IGD FRONTIER LEADERS FORUM

5-6 May 2017, Durban, South Africa. African and global business leaders gathered for the Initiative for Global Development’s Spring Frontier 100 Forum. 

Under the theme, “Driving Sustainable Economies: Private Sector Action to Spur Job Creation and Innovation for Inclusive Growth in Africa”, the forum focused on the role of the private sector in driving solutions and innovation to accelerate sustainable employment to absorb millions of African youth entering the workforce and advance the continent’s growth sectors for inclusive growth.

The Frontier 100 Forum followed the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, which ended on May 5.

>>Read the post-forum press release
>> Find out who attended the forum.
>>Check out photo highlights from the forum
>> Follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Hashtag: #Frontier100

PANEL SESSION: Unlocking the Door for Agribusiness Job Growth and Entrepreneurship through Investment in Post Harvest Loss Reduction
Transforming Africa’s agricultural industries into a business will require the use of human capital and new ways of investing in African agribusiness. Business investments in skills training and exposure to agricultural innovation can drive interest in the innovation and entrepreneurship critical for tackling large challenges like post-harvest loss. This session shared the value proposition and business case of the private sector engaging in food loss reduction and the opportunities that creates in youth employment, entrepreneurship and creation of inclusive growth across processing, technology and ICT, transport and logistics sectors.

• Moderator, Carol Pineau, Anchor | Africa Today TV
• Gavin Dalgleish, Group Managing Director | Illovo Sugar Limited
• Mamadou Biteye, Managing Director, Africa | Rockefeller Foundation
• Ken Bugul Johm, Coordinator, Special Initiatives & Lead Agricultural Economist | African Development Bank
• Mary Jane Potter, Chief Investment Officer | Innovare

“Making Farming Cool” : Listen to the first “Making Farming Cool! podcast

• Georges Collinet, Host | Afropop Worldwide
• Ken Bugul Johm, Coordinator, Special Initiatives and Lead Agricultural Economist | African Development Bank

Igniting Innovations in Skills Development for Job CreationBy 2050, 400 million people under the age of 25 will need sustainable employment. The session will focus on the role of the private sector in driving solutions and innovation to accelerate sustainable employment to absorb millions of African youth entering the workforce and advance the continent’s growth sectors for inclusive growth.

• Moderator, Carol Pineau, Anchor | Africa Today TV
• Jennifer Blanke, Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development | African Development Bank
• Matt Essieh, President & CEO | EAI Information Systems
• Nicola Galombik, Executive Director | Yellowwoods Ventures Investments
• Rajeev Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO | mElimu
• Kyeh Kim, Acting Vice President, Department of Compact Operations | Millennium Challenge Corporation