Theme: Cooperation in a Fragmented World
Gender Equality Is Stalling: 131 Years To Close The Gap
Gender parity globally has recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels, but the pace of change has stagnated as converging crises slow progress, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023. The report finds that the overall gender gap has closed by 0.3 percentage points compared with last year’s edition. The year of expected parity therefore remains the same as in the 2022 edition: 2154. The overall progress in 2023 is partly due to improvement
REPORT: AfCFTA-A New Era for Global Business and Investment in Africa
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), established in 2018, will create the world’s largest free trade area, bringing transformative change and tremendous opportunity to African economies and business environments. Its adoption and implementation will accelerate intra-African trade and develop regional and local value chains, creating new business dynamics that offer investors access to a population of 1.7 billion people with combined business and consumer spending reaching $6.7 billion by 2030. Global businesses have an
Leadership in Tech: Here are 4 pathways to getting more women to the top
By Sam Burman. Partner, Heidrick & Struggles Female representation among functional tech leadership, e.g. chief technology officer or chief information officer, has been slow to level up. Improved gender balance among C-level roles is better for businesses as it unlocks consumer spending and gives companies a competitive edge. Organizations can redress gender imbalances by focusing on internal talent development, considering hybrid roles, improving inclusivity and casting the net wider when recruiting. Gender balance within functional
#WEF23: The Return of Manufacturing
Speakers: Teresa Clarke, Roland Busch, Bandar Alkhorayef, Jacqueline Poh, Gretchen Whitmer, Michel Doukeris, Francisco Betti
Why digital public infrastructure can be a gamechanger for children
In many parts of the world, the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be over and lives are back to pre-pandemic normal. This is not the case for everyone, however. The shadow cast by the pandemic is long and still defines the lives of children, especially in low-and middle-income countries of the world. Here are some examples of how: In the first two years of the pandemic, 100 million more children fell into poverty, a
These were the biggest AI developments in 2022. Now we must decide how to use them
In 2022, we were presented with several stunning developments in artificial intelligence (AI). Some believe that these advances push the limits of what we have now (narrow AI) towards the holy grail of artificial general intelligence (a machine that can mimic the thinking and problem-solving capacities of humans but faster and more accurately). Among the many developments in 2022, four breakthroughs are of note and will be significant in 2023 and beyond both within the
True prosperity will be found in the embrace of the digital economy. These farmers prove it
In India, farmer Saravanan Madhavan digitally connects with buyers to sell his crops. Payments are credited to his account the same day. It’s a welcome departure from how other farmers like him get paid: often late and only partially. Buyer Ramesh Kumar once trekked through fields to find farmers. Now, technology helps him locate and purchase the exact produce he needs at the best price, saving him time and money on travel. For farmers, and
7 essentials to create a resilient global healthcare supply chain
It was 20 years ago, when the SARS outbreak exposed key fragilities in the global healthcare supply chain, that people internationally began to talk seriously about pandemic preparedness. Eight years ago, when the Ebola outbreak proved the world no better prepared to address outbreaks, there was more talk and some action. This included the founding of the Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN), by the World Health Organization, World Economic Forum, World Bank, World Food Programme,
6 work challenges the metaverse will address
The metaverse represents the next quantum leap forward. It promises to change how we socialize, play, learn and shop and will also heavily influence how we work. It promises big impact – as a $5 trillion industry by 2030 and with a positive, “breakthrough” or “transformational” effect on work, according to industry experts. Whilst there are challenges of a shared, persistent, real-time 3D internet, opportunities to revolutionize the world of work are everywhere. 1. Rethinking employee onboarding The showdown for top talent in
Moderated by Teresa Clarke
Chairman and Executive Editor, Africa.com
The ongoing disruptions have underscored the crucial importance of manufacturing for the health of the global economy and well-being of society. What will manufacturing look like by 2030 and what role will it play?