Inventors : Dr Kennedy Mbeva, Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk; Dr Reuben Makomere, University of Tasmania
References:
Africa’s Right to Development in a Climate-Constrained World, by Dr Kennedy Mbeva & others
“Bounded States”: How (Extreme) Risk Constrains the Aspiration for Status, by Mbeva & Makomere
Africa’s development trajectory is unfolding in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment. While many countries are adopting bold reforms to accelerate growth, this progress is being shaped—and in some cases hindered—by a convergence of domestic disruptions, regional fragmentation re-organization dynamics, and global geopolitical and geo-economic realignments. Africa therefore faces a rapidly evolving context within which to implement its transformative Agenda 2063, the continent’s 50-year blueprint for transformation.
The pace and scale of these transformations outstrip the capacity of many decision-makers, investors, researchers and other stakeholders to respond effectively, evaluate and manage current and emerging risks, and engage with the continent strategically. A key constraint is the lack of timely, integrated, and context-sensitive intelligence to anticipate risks, identify emerging opportunities, and inform adaptive strategies. Existing data systems are often fragmented, siloed, or disconnected from real-time developments and strategic planning needs.
The inventors are experts on recent changes within Africa and ongoing geopolitical transformations, and in linking these changes to longer-term risks and opportunities, thus providing strategic intelligence for key decision makers.
As well as their ongoing consultancy work advising governments and organisations about the future of African countries, the inventors are also working on integrating his research into an AI-powered platform to create a new model for decision-making.
The model will combine advanced AI-powered data aggregation with a research-based algorithm that overlays thematic, sectoral, geopolitical, and temporal lenses. This platform will generate context-rich, strategically relevant insights tailored for policymakers, investors, and institutions operating across Africa. The ultimate objective is to equip decision-makers with anticipatory intelligence tools that support evidence-based, forward-looking governance and investment across the continent.
As well as being useful for countries and organisations from outside of Africa looking to invest and operate there, the model will also be able to support the efforts to increase trade between different African countries in a similar way.
The question for the i-Teams is who would be most interested in this approach, and where the inventors should focus their efforts to maximise their impact.