A lot of work is done on the sidelines when the UN General Assembly meets, and in October, global business Dalberg, partnered with The Africa Center and the African Leadership Institute to launch the Africa@Work: Future Forum initiative in New York City. The initiative brought together leaders and innovators from across Africa and the world to create a shared vision around today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities – especially those related to African youth and employment.
Dalberg partner and 2019 Fellow Robin Miller said that Africa@Work provided curated conversations between Africans and the Diaspora that deepened a shared understanding of African labor market complexities; highlighted and accelerated innovative ideas; and channeled investments towards solutions that positively impact the future of work in Africa.
AFLI CEO Jackie Chimhanzi, who attended the event, said it was in keeping with the vision of AFLI to curate a network of young leaders who will transform Africa together.
The Tutu Fellowship played a key role in the powerful discussions that were held. Partnering organisation The Africa Center is led by 2015 Fellow Uzodinma Iweala. And participating in the talks a number of Fellows, including James Mwangi the Executive Director of the Dalberg Group and 2009 Fellow; Bright Simons, the Founder and President of mPedigree and a 2010 Fellow; Akintunde Oyebode, the Special Advisor for Trade, Investment and Innovation in Nigeria’s Ekiti State Government, and a 2019 Fellow; and others. You can read more about it at Africa.com
Elsewhere on the UNGA sidelines, other AFLI Fellows were active, too in other events. Natalie Jabangwe, the Chief Executive Officer of EcoCash Zimbabwe and a 2017 Fellow, participated on a panel titled Using Fintech to get the Money where its Needed along with the Co-Chair of the UN Secretary General's Task Force on Digital Financing. Digital Finance is one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN in which it is looking at how to empower unbanked individuals across the globe.
And on a lighter note, there's a rumour circulating in the Fellowship that celebrities promoting causes close to their hearts at the UNGA may have lined up for a selfie with esteemed policy wonk and 2018 Fellow Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg :-)
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