The Africa Strategy for 2024 - 2025

We have an ambitious agenda in Africa. The international community looks to the African continent with its diverse markets and solutions for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges and critical transitions. The continent is set to outperform much of the rest of the world in economic growth over the next two years, with several traditionally strong industries slated to be some of the fastest-growing – construction, mineral resources, telecommunications and agriculture – as well as fast growth from emerging industries in sports and the creative arts. However, Africa faces challenges such as climate and humanitarian crises, underdeveloped infrastructure, limited access to technology and finance, market fragmentation, foreign currency volatility, inability to earn a living wage and the need for resilient business strategies amongst others. The private sector and UN Global Compact are well positioned to take a role in building multi-stakeholder solutions to address these challenges.

With this backdrop, the UN Global Compact launched its Africa Strategy from 2021-2023, focused on articulating a shared vision for the continent and aimed to advance corporate sustainability and ethical business practices. The Africa Strategy for 2024-2025 evolves this effort by aligning global and regional approaches, given the interconnected nature of international and African-specific goals. By addressing outstanding priorities from the previous strategy, this reinvigorated approach seeks clarity and comprehensiveness. Furthermore, this strategy takes into account the priorities that are top of mind for African businesses, such as the cost of capital, energy and ease of doing business. 

The Strategy will accelerate and scale the impact of African businesses by upholding the Ten Principles as well as delivering the SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063 through ambitious, accountable companies and environments that enable change. Two objectives and three key pillars support this ambition: the two objectives are growing impact through action and driving inclusive impact, supported by the pillars of value proposition, growth and operating model. In addition, two enabling initiatives are instituted through this strategy: the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) and the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI).

Moreover, we will focus our efforts in programmatic areas core to the African private sector including Climate and Environment, Labour and Decent Work / Living Wage, Gender Equality and Sustainable Finance. Additional focus areas that we will build upon include Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions/Anti-corruption, Oceans, Human Rights and Water Resilience. 

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