Why Africa matters to the United States: Top 5 reasons

Earlier this year, President Biden announced that his administration would host the second-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, as a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to Africa and desire for “increased cooperation on shared global priorities.” The summit, taking place from December 13 to 15, is one of the biggest U.S.-Africa engagements—and the first head-of-state gathering for African leaders and a U.S. president in the nation’s capital since 2014.

For years, U.S. engagement in Africa has emphasized poverty reduction, foreign aid, and addressing conflict and insecurity. While critically important, these priorities have not fully kept pace with dramatic changes occurring across the region, as Africa today has emerged as one of the world’s premier destinations for cutting-edge innovation and inspiring entrepreneurship. This upcoming summit presents an unparalleled opportunity for the U.S. to recalibrate its approach to the region’s rapidly changing dynamics.

On December 8, 2022, in support of this goal, the Africa Growth Initiative (AGI) at the Brookings Institution convened policymakers with interest in African issues as well as entrepreneurs and leaders in business, civil society, government, and the media to launch a booklet on five suggested priorities for U.S.-Africa policy. The event explored different strategies the U.S. could adopt to reinforce trade and investment in Africa, as well as advance shared values on issues of food security, the climate crisis, global health, and infrastructure.

This event was available for in-person attendance or to watch online. Online viewers can submit questions via email to [email protected] or via Twitter at #AfricaSummit2022.

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