Speaking during the conference, Anna Reismann from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung underscored Africa’s growing importance in global affairs, noting that the continent has become a central arena of international engagement amid shifting global power dynamics.
She emphasized that the conference deliberately spotlighted African interests, positioning Kampala as a hub for critical conversations shaping the continent’s future.
Panelists agreed that the era of conventional development assistance is waning, with increasing emphasis on collaboration, co-investment, and mutual accountability.
Marc Trouyet, Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Uganda, stressed that Africa must move toward “mutually beneficial partnerships” rather than dependency on aid.
He noted that while private investors are willing to commit capital, a major bottleneck remains the shortage of viable, bankable projects.
Trouyet added that longstanding criticisms of traditional aid models — including fostering dependency and inefficiencies — are accelerating the shift toward partnership-based frameworks.
Concerns were raised over shrinking financial inflows into Africa. Despite global Official Development Assistance (ODA) reaching a record high in 2023, experts pointed out that much of the increase was driven by funding for Ukraine and refugee-related costs within donor countries, leaving Africa with reduced support.
Dr. Nathalie Ferrière highlighted that, excluding these factors, aid to Africa is in decline. She also cautioned that there is still insufficient academic evidence to conclusively prove that partnerships outperform traditional aid, particularly for low-income countries.
With external funding tightening, attention is increasingly shifting to domestic and alternative financing sources.
Leonard Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator, noted that declining traditional financing has forced institutions to explore options such as pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, diaspora remittances, and private savings.
He revealed that UN agencies lost $165 million in funding last year, affecting critical sectors including health, education, and refugee support, impacting over two million people.
Zulu emphasized that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain a guiding framework, with the United Nations continuing to provide technical support and convene development partners to align national priorities with global targets.
Dr. Asumani Guloba from the National Planning Authority called for increased use of “patient capital,” particularly from pension funds, which remain largely untapped across the continent.
He noted that Africa’s financial landscape is becoming more constrained, with countries like Uganda allocating a significant portion of national budgets — nearly a third — to debt servicing.
This trend, he warned, is shrinking fiscal space for development spending.
Guloba also pointed out that while the indigenous private sector contributes over 80% of employment and revenue, it remains largely informal and underdeveloped, calling for reforms to improve the business environment.
Across the panel, there was consensus that the private sector must play a central role in Africa’s development trajectory.
Experts emphasized that private enterprises drive innovation and job creation, but face persistent challenges in accessing financing.
Bridging the gap between available capital and investable projects was identified as critical to unlocking growth.
Dr John Bosco Oryema observed that the surge in funding seen during the COVID-19 pandemic has sharply declined, reinforcing the urgency for Africa to adopt hybrid financing models that blend public and private resources.
Speakers concluded that the global development conversation is undergoing a fundamental shift — from aid dependency to shared responsibility.
The emerging consensus at #KGC2026 is clear: Africa must reposition itself not as a passive recipient of assistance, but as an equal partner in shaping its development future, backed by sustainable financing, stronger institutions, and investable projects.
As the continent navigates declining aid and rising debt obligations, the challenge now lies in translating this new paradigm into tangible, inclusive growth.