IGD is gearing up for this year's Frontier 100 Forum in Cape Town. Instead of focusing on sector specific topics, we're discussing cross-cutting themes that impact all sectors. Working together, these conversations can foster solutions to tackle common growth across Africa. Below are some themes that will be covered at the 2015 Frontier 100 Forum this May and June.
1. STRATEGIES FOR REACHING LAST MILE CONSUMERS
More leaders in both the business and development sphere recognize the importance of fostering inclusive economic growth. The Last Mile Alliance (LMA) formed by IGD Frontier Leader companies identified areas where companies in the agriculture industry could reduce costs while reaching their last mile consumers, smallholder farmers in Tanzania. From utilizing virtual networks to establishing supply, other avenues of engaging with last mile consumers can be expanded to other industries. Our Frontier Leaders will discuss what can be learned from LMA and other examples of effective collaboration. Ultimately these business solutions benefit all stakeholders by improving financial returns for businesses while addressing poverty alleviation in impoverished communities.
2. OVERCOMING LOGISTICS CONSTRAINTS TO UNLOCK AFRICA'S POTENTIAL
On average, intra-regional trade between African countries is 11 percent as opposed to 50 percent of intra-regional trade in Asia. Lack of regional trade can be attributed to logistic constraints– from underdeveloped infrastructure to high transportation costs. While there are plans to foster more regional trade, logistic constraints produce fragmented economies that ultimately makes African industries less competitive in the global economy. Through the forum, members have an opportunity to share their insights on logistics constraints, overcoming them, and how to utilize new technology to carry goods and products across borders.
3. POWER OF COLLABORATION: TEMPLATE TO EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT
Last year 1.2 billion people lived without electricity, half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. A lack of reliable and accessible power often has debilitating social and economic impacts. Overcoming such this barrier can help transform Africa and shape its future economic growth. IGD worked with various stakeholders in both the public and private sector to produce a standardized handbook to power purchase agreements (PPA). The "Understanding Power Purchase Agreements" handbook helps accelerate the investment, development, and execution of power projects. In other words, it provides a template that will ultimately help expedite development in the power sector. What can other sectors learn and adopt from this new handbook? This will be the main question of discussion during a session of the Forum.
Africa's business landscape is constantly shifting with new challenges, innovative solutions, and different political climates. Despite these changes, the private sector continues to thrive on the continent, not only contributing to increased growth but also driving solutions to development problems. This year's Frontier 100 Forum is a platform for these shared solutions that leads to individual business growth, and ultimately help foster inclusive and equitable economic growth throughout the continent.
Stay updated with the Frontier 100 Forum's conversations and learn about other Forum's themes this year by following our blog, and #Frontier100 on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Plus
