Africa’s struggle to convert vast natural wealth into broad-based prosperity may come down to a missing link: weak value chains. According to Islam Swaleh of the African Union Commission, poor integration between producers, processors, and markets has limited job creation, industrial growth, and incomes across the continent. From smallholder farmers shut out of finance and technology to minerals exported without local processing, the pattern is consistent. The AU is pushing back through initiatives that promote local value addition, inclusive markets, and industrialization, particularly in agriculture and mining. Combined with reforms to boost investment, fairer trade rules, and African Continental Free Trade Area-led regional integration, these efforts could help Africa transition from raw exports to value-driven growth.
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