At the World Economic Forum held in Cape Town, South Africa in early May 2011, the Africa Progress Panel launched its Africa Progress Report (APR), dedicated to the transformative power of partnerships.

Chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the report argues that all actors, including governments, international organizations, the private sector and civil society, can do more to facilitate the spread of successful models across sectors and countries, and that doing so is in their self-interest. It also argues that much work remains to be done to convince all sides of the inherent benefits of partnering for progress.

Annan said that the importance of partnerships for development is becoming more and more evident and used the report to highlight the significant impact of successful partnerships and outline tangible steps to initiate, strengthen, replicate and expand such models.

However, even though partnerships clearly have big advantages, they are by no means the magical cure for Africa's basket of problems. Partnerships are finite and have limitations.

In this respect Annan clearly shone the spotlight on the fact that partnerships, of whatever kind, most certainly cannot be an alternative for good governance, strong institutions and political leadership. On the contrary, partnerships rely on these very aspects of stability to reach their latent potential.

Annan pointed out that despite Africa-wide growth rates of 5.5 percent were notable, a "leadership deficit" meant little was being done to create jobs and lift millions out of poverty.

He shone a spotlight brightly on the revolutions in North Africa, saying it was "supreme arrogance" for leaders to seek to stay in power for 30 years.

It is this desire to cling to power at all costs, rather than develop their economies, that creates the negativity in the continents' image and dealings.

Partnerships clearly do not shift the accountability for progress from African leaders or international donors. The process is not a one-way street for Africa.

While donors must play their part and make good on financial pledges, the onus is squarely on African leaders to encourage and drive the process of development so that tangible profit can filter down to the people on the ground. 

Despite this assessment, the report says Africa has tremendous economic potential. Particular areas that should improve Africa's investment climate is the rise of the African urban consumer and the growth of the affluent middle class. It is estimated Africa's collective GDP will reach $2.6 trillion in 2020 and consumer spending $1.4 trillion.

 Along with this potential is the report's warning that the "low quality" of Africa's growth needs to be addressed. The report says that this is based on extraction and export of raw resources to foreign nations, without contributing many jobs or subsequent trade between countries in Africa.

In addition areas of concern are: sectors other than natural resources and manufacturing industries remain underdeveloped across Africa; trade between African countries remains limited (and less than 10 percent of total trade) to offer sufficient alternative incentives for economic diversification; and current economic growth has only limited positive impacts on employment and income levels and is not sufficiently translated into poverty reduction and the provision of vital public services.

Partnerships can assist with increasing resources, capacity and expertise that can take Africa to its next level of development.

The Editor