Africa.com is proud to be at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and bring you exclusive coverage of what Africa needs to know about this meeting of powerful global business and political leaders.
Africa's Climate Heroes in Davos
This year’s Annual Meeting featured a wider array of climate heroes than ever before.
Helping bring about systemic change to return our planet to a sustainable path. There was an unprecedented number of leaders from across civil society making progress at the community, national and global level.

Teenage Changemaker, Ayakha Melithafa (South Africa)
The 17 year-old South African advocates for low-carbon footprint in her community and advocates for the inclusion of diverse voices in climate activism.

From Civil Society and Academia, Wanjuhi Njoroge (Kenya)
A Global Shaper, Wanjuhi founded #SaveOurForestsKE a campaign that raised awareness about the decimation of forests and led to a nine-month ban on national forest logging in the country.
Cultural Leaders





Thando Hopa, Diversity Advocate and International Model, Thando Hopa Media, South Africa; Cultural Leader, speaking during the session The Beauty of Inclusion at the World Economic Forum, 22nd of January. Congress Centre – in Betazone Copyright by World Economic Forum/Jakob Polacsek
Eddie Ndopu, Namibia



Edward Ndopu, United Nations Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals Advocate, New York, speaking during the session Closing the Disability Inclusion Gap at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23rd of January. Congress Centre – in Salon Copyright by World Economic Forum/Jakob Polacsek
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - Investing in a Climate-Resilient Future




Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, USA, speaking during the session Investing in a Climate-Resilient Future at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23rd of January. Congress Centre – in XChange Copyright by World Economic Forum/Jakob Polacsek
A Conversation with Standard Bank Chief Executive, Sim Tshabalala at #WEF20
Africa Showed Up to WEF2020
Forging A Sustainable Path Towards A Common Future
This panel was unique in that it featured the youngest speakers in the history of WEF. Youth environmental activist Greta Thunberg delivered a powerful message on climate change, as expected. But the show stopper on this panel was Natasha Mwansa from Zambia. This teen runs her own foundation and is having a significant impact on girls and women’s reproductive health across the African continent. Check her out in the video below:




We caught up with Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana Minister of Finance
Ghana’s economy continued to expand in 2019 as the first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth was estimated at 6.7%, compared with 5.4% in the same period of last year. … The relatively high quarterly growth was driven by a strong recovery in the services sector which grew by 7.2% compared with 1.2% in 2018. Listen as Ken Ofori-Atta stops for a chat with Teresa Clarke.
Listen Here:
More from the World Economic Forum
Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters is the foremost creative force for engaging the world’s top leaders in collaborative activities to shape the global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of each year.
It brings together 3,000 participants from around the world, and aims to give concrete meaning to “stakeholder capitalism”, assist governments and international institutions in tracking progress towards the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and facilitate discussions on technology and trade governance.
“People are revolting against the economic ‘elites’ they believe have betrayed them, and our efforts to keep global warming limited to 1.5°C are falling dangerously short,” said Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman at the World Economic Forum. “With the world at such critical crossroads, this year we must develop a ‘Davos Manifesto 2020’ to reimagine the purpose and scorecards for companies and governments. It is what the World Economic Forum was founded for 50 years ago, and it is what we want to contribute to for the next 50 years.”

What is Davos? Why Does it Matter?
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters is the foremost creative force for engaging the world’s top leaders in collaborative activities to shape the global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of each year.
It will bring together 3,000 participants from around the world, and aim to give concrete meaning to “stakeholder capitalism”, assist governments and international institutions in tracking progress towards the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and facilitate discussions on technology and trade governance.
“People are revolting against the economic ‘elites’ they believe have betrayed them, and our efforts to keep global warming limited to 1.5°C are falling dangerously short,” said Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman at the World Economic Forum. “With the world at such critical crossroads, this year we must develop a ‘Davos Manifesto 2020’ to reimagine the purpose and scorecards for companies and governments. It is what the World Economic Forum was founded for 50 years ago, and it is what we want to contribute to for the next 50 years.”
The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.
The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).
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