The concept of Pan-Africanism has evolved over centuries, both inside and outside the continent. In the current century collaborative initiatives are appearing across Africa to meet the geographical and institutional challenges to innovation, productivity and development facing a continent rich in the resources key to the ‘green transition’ necessitated by the global climate crisis.

African nations are confronted both by the consequences of climate change and related conflict over forced migration and by growing competition over the resources demanded by the technologies required for global climate transition.

To capture an appropriate share of the value inherent in these resources requires the synergy of a continental innovation system reflecting African needs and priorities. This is necessary to overcome existing inequalities.

The post-pandemic reassessment of global value chains has created a window of opportunity to replace the dysfunctional dynamics still evident over much of the African continent with South-South alternatives to both challenge and complement established North-South relationships.

The new collaborative economic and political structures emerging at regional level contrast with the increasingly polarised domestic and international politics evident in the global North. However, the former require the exploration of the technical, economic, political and institutional barriers and opportunities that must be negotiated in order to move, via existing regional economic initiatives, towards the African Union Agenda 2063 goal of an African Continental Free Trade Area.

The Centre offers researchers and policymakers engaging with these issues the space and opportunity to explore theory and policy aimed at building the capacity required for balanced development in terms of the ‘social cohesion’ or ‘harmonious society’ promoted by West and East respectively.