Keynote speaker: Prime Minister Raila Odinga

A senior Economist journalist will moderate this high-level debate between key ministers from the Government of Kenya, top international and local business leaders and influential thinkers. After a frank and focused debate, delegates will have the opportunity, during an exclusive networking dinner, to engage in an informal, off-the-record discussion on any topic with the speakers.

The theme for our debate in Nairobi is whether Africa’s young population is an opportunity or a risk for growing prosperity. Global executives cite Africa’s young and growing population as one of the continent’s biggest competitive advantages. And indeed in Asia, the growth of the working age population over the past few decades, as birth levels simultaneously slowed, accounted for as much as a third of the region’s economic boom. The same demographic window of opportunity is opening in Africa, where population growth is currently three times the world average but the birth rate is slowing fast.

Today’s reality, however, is that unemployment is high and especially so amongst young people. How can African countries reap the demographic dividend? What does the private sector need to create sufficient jobs – and what are the main constraints? What can governments do to ensure young people have the skills they need to find jobs? Where are Africa’s competitive advantages in a rapidly changing global economy?

The debate will consider the lessons of Asia and ask whether African economies, and Kenya in particular, are on the right track to benefit from their human resources and what the implications are for government policies on everything from trade and investment to education, family planning and healthcare. A gala dinner after the debate will provide opportunities for the business community to discuss Kenya in more depth with senior members of government.