Agenda 2063, a visionary continental framework conceived amidst the jubilant commemorations of 50 years of the African Union (AU) in 2013, charted a transformative path for the subsequent half-century, culminating in the pivotal year of 2063.

Ms. Botho Bayendi, the Director of Strategic Planning and Delivery of the African Union Commission, says Africa is destined for a brighter future encapsulated in Agenda 2063, which as a long-term strategy, will define the path to 100 years of existence for Africa’s continental organisation,

Ms. Bayendi emphasised the significance of Agenda 2063 as a blueprint for growth and transformation noting that, “It is a guiding light, not just for individual nations but for the collective aspirations of the entire continent, rallying all stakeholders to action, she said while speaking on the side-lines of the 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, Ghana.  Reflecting on the Agenda 2063's relationship with the United Nations' Agenda 2030, Ms. Bayendi noted alignment, highlighting the interconnectedness of global and continental agendas in pursuit of shared goals.

Overall performance

"We are driving towards the Africa we want in terms of our vision where we want prosperity, where we want integration and where we want peace," she said, underlining the importance of Africa's voice on the global stage.

At the heart of Agenda 2063 lie seven aspirations, each representing a pinnacle of achievement for the continent, and which have been further elaborated into ‘moonshots” detailing which aspects of the Agenda 2063 Aspirations the continent needs to focus on if it is to achieve the goals and priority areas inclusive economic growth and development. However, as Bayendi acknowledged, progress hasn't been without its challenges. The first decade of implementation of Agenda 2063 has seen achievements but also setbacks, with an overall performance of around 39% against set targets.

Bayendi pointed out external shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic as impediments to progress but remained optimistic about the groundwork laid for future endeavours.

Moreover, she underscored the synergy between Agenda 2063 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognising the importance of coherence in driving development efforts across member states.

African Ethos

One of the moonshots, the elevation of African countries to middle-income status, which is founded on Aspiration 1 (A High Standard of Living, Quality of Life and Well Being for All Citizens) acknowledges the multifaceted role of sports in Africa's journey towards prosperity and the relevance of sports not only in economic terms but also in promoting health, peace, and cultural integration.

"Sports must pronounce themselves as enablers for all sectors," Ms. Bayendi said, highlighting its potential to drive tourism, enhance health outcomes, and foster social cohesion. She further stressed the intrinsic alignment between sports values and African ethos, noting how sports cultivate teamwork, leadership, and integrity among youth.

However, she also acknowledged existing challenges, including insufficient infrastructure and the need for greater integration of sports into education systems.

While governments prioritise sports to varying degrees, Ms. Bayendi stressed the importance of increased investment and strategic planning to harness Africa's vast athletic potential fully. "Our governments need to look at this as a future," she said, emphasising the transition towards knowledge-based economies driven by talent and innovation.

About the African Games

The African Games is exclusively owned by the African Union and organised on behalf of its member states every 4 years and one year before the Olympics.

The African Games is a multi-disciplinary sporting event with over 20 sporting and brings together sports persons from across the continent who compete in various competitions including Olympic qualifiers.

This prestigious event showcases athletic talent, celebrates African cultural values and heritage, promotes solidarity, social cohesion and integration and promotes the values of Pan-Africanism. In addition, the African Games spotlight the importance of investment in sports as a driver of the economic development that will ensure Africa’s achieves the goals of Agenda 2063.

The African Union Sports Council (AUSC)is responsible for coordinating the organisation of the African Games on behalf of the African Union and partners with continental bodies including the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of Africa Sports in organising the Games.

Learn more about the mandates and statutes of the African Union Sports Council on https://au.int/en/treaties/statute-africa-sports-council

Article by Betha Madhomu, Habari Media (https://habarimedia.com) for the Information and Communication Directorate

For more information contact:

Janet Faith Adhiambo Ochieng | Communication Officer- Agenda 2063 | Information and Communication

Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: Ochiengj@Africa-union.org I Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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