Africa Program
Vision
The Africa Program is committed to charting new directions for U.S.-Africa policy, providing forward-thinking analysis that spurs new insights and policy recommendations for the region. We examine shifts in the economic, political, and security landscape, and connect these developments to broader global trends.4 Focus Areas
Shifts in Governance and Security: Greater connectivity, rapid urbanization, and population growth are transforming Africa’s politics and security landscape. The Africa Program anticipates how these factors underpin leadership transitions, public protests, and insurgencies, and examines the implications for the United States and Sub-Saharan African countries.
Navigating Foreign Partners: The map of foreign partners operating across Africa is growing more complex, with China, India, Japan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey deepening their engagements. The Africa Program seeks to contextualize Africa’s evolving foreign relations and reposition the U.S.-Africa relationship in this new dynamic.
Innovation, Tech, and Entrepreneurship: Africa is home to an impressive, growing group of innovators, techies, and entrepreneurs. The Africa Program works to elevate the accomplishments of these individuals, while also assessing the potentials and limits of technology to address employment, industrialization, and governance.
The Future of African Cities: Urbanization is Africa’s present and its future. Sub-Saharan Africa is already 40 percent urban, while tens of millions of people are flooding into cities year after year. The Africa Program charts how urbanization is transforming the continent and advises the U.S. government in crafting policies that harness Africa’s vibrant urban center and tackle challenges to public health, infrastructure, and security.
