## Africa Is Back

_IMF Blog, March 9, 2010_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Africa Is Back](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2010/03/09/africa-is-back)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Dominique Strauss-Kahn
- Published: March 9, 2010

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### Overview and context
- Author: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
- Publication date: March 9, 2010
- Trip itinerary referenced: Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia
- Key public engagements referenced: a live TV debate in Nairobi with Prime Minister Odinga, Minister of Finance Kenyatta, Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai, Transparency International's Akere Muna, and Bob Geldof; a March 8 debate at the University of Nairobi.

### Central finding: "Africa is back"
- "Africa is back"—phrase used by the author to describe renewed energy and agency across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Strong sense expressed that "Africa's destiny will be driven by Africans, not by others."

### Major themes observed
- Priority on sound economic policy
  - Good economic policies helped buffer Africa during the global financial crisis.
  - Good economic policies are identified as "the key to the future—to bringing growth back to pre-crisis levels and to generating jobs."

- Importance of good governance
  - Emphasis on the new role of a vigorous civil society in promoting transparency and accountability.
  - Noted openness in public debates about corruption, transparency, and accountability—examples include live TV debates and university events.

- Growing engagement with the global economy
  - Increasing awareness of Africa's role in trade, investment flows, and aid.
  - Bob Geldof argued that Africa could become a "global growth pole" by 2050; achieving this will require managing global forces that will impact the continent.

- Climate change and "green growth"
  - Rising awareness in Africa of climate change as a strategic issue.
  - Wangari Mathai highlighted Africa's potential "leading edge" in "green growth."

### Policy proposal mentioned
- Concept of a "green fund"
  - Proposal described as a fund "with the capacity to raise $100 billion a year for both adaptation and mitigation."
  - The author clarifies that such a fund "would not be managed by the IMF," but IMF staff are working on a contribution to the global debate on climate financing.
  - Nick Stern is noted as supportive: "I am heartened that Nick Stern, who has considerable credibility on this particular issue, feels the same way."

### Additional notes
- The author refers to an earlier post from the same trip: "IMF—Delivering on Promises to Africa."
- Cross posted on Huffington Post.

*Source: Africa Is Back — Dominique Strauss-Kahn, March 9, 2010.*

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## References

- [a live TV debate in Nairobi](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/NEW030810A.htm)
- [sound economic policy](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/INT030410A.htm)
- [climate change](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/NEW013010A.htm)
- [IMF—Delivering on Promises to Africa](http://blogs.imf.org/2010/03/07/imf%e2%80%94delivering-on-promises-to-africa/)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2010/03/09/africa-is-back_