Geography 2050 is a multi-year strategic dialogue focused on the key issues shaping our interconnected world. Geography 2050: Africa Shaping Tomorrow brings together thought leaders from business, civil society, government, and academia to explore how the continent’s dynamic transformations are having global impacts.

Africa represents the world's most demographically vibrant continent, with profound implications for global development. By 2050, the continent will be home to 2.5 billion people, up from 1.9 billion today. Over the next three decades, Africa will lead global growth in working-age population, adding 740 million people by 2050. This demographic dividend presents unprecedented opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic transformation that African countries are actively pursuing through education, job creation, and infrastructure development. By 2050, 60% of the continent will be urban, driving new models of sustainable city development. And there are important developments in rural areas as well from sustainable agricultural practices, reductions in food waste to on-going efforts to protect wildlife and national parks.

As the largest landmass straddling the equator, Africa hosts extraordinary biological diversity and mineral wealth. The continent bears the brunt of climate challenges, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, and demonstrates remarkable resilience and innovation.

In collaboration with Busara Advisors, led by former Ambassador Reuben Brigety, we will explore how changes in demographics, business, technology, the environment, and global partnerships are creating and shaping new paradigms in geopolitics, energy transitions, and space exploration.