April 15, 2026 | Washington Plaza | Washington, D.C.
Africa’s Voice at World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings – Washington, D.C.
Under the theme “Accelerating Africa’s Transformation,” the meetings focus on partnerships, innovative financing, and regional cooperation to spur sustainable growth.
Accelerating Africa's Transformation
Africa @ World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings is a high-level policy convening designed to elevate African priorities within the global economic policy space and to facilitate meaningful exchanges between African leaders, policy researchers, civil society and development partners.
Building on the inaugural success of the 2025 Africa @ Annual Meetings event—which brought together senior African policymakers, multilateral agencies, private sector executives, and development experts—this 2026 Spring Meetings edition aims to deepen the dialogue on Africa’s transformation agenda at a moment of profound geopolitical and economic change.
The convening provides a neutral, respected platform where African policymaker, regional bodies, international institutions, civil society, and the private sector can engage candidly on the reforms, investments, and partnerships required to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development. It seeks to strengthen Africa’s voice in global forums and promote actionable solutions for long-standing structural challenges.
2025 Trailblazer for Africa Award
Meet the 2025 Trailblazer for Africa Award Honoree
H.E. Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Former U.S Ambassador to the United Nations
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Africa
Ambassador (Ret) Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. Representative on the UN Security Council from 2021 to 2025. During her tenure, she was a member of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet and National Security Council. Prior to this role, she led the State Department’s transition team for the incoming Biden Administration.
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Countdown to April 15, 2026
Event Highlights
Participants
Objectives of the Convening
Evidence-Based Dialogue
Encouraging evidence-based exchanges among policymakers, experts, and the private sector.
Global Economic Governance
Strengthening Africa’s role in global economic and financial decision-making.
African Policy Priorities
Highlighting African perspectives on reform, financing, resilience, and jobs.
Structural Transformation
Identifying pathways to accelerate structural change across African economies.
Global Market Integration
Supporting deeper integration into regional and global markets.
Actionable Policy Outcomes
Delivering practical recommendations to inform policy decisions.
Innovating for Job Creation
Unlocking Employment and Job Creation in Africa
Development for Sustainable Growth
Advancing Human Capital Development – Health and Education for Sustainable Growth
Infrastructure & Energy for Growth
Infrastructure and Energy as Catalysts for Growth
Boosting Africa’s Trade Growth
Enhancing Africa’s Role in Global Trade and Regional Integration
Digital Transformation & Finance
Digital Transformation & Financial Inclusion
Economic Policies & Empowerment
Gender-Responsive Economic Policies & Women’s Financial Empowerment
Event Agenda
TBA
Registration & Welcome
Delegate check-in, badge collection, networking Coffee
Official Welcome
Master of Ceremony
Opening Remarks
- Dr Denis Foretia, Executive Chairman, Nkafu Policy Institute; Founder and Co-Chair, Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation
Transition — Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Keynote Address
High-level scene-setting address framing Africa’s economic transformation agenda in the current global context
- Dr Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the African Department, International Monetary Fund
9:50 am
Transition — Panel 1 setup
Panel 1: Decent Jobs at Scale for Africa’s Youth — Securing Africa’s Future
Opens with a 10-minute evidence presentation framing Africa’s youth employment challenge and demographic context. Moderated panel covering: structural drivers of unemployment; high-potential sectors for large-scale job creation; digitalization and financing innovations.
- Dr Somik Lall, Director of Strategy, Development Economics Vice Presidency, The World Bank
- Hon. Dr. Musenero Monica Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, STI, Government of Uganda
- Anne-Cécile Coly, First Vice President, National Union of Autonomous Trade Union
- Linton Mchunu, Senior Advisor to the CEO, AUDA-NEPAD
- Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny, Director of Communications, Afrobarometer (Moderator)
Coffee Break & Networking
Panel 2: Reimagining Africa’s Markets through Intra-Continental Trade
Three thematic rounds: (1) Removing barriers to market integration; (2) Building regional value chains; (3) Digital transformation and innovative trade financing.
- Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, President & CEO, African Center for Economic Transformation
- Dr Anit Mukherjee, Senior Fellow, Global Economics and Development, Observer Research Foundation America
- Hannah Wanjie Ryder, CEO, Development Reimagined
- Dr Gero Carletto, Senior Manager, The World Bank
- Ms. Pamla Gopaul, Head Africa Policy Bridge Tank, Economic Analysis and Foresight Unit, AUDA-NEPAD (Moderator)
Bio Break
Networking Luncheon
Networking lunch. (Targeted interviews with select speakers/participants conducted in parallel during this period)
Transition — Delegates return to hall
Panel 3: Rethinking Health Financing in Africa — Unlocking Sustainable Pathways for Health Systems Resilience
Opens with a 10–12 min keynote framing health financing as a macrofiscal and development challenge. Moderated panel covering: disease burden and financing gaps; fiscal space, debt and public/multilateral financing for health; private sector and innovative financing instruments; country reform leadership and lessons.
- H.E. Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Cameroon Government
- Elizabeth Lule, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Development Action Network; Board Chair of AFIDEP
- Dr Olusoji Adeyi, President, Resilient Health Systems
- Heather Ignatius, Chief of External Affairs, PATH
- Dr Naa Dodua Dodoo, Director, Human Capital Development and Theme Lead, Population Dynamics and Demographic Dividend, AFIDEP (Moderator)
Coffee Break & Networking
Panel 4: Unlocking Capital for Africa’s Water Security and Sanitation
Moderated panel covering scaling domestic and international capital for water infrastructure; innovative financing instruments and blended finance models; governance and institutional reforms to attract investment; country-level leadership and lessons.
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Dr Albert Zeufack, Country Director (Angola, Burundi, DRC, São Tomé & Príncipe),
The World Bank -
Prof Alex Money, Founder and CEO, Watermarq
-
Erik Harvey, Strategic Programme Development Director, WaterAid
-
Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Government of Senegal
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Mahesh Kotecha, President, Structured Credit International Corp.
-
Don Christensen, Executive Chairman, InvestBank Corp.
-
Ann Thomas, Senior WASH Advisor, UNICEF
- Jaehyang So, Chair, Technical Committee, Global Water Partnership (Moderator)
Transition — Closing session setup
Closing Remarks
Closing remarks from Dr. Denis and a forward look toward Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings of October 14, 2026.
Registration Packages
Participation in the Africa @ World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings is by invitation only. Registration fees are payable only after an invitation has been formally extended. For any questions regarding registration, please contact the organizers.
Standard Delegate
- Access to all plenary and panel sessions
- Participation in networking breaks
- Conference kit and digital materials
- Coffee and refreshments
Executive Delegate
- All Standard Delegate benefits
- Reserved seating at all sessions
- Priority check-in
- Access to speakers’ lounge
- Personalized name badge
VIP Delegate
- All Executive Delegate benefits
- VIP table at Trailblazer Award Luncheon
- Recognition in digital
program
Academic / Nonprofit Delegate
Proof required
- Access to all sessions
- Digital program materials
Student Delegate
Student ID required
- Access to all sessions
- Digital materials and Student networking events
Highlights of the last edition
Convenor
Co-Convenors
Our Partners
Washington Plaza
All our activities will happen at Grand Ballroom B & C
Venue Details:
Address
10 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC 20005