Is Africa Rising or Not? A Discussion of Economic Opportunities and Development Challenges in Africa

On Thursday, April 25, the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings (AGI) and the Congressional African Staff Association (CASA) hosted a briefing for congressional staffers on whether Africa’s recent growth reflects the economic opportunity that many suggest, or if the region’s inequality and other challenges will stand in the way of the continent’s potential being realized. Panelists included Brookings Senior Fellow John Page and Joseph Kweku Assan, assistant professor of political economy of sustainable development at Brandeis University. Andrew Westbury, associate director of the Africa Growth Initiative, moderated the discussion.

This event is part of the Africa Policy Dialogue on the Hill, a monthly congressional briefing hosted by AGI and CASA on topical issues relevant to Africa’s growth and security.

TRANSCRIPT

MR. WESTBURY: Okay. I guess I will act as — I’ll do the introductions and also try to moderate the discussion, but I don’t think I’ll have a lot to worry about here with this unruly crowd we have.

So, my name is Andrew Westbury, I think I’ve met all of you before, and I’m the assistant director of the Africa Growth Initiative, and it’s pleasure to welcome you to the April edition of the Africa Policy Dialogue on the Hill.

Some of you are repeat customers and have been to these events before, but on a monthly basis we try to hold a breakfast briefing in collaboration with our colleagues at the Congressional African Staff Association, one of them, Greg Simpkins, who should be joining us shortly, and the goal is to create a forum for informed discussion about African economic issues for the United States Congress on Capitol Hill.

Read the full transcript »