The Africa Forward Summit moved into its second day on Tuesday at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC), where heads of state, global financiers and international organisations gathered for a full programme of talks on Africa’s development priorities.
The discussions, running across multiple sessions, are centred on a wide agenda that includes international finance reform, peace and security, artificial intelligence, and sectoral growth in areas such as agriculture, health and the blue economy.
One of the most closely watched sessions is a midday working lunch on restructuring global financial systems to improve African access to sustainable funding. Expected contributors include French President Emmanuel Macron, World Bank managing director Kristalina Georgieva, and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senior representatives from institutions such as the International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are also scheduled to take part, alongside leaders from Zambia and Egypt.
Later in the afternoon, attention will shift to peace and security, where Kenyan President William Ruto is expected to open proceedings alongside President Macron. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission officials are among those listed to speak, underscoring the international scope of the dialogue.
The peace session is set to examine both conflict resolution and financing for peacekeeping operations. Leaders from Ghana, Mozambique, Togo, Djibouti and Mauritania are expected to contribute to discussions on African-led mediation and stability efforts.
Technology will feature prominently in a parallel evening session on artificial intelligence and digital transformation at Taifa Hall. Presidents including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Botswana’s Duma Boko are expected to explore how African economies can adapt to rapid technological change and expand digital capacity.
At the same time, separate roundtables will focus on the blue economy and health systems. Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Nigeria’s President Tinubu are among those participating in discussions on ocean resources and sustainable growth, while health experts led by AMREF Health Africa are expected to highlight gaps in healthcare financing and delivery.
Agriculture, a sector critical to food security across the continent, will also be discussed in a dedicated session featuring King Letsie III of Lesotho and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
The summit continues to serve as a platform for debate on Africa’s place in global economic and political systems, with growing calls for fairer financing structures and stronger regional cooperation.
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