{"id":9079,"date":"2026-05-21T07:20:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=9079"},"modified":"2026-05-21T07:20:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:20:44","slug":"makerere-conference-calls-for-inclusive-green-and-digital-transition-amid-africas-growing-crises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/makerere-conference-calls-for-inclusive-green-and-digital-transition-amid-africas-growing-crises\/","title":{"rendered":"Makerere Conference Calls for Inclusive Green and Digital Transition Amid Africa\u2019s Growing Crises"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

International scholars challenge conventional growth models and urge Africa to rethink competitiveness, innovation and inclusion in the digital and green era.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KAMPALA May 20 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Scholars and policy experts at an international conference hosted by Makerere University have called for Africa to chart a more inclusive and sustainable path to development as the continent navigates climate pressures, digital transformation and widening inequalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five-day conference, running from May 18 to 22 under the theme \u201cGreen and Digital Futures: Rethinking the Twin Transition in Africa in the Era of Multiple Crises,\u201d<\/em> brought together researchers and practitioners from across Africa, Europe and North America to debate the continent\u2019s future development trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference is part of the Point Sud programme funded by the German Research Foundation and convened in collaboration with University of Frankfurt and Makerere University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the three  consecutive days  from Monday 18th<\/sup> to Wednesday 20th<\/sup> May, each day opened with key note addresses on different topics under the theme culminating into a keynote conversation moderated by Hanna Berkel from Maputo Mozambique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Araba Sey Questions Africa\u2019s Obsession With Global Competitiveness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering the opening keynote titled \u201cDigital Inequality, Policy Agendas and the Politics of Inclusion in Africa\u2019s Twin Transition,\u201d<\/em> Araba Sey from  Edinburgh Futures Institute , US challenged African governments and scholars to reconsider whether global competitiveness should remain the central goal of development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sey argued that the current global economic system has often reinforced exclusion and inequality, warning that Africa risks reproducing the same patterns if it follows traditional industrialisation models without questioning their underlying assumptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Araba Sey addressing participants during the conference at Makerere university<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes Africa have to be globally competitive?\u201d she asked during the keynote conversation. \u201cWe have accepted the global economy as it operates and all we are trying to do is fit into it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said African countries should instead explore development pathways grounded in inclusion, sustainability and equity, adding that the continent could become a model for alternative forms of growth that prioritise wellbeing over narrow economic indicators such as GDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sey also criticised the persistent gap between policy rhetoric and implementation across African governments, arguing that solutions to inequality and exclusion are already well known but often undermined by weak execution and corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to eliminate the depth of corruption that exists in African governments,\u201d she said. \u201cIf that is not addressed, implementation cannot be effective.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She urged policymakers to \u201cdesign for the lowest common denominator rather than the highest\u201d in order to ensure green and digital transitions benefit marginalised communities rather than technologically privileged elites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chux Daniels Urges Governments to Nurture Grassroots Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his keynote titled \u201cAfrica\u2019s Green Transition in a Time of Crises,\u201d<\/em> Chux Daniels from University of Sussex\/ university  of Pretoria UK\/ South Africa emphasized that meaningful transformation requires long-term institutional change supported by experimentation and policy innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chux acknowledged that green and digital transitions can take decades, but argued that governments should focus on identifying and scaling up existing innovations already emerging within communities, ministries and small enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are transformations going on, systems are evolving, things are changing,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cThe question is how to detect these changes happening and help navigate and scale them up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that many promising green and digital innovations remain confined to small \u201cniche\u201d spaces because they lack institutional support and protection. According to Daniels, governments should create safe spaces and networks that connect innovative actors across sectors so they can influence broader systemic change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chux also stressed the importance of \u201cdirectionality\u201d in policymaking, arguing that governments must deliberately steer innovation toward socially beneficial outcomes rather than allowing technology adoption alone to define progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chuk Daniels speaking during the conference at Makerere University<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Using urban mobility as an example, he argued that replacing petrol cars with electric vehicles would not solve broader challenges such as congestion and urban planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow do people move?\u201d he asked. \u201cMobility becomes a service. It is not just about replacing petrol with electric cars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chux further noted that young people demanding immediate change should be included in ongoing innovation processes through stronger communication and visibility for successful grassroots initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rasmus Lema Calls for Selective Integration Into Global Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final keynote speaker, Rasmus Lema, from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa delivered a presentation titled \u201cGreen and Digital Futures: Rethinking the Twin Transition in Africa in the Era of Multiple Crises.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lema argued that while Africa must rethink conventional models of competitiveness, complete disengagement from the global economy is unrealistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do think integration and relationship with the global economy will still be an important feature of future development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rasmus Lema responding to questions after the conversation at Makerere University<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, he warned against blindly adopting emerging technologies without first defining national development priorities and long-term visions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe should think first about the direction, the visions and where we want to go,\u201d Lema said. \u201cThen we have to think about which digital technologies become relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said African countries should focus on building competitiveness in selected sectors where they hold strategic advantages rather than attempting to replicate industrial pathways followed by countries such as China or South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lema also highlighted the need for stronger regional markets and locally competitive firms capable of meeting domestic demand while participating selectively in global value chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moderator Highlights \u2018Industries Without Smokestacks\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The keynote conversation was moderated by Hanna Berkel from Maputo, Mozambique, who reflected on the need to rethink development beyond traditional industrialisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berkel referenced the 2019 publication Industries Without Smokestacks<\/em>, which explores alternative engines of structural transformation in Africa, including tradable service sectors capable of generating productivity growth and employment without relying heavily on manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rasmus Lema, Chuk Daniels and Araba Sey during the keynote conversation<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She said the discussions throughout the conference pointed to persistent institutional and inequality challenges but also revealed opportunities for Africa to pioneer new models of sustainable and inclusive development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference continues through May 22 with panel discussions, research presentations and policy dialogues focused on Africa\u2019s digital and green futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n