Africa’s GDP has grown 5.3 times between 1990 and 2020. Still, at USD 8.86 trillion today, the continent’s economy is just twice the size of the UK, with a population (1.5 billion) 22 times bigger than the UK (69 million) and projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 – a quarter of the world population. What explains this performance? How can African economies transform and generate the jobs for the almost 30 million people that every year turn 16 years of age and look for a decent employment? Building on the analysis and policy recommendations of the African Union and OECD Africa's Development Dynamics and Revenue Statistics in Africa reports, Federico Bonaglia, Deputy Director at the OECD Development Centre, will highlight key trends and policy priorities driving structural transformation across the continent. The presentation will touch upon issues such as skills and productivity, productive transformation and regional value chains in the context of the continental trade integration process, and financing the sustainable development goals (SDGs). It will provide concrete examples of successful country experiences that can be replicated and scaled-up. The presentation will also be an opportunity to understand the functioning and work of the OECD Development Centre and career opportunities in the OECD.
About the speaker: Mr. Federico Bonaglia, Deputy Director, the OECD Development Centre
Federico supports the Director in establishing the strategic directions and implementing the Programme of Work of the Development Centre, ensuring that the Centre’s analysis and advice remain at the forefront of policy thinking and produce tangible results.
He provides leadership to strengthen the Development Centre’s engagement with its 54 member countries, notably by managing the Centre’s Governing Board, and to increase the impact of the Centre’s work.
Federico oversees the Development Centre’s work with Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the work on international cooperation and the engagement with the UN on Least Developed Countries, the multi-dimensional country-reviews and thematic areas of work such as migration and development, urbanisation and territorial development. Federico is also the Head of Delegation for the OECD to the G20 development working group.
An economist by training, Federico holds a master’s degree in economics and social sciences (Discipline Economiche e Sociali) from Bocconi University (1997) and a master’s in economics (1999) from the same University.
Federico joined the OECD Development Centre in 1999. At the OECD, he has been involved and led several projects on the economic and institutional consequences of globalisation for developing countries in Africa, South-East Asia, Central America, the Black Sea, and Central Asia regions. In 2008-09, he was seconded to Italy’s Prime Minister’s Office to lead the sustainable development and outreach aspects of the G8 La Maddalena-Aquila Leaders’ Summit. In this capacity he played a key role in the design of the L’Aquila food Security initiative. Some of his more recent achievements include the design of the G20 Platform on SDG Localisation and Intermediary Cities, endorsed by G20 Leaders in 2021, and the African-Union-OECD African virtual Investment Platform, endorsed by G7 leaders in 2024.
Federico has authored and coordinated several reports, journal articles and books on globalisation and development, global value chains, Africa’s development and international cooperation.
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/federico-bonaglia-18b90224
