About the Africa Commission

The Africa Commission was launched by the Prime Minister of Denmark in 2008 to help Africa benefit more from globalisation. The Commission consisted of Heads of State and governments, politicians, experts, representatives from international and regional organisations as well as the business community, civil society and the academic world. The majority of the Commissioners were from Africa, which reflected the Commission’s overriding commitment to ensure African ownership of its recommendations and initiatives.

The Commission addressed ways to create employment for young people through private sector-led growth and improved competitiveness of African economies. Special emphasis was given to create decent jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and provide greater opportunities for young African women and men through education, skills development and access to finance. Drawing on existing analyses and best practices, the Commission’s aim was to make specific policy recommendations and devise concrete initiatives.

Over the course of its work, the Africa Commission held three summits: The first took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on 16 April 2008; the second in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 20 November 2008; and the third and concluding summit occurred in Copenhagen on
6 May 2009.

Between these summits, various stakeholders contributed with numerous recommendations and provided significant input to the work of the Commission. During 2008, the Commission organised five thematic conferences in African capitals, gathering stakeholders from across the continent, representing civil society, governments, regional and international organisations, universities and research institutions as well as the private sector. In the spring of 2009, three workshops involving high-level stakeholders worked to refine the proposals agreed upon by the Commission in Addis Ababa. Furthermore, the Commission convened a youth forum and an African Youth Panel, which enabled visionary young people from all over the continent to present their candid views and innovative proposals to improve the lives of African youth. Substantial input was also provided by networks of trade unions and business associations in Africa, representing workers and the private sector.

Chairman of the Africa Commission	Members of the Africa Commission
Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Denmark)	H. E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (Tanzania)	H. E. Dr. Luísa Dias Diogo (Mozambique)
Prime Minister of Denmark, Chairman of the Africa Commission Leader of the Liberal Party (Venstre). Mr. Løkke Rasmussen has also served as Minister of Finance and Minister for the Interior and Health.	President of the United Republic of Tanzania since 2005 Member of Parliament since 1988, also serving as Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals 1988-1990; Minister of Water, Energy and Minerals 1990-1994; Minister for Finance 1994-1995 and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 1995-2005. In 2008 he was the Chairman of the African Union.	Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique since 2004 Prior to her nomination as thefirst female Prime Minister of Mozambique Ms. Diogo served as Minister of Planning and Finance.
Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas (Ghana)	Mr. Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen (Denmark)	Dr. Mo Ibrahim (Sudan)
President of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Also served as Member of Parliament and Deputy Foreign Minister and Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education in Ghana.	Rector at Aarhus University since 2005 Prior to this Rector Holm-Nielsen served as Lead Higher Education Specialist for the World Bank. In his earlier career Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen was Rector of the Danish Research Academy and Chairman of the Nordic Academy for Advanced Study.	Founder of Celtel and member of the board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Dr. Ibrahim is also Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Ltd.
Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro (Tanzania)	Dr. Greg Mills (South Africa)	Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria)
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and as Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children in Tanzania.	Director of the Brenthurst Foundation Prior to this Dr. Mills was National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). A council member of RUSI, during 2008 he was seconded as strategic adviser to President Kagame of Rwanda. He has also taught at a number of institutions including the Universities of the Western Cape and Cape Town.	Managing Director of the World Bank Has served as Nigerian Minister of Finance and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Prior to this Ms. Okonjo-Iweala was Vice-President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group.
Dr. Christian Friis Bach (Denmark)	Mr. Klaus Aagaard Bustrup (Denmark)	Mr. Robert Calderisi (Canada)
International Director of DanChurchAid Dr. Friis Bach is Affiliated Professor at the University of Copenhagen and has also worked as an independent adviser, author and lecturer and served as Associate Professor of International and Development Economics at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University.	Chairman of the Board of Danida Member of the Danish Board for International Development Cooperation since 1990 and Chairman since 2008. Mr. Bustrup previously held the position as CEO of the Danish Council for Agriculture.	Economic consultant and writer Has served at the World Bank as Country Director for Central Africa, World Bank Spokesman for Africa, Manager in the Institutional Change and Strategy Department and as Chief of the World Bank Regional Mission in Western Africa.
Dr. Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda)	Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj (Denmark)	Ms. Betty Maina (Kenya)
President of the African Development Bank since 2005 Dr. Donald Kaberuka is the 7th President of the African Development Bank. He served as Rwanda’s Finance and Economic Planning Minister from 1997 to 2005.	Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in Liberia Has also been Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations and Representative of Denmark on the Security Council.	Executive Director of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers Prior to this Ms Maina held the position as Chief Executive of the Institute of Economic Affairs. Ms. Maina has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank and the United Nations.
H. E. Jean Ping (Gabon)	Ms. Ulla Tørnæs (Denmark)	Ambassador Koen Vervaeke (Belgium)
Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union Has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and la Francophonie of the Gabonese Republic and as Minister of Planning, Environment and Tourism.	Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Member of the Danish Parliament since 1994. Prior to serving as Minister for Development Cooperation Ms. Tørnæs was Minister of Education.	European Union Special Representative and Head of the European Commission Delegation to the AU During his diplomatic career Mr. Vervaeke has held a wide range of positions within the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.