In a global context marked by instability, Africa asserts its desire to strengthen its economic resilience through the synergy of knowledge. Gathered in Abidjan for the African Economic Conference (AEC 2026), decision-makers and experts have reached a major milestone with the creation of the African Chief Economists Network (ACE-Network). This initiative aims to forge sovereign expertise capable of anticipating crises, providing lasting guidance for public policies, and strengthening the continent’s voice in global economic governance.
Faced with the fragmentation of international trade, geopolitical tensions, and the recurrence of economic shocks, Africa is demonstrating remarkable resilience. While the continent faces structural challenges, including GDP per capita growth contained at 1.9% and financing needs estimated at $1.3 trillion, its fundamentals remain solid. In 2026, the continent’s average growth is expected to reach 4.4% according to African Development Bank projections, driven by the dynamic performance of 22 countries exceeding the 5% threshold. Gathered in Abidjan from 10 to 12 July 2026, participants at the African Economic Conference 2026 nevertheless stressed that this momentum cannot be sustained without increased intellectual convergence. The priority for decision-makers is now clear: to unify analyses, pool statistical data, and promote the emergence of endogenous economic knowledge, designed by and for Africa.
“The challenges facing our economies are becoming increasingly interconnected. Financial volatility, financial fragmentation, climate change, pandemics, and other environmental developments mean that countries can no longer operate in isolation. Cross-border challenges are evolving faster than our policymaking processes. Moreover, while many of these shocks originate from external factors, they are amplified by our structural weaknesses.”
Dr. Hanan Morsy, Chief Economist, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) – Egypt
The situation is unequivocal: economic policies, too long developed in silos or modelled on exogenous frameworks, sometimes struggle to respond to interconnected global crises. This structural vulnerability is manifested by a projected inflation of 10.4% for 2026 and a median public debt ratio of around 60% of GDP. The goal is therefore to design adapted interpretive frameworks, free from dogmas sometimes disconnected from realities on the ground.
“The African Economic Network will serve as a platform for developing innovative solutions that are essential for Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It will help develop fiscal tools capable of withstanding climate shocks and optimizing public financial capacity, as well as employment models that will transform our region into a global engine of productivity. ”
Dr. Hanan Morsy, Chief Economist, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) – Egypt
Au-delà des cadres théoriques, cette harmonisation exige une mutation des méthodes de gouvernance. Les débats d’Abidjan ont mis en exergue l’impératif de dépasser la gestion fragmentée des politiques publiques. L’articulation cohérente des stratégies budgétaires, commerciales, industrielles, climatiques et de gestion de la dette apparaît désormais comme le levier indispensable pour maximiser l’efficacité des réformes et prémunir les économies africaines contre les chocs exogènes.
“Africa needs not only better national policies, but also stronger collective economic intelligence.We need stronger analytical capacity, better evidence-based data sharing, improved identification of emerging risks, and closer coordination among the stakeholders responsible for shaping economic policies across our continent.”
Dr. Hanan Morsy, Chief Economist, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) – Egypt
This political and intellectual ambition has materialised with the launch of the African Chief Economists Network (ACE-Network). This strategic platform now brings together the continent’s high-level decision-making sphere—presidential advisors, central bank governors, high-ranking ministerial officials, and think tank directors—around a single mandate: to build scientific sovereignty and produce cutting-edge expertise in service of Africa’s development.
