Advancing pathways to job creation and economic development
The second edition of the DG’s Talk, hosted by IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, brought together a global audience for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on Africa’s development trajectory, anchored in agriculture, but extending far beyond it. At the center of the dialogue was Dr Brahima Sangafowa Coulibaly, whose global economic perspective helped frame the continent’s most pressing challenge: how to simultaneously drive food security, create jobs at scale, and achieve structural economic transformation.
- Science
The second edition of the DG’s Talk, hosted by IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, brought together a global audience for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on Africa’s development trajectory, anchored in agriculture, but extending far beyond it. At the center of the dialogue was Dr Brahima Sangafowa Coulibaly, whose global economic perspective helped frame the continent’s most pressing challenge: how to simultaneously drive food security, create jobs at scale, and achieve structural economic transformation.
Held on 27 March 2026, the session themed: “New pathways to job creation and development in Africa,” convened participants from across Africa, Europe, and North America, reflecting the growing recognition that Africa’s agricultural transformation is a global priority. But beyond participation, one key message that emerged was Africa’s future will be determined by how effectively it aligns policy, innovation, and investment.
Drawing from his experience as a seasoned Economist, Dr Coulibaly emphasized that agriculture must be repositioned, not as a subsistence sector, but as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and resilience. He highlighted the importance of unlocking new financing pathways, strengthening macroeconomic stability, and increasingly leveraging tools such as artificial intelligence and robotics to accelerate transformation at scale.