The Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), a collaborative initiative between the Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations Nigeria, is poised to return for its fourth edition on July 10-11, 2024, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. This year’s summit will maintain its core focus on sustainable development and policy innovation, serving as a crucial platform for crafting practical solutions to the continent’s most pressing challenges. The event will convene a diverse assembly of global and African leaders, policymakers, and business executives, all united by the common goal of forging effective strategies for sustainable growth and development across Africa. With a particular emphasis on climate change vulnerability and resilience, ASIS 4.0 aims to catalyze action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Since its inception in 2022, the Africa Social Impact Summit has rapidly established itself as a prominent forum for driving positive change within the continent. Attracting over 10,000 participants from 61 countries in its previous editions, the summit has fostered a vibrant ecosystem of collaboration and knowledge sharing. This year’s summit will delve deeper into the critical issue of climate change and its disproportionate impact on Africa, emphasizing the urgent need for robust policies to bolster the continent’s resilience against environmental shocks. Furthermore, ASIS 4.0 will explore a wide range of critical topics impacting Africa’s development trajectory, including youth empowerment, economic inclusion, and the fostering of innovative solutions across various sectors.
The United Nations, a key partner in the summit, has underscored its commitment to supporting localized strategies for sustainable development across Africa. Mohamed Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of Africa’s agency in identifying opportunities and developing its own solutions to achieve the SDGs. He emphasized the UN’s focus on six key transition pathways: food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate change, all of which are crucial for sustainable development. This alignment between the UN’s strategic priorities and the summit’s agenda reinforces the event’s significance in mobilizing resources and expertise to address Africa’s complex development challenges.
The Sterling One Foundation, the co-convener of ASIS, has emphasized the summit’s tangible impact on driving progress towards the SDGs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of the Sterling One Foundation, highlighted past successes, including raising substantial funds for healthcare revitalization and developing action plans for green job creation. This focus on measurable outcomes underscores the summit’s commitment to moving beyond dialogue and towards concrete action. By fostering partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society organizations, ASIS aims to create a multiplier effect, amplifying the impact of individual initiatives and creating a collective force for change.
ASIS 4.0 has crafted a comprehensive program designed to facilitate deep engagement and inspire actionable solutions. The summit will feature over 50 industry-leading speakers across six thematic areas: climate change, circular economy, education, health, renewable energy, and agriculture. These carefully selected themes represent critical areas for intervention in achieving sustainable development in Africa. By bringing together experts and thought leaders from diverse backgrounds, ASIS seeks to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and generate innovative ideas that can be translated into tangible projects and policies.
The summit’s structure will incorporate a variety of interactive sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, providing participants with a dynamic platform to engage with critical issues and forge meaningful connections. The sessions will explore practical solutions for climate resilience, youth empowerment, and economic inclusion, focusing on tangible strategies that can be implemented at the local, national, and regional levels. By showcasing successful case studies and best practices, ASIS aims to inspire further innovation and accelerate the pace of progress towards a more sustainable and equitable future for Africa. Through its comprehensive program and its commitment to fostering impactful partnerships, ASIS 4.0 is poised to make a significant contribution to advancing the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
