African Futures: Modeling Development Pathways for Policymakers and the Public

This session will showcase the work of the African Futures & Innovation (AFI) programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a pan-African think tank with a long-standing partnership with the Pardee Institute. AFI applies Pardee Institute's International Futures (IFs) to explore long-term development trajectories, test policy choices, and inform strategic decision-making on the African continent.

The event will open with a 15-minute presentation led by senior researchers Alize le Roux and Dr Blessing Chipanda, highlighting how the AFI team uses data-driven scenario modelling to examine Africa’s development prospects, from economic growth and governance to security, demographics, and energy access. This will be followed by an interactive panel discussion, exploring:

- How futures Modeling can inform and influence African policy agendas
- The challenges and opportunities of engaging policymakers with foresight tools
- The growing appetite for foresight in Africa

Learn more about the ISS and African Futures here: https://issafrica.org