The Africa Business Forum (ABF), convened annually by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and partners, including the African Union Commission, on the margins of the African Union Summit, is a premier platform for high level dialogue among African Heads of State and Government, private sector leaders, development finance institutions, and international partners.
Over the past eight editions, the Forum has become a trusted venue for tackling Africa’s most urgent development priorities and unlocking emerging opportunities, with a strong focus on translating commitments into implementation.
In 2026, ABF will be repositioned as the continent’s leading platform for mobilising partnerships and investment, including blended finance, to advance Africa’s youth economy. Under the theme “Financing Africa’s Future: Jobs, Innovation for Sustainable Transformation” the Forum will catalyse investments, partnerships, and policy actions that create jobs, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and unlock creative value, with particular attention to digital industries, MSMEs, and Africa’s expanding creative sectors.
Delivery will be anchored around two flagship mechanisms:
African Youth Resilience and Transformation Framework (AYRTF) – a proposed, non-binding coalition framework (not a fund) that ECA will present at ABF 2026 for discussion. It is intended to better align existing youth financing, innovation and resilience initiatives under a shared policy and accountability architecture, and will be refined and co-designed with member States, DFIs, private sector and other partners after the Forum.
• Jobs Wall Commitment Tracker – an ECA-facilitated visibility and accountability platform that will document and display public and private sector commitments announced at the Forum and track progress over time, serving as a practical reporting and learning tool linked to the emerging AYRTF architecture.
ABF 2026 will feature presidential dialogues, thematic round tables, and an exhibition showcase connecting MSMEs and solution providers with financiers and investors to catalyse partnerships and mobilise investment
- Venue: United Nations Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Time: 9.00 am – 6.30 pm (registration starts at 8 am)