on average increased by more than 5% annually, outpacing most other regions of the world. While it is widely agreed that Africa made significant progress in terms of growth in the last 15 years, there are still some impediments to achieving its full development potential. To keep the development momentum and sustain the achievements, socio-economic transformation has become the main focus of African countries at the continental, regional, and national levels. The importance is to ensure that structural transformation is embedded in the continental (Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030), regional, and national development plans/strategies. However, evidence points to one key issue that needs to be addressed if Africa is to unlock its full development potential—the capacity to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate the development strategies. Building of such capacity will require change in mind-set at all levels with regard to doing business unusual.