NEW YORK, United States of America, July 15, 2026/APO Group/ –The search is on for “Unstoppable Africans”. The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (www.GABI.UNGlobalImpact.org) has opened nominations for a new community-led campaign to recognize and celebrate entrepreneurs, business leaders and changemakers whose ideas, leadership and actions are driving Africa’s economic transformation.

 

This global call to action leads into Unstoppable Africa 2026, GABI’s flagship event in New York from 20–21 September, co-convened by the United Nations and African Union and organized by the UN Global Compact.

Building on the momentum of the four previous Unstoppable Africa convenings, the campaign aims to recognize the business people whose work reflects the innovation, resilience and leadership driving Africa’s growth today.  An Unstoppable African is someone whose vision, courage, or actions are rewriting what is possible in their community, industry, country or continent. GABI is calling on people everywhere to propose business leaders who are driving meaningful change and influencing Africa’s present and future.

The campaign will spotlight changemakers across five areas: Energy, Digital Transformation, Trade, Creative Industries and Sports. The Energy category honours leaders driving Africa’s move to sustainable, reliable and affordable energy solutions. Digital Transformation celebrates those advancing Africa’s digital economy through technology, innovation and digital infrastructure. Trade recognises individuals creating economic opportunity, strengthening regional trade and helping African businesses grow. The Creative Industries celebrates those building sustainable businesses across film, music, fashion, art and design while strengthening Africa’s creative economy. Sports recognises athletes, investors, administrators and innovators using sports to create jobs, grow industries and unlock economic opportunity across the continent.

Through #UnstoppableAfricans, GABI is creating a global platform to amplify the people whose leadership and ideas are helping shape Africa’s future but whose stories are not always widely recognised.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, highlighted the spirit of the initiative: “With 12 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in Africa, the continent’s contribution to business, trade and investment continues to grow. Every day, African entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders are shaping industries, driving markets and strengthening economies. Through the Unstoppable Africans campaign, we want to recognize these changemakers, celebrate their achievements and provide a global platform to share their stories. We encourage people across Africa and around the world to nominate the individuals whose work deserves to be seen and recognized.”

How to Nominate

• Opening date: July 15, 2026
• Closing date: September 9, 2026
• Who can nominate: Anyone may nominate themselves or someone else whose ideas, leadership or work are driving business, investment, innovation or economic opportunity across one or more of the campaign’s five focus areas.
• Complete the nomination form here: Nominate your Unstoppable African (https://apo-opa.co/4bM3CAj)

Following the close of nominations, GABI will identify five changemakers, one from each focus area, to be featured in the #UnstoppableAfricans storytelling series ahead of Unstoppable Africa 2026. Their stories will be shared with a global audience of business leaders, investors, policymakers and partners, showcasing the people helping shape Africa’s future. Under the theme: ‘Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future’, Unstoppable Africa, GABI’s flagship event, will take place at the Marriott Marquis in New York on Sunday and Monday September 20-21.

For a chance to attend the Unstoppable Africa 2026 event in person in September, please register here: https://events.unglobalcompact.org/unstoppableafrica26/rta (https://apo-opa.co/4gFdQ8Z).

Follow the latest developments at www.GABI.UNGlobalImpact.org and (136) Unstoppable Africa — YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4wBAeF4)

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 12, 2026/APO Group/ –African countries must act collectively to shape their own future in an increasingly multipolar world. This was the central message at the opening of the 2026 African Economic Conference (AEC) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, hosted at the headquarters of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) under the theme: “Strengthening Africa’s Geopolitical Agency and Trade Resilience in a Multipolar World.”

 

Jointly organized by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), this year’s conference brings together leading economists, researchers, policymakers and experts from regional and international development institutions from 10 to 12 July.

Souleymane Diarrassouba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Governor of the Bank for Côte d’Ivoire, called for deeper reflection on Africa’s place amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

“Africa can no longer be viewed merely as a reservoir of raw materials. We must be recognized as a key player in global supply chains, a hub for industrialization, and a force capable of defending its interests within international economic governance,” he said.

Urging participants to move from analysis to action, African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah stressed the need for a new narrative centred on African agency and influence.

“For decades, discussions about Africa have focused on dependency, vulnerability and adaptation. Today, we must focus on autonomy, resilience, competitiveness and influence. Africa’s geopolitical autonomy will be measured by its ability to negotiate from a position of strength, shape the rules of the game, translate its collective interests into collective action and ultimately influence outcomes,” he said.

Dr Ould Tah added that this vision is fully aligned with the strategic framework he has outlined through the Four Cardinal Points and the New African Financing Architecture for Development (NAFAD).

Against a backdrop of mounting global challenges, speakers emphasized the urgent need to redefine international rules and arrangements to strengthen Africa’s strategic position, enhance its economic resilience and enable the continent to seize opportunities emerging from a rapidly changing global order.

Echoing these remarks, Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, underscored Africa’s growing role in shaping global governance.

“The world is being rewritten. Africa’s role is no longer to adapt to rules made by others, but to help define the rules of tomorrow. Geopolitical influence will not be granted to us; it must be earned through stronger institutions, deeper regional integration, resilient trade and the courage to act together. This conference is where ideas become strategic assets for Africa,” she said.

In a video address, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann highlighted the changing global development financing landscape, arguing that development assistance must be used more effectively while leveraging broader sources of investment.

“For many partner countries, aid is no longer a reliable or growing source of financing. This reality should prompt reflection, but it should strengthen—not weaken—our resolve. We must preserve and prioritize official development assistance where it is most needed while mobilizing significantly larger volumes of development finance from all available sources,” OECD Director of International Development Cooperation, Pilar Garrido added.

The conference’s opening day featured in-depth discussions on industrialization, human capital development, transformation of the informal sector, women’s and youth employment, natural resource governance, digital transformation of public administration and the fight against corruption. Researchers presented their findings before panels of experts and decision-makers, fostering constructive dialogue between academia and public policymakers.

Over the course of the three-day event, participants are drawing on rigorous analysis and evidence-based research to identify practical solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges. Key topics under discussion include strengthening the continent’s financial agency, developing domestic capital markets and addressing the impact of international tensions on African economies.

Since its inception in 2006, the African Economic Conference has established itself as one of the continent’s premier platforms for policy dialogue and development thinking. It promotes collaboration among researchers, government officials, development partners and private-sector actors to generate innovative solutions to Africa’s socio-economic challenges.

The conference also demonstrates how collaboration among development institutions—including the UNDP, OECD and African Development Bank—can add value by supporting evidence-based policy discussions that accelerate Africa’s development agenda.

The 2026 edition further hosts the annual meeting of the Global Network of Chief Economists of Development and Financing Institutions and will feature the launch of the African Chief Economists Network (ACE Network). In addition, graduates of the second cohort of the Public Finance Management Academy for Africa and the inaugural cohort of the Macroeconomic Policy Management Academy for Africa will receive their diplomas during a special ceremony.