This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
Dr. Richard Munang, a 41-year-old Cameroonian climate change expert, has spent his career advocating for Africa's development and youth empowerment. His latest book, Making Africa Work through the Power of Innovative Volunteerism, explores the continent's strengths and proposes a new approach to build an economy that thrives amid climate change.
According to Dr. Munang, Africa's biggest resource is its human capital. With a population of over 1.2 billion people, 60% of whom are young, the continent has the potential to drive socio-economic transformation and combat climate change. However, for this to happen, Africa needs an education revolution that focuses on skills development and innovation.
Dr. Munang argues that the current education system has failed to equip Africans with the skills they need to compete in the global economy. He cites the example of post-harvest loss in the agro-value chain, which costs Africa $48 billion annually. If skills were concentrated in this area, more graduates would be gainfully employed, and more value would be realized from farm produce.
Dr. Munang's message is clear: Africa needs a change of mindset to prioritize human capital and innovation. He believes that every talent can be nurtured to solve a particular problem in the agro-value chain, and that every young person has something to contribute, irrespective of their skill-set.
Published on December 20, 2019
