In a significant development, Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s most prominent hedge funds, has partnered with Global Citizen and Harith General Partners to release groundbreaking research on the economic potential of Sub-Saharan Africa’s booming population. This collaboration highlights the region’s pivotal role in shaping the future global economy.

The report, titled Changing Sub-Saharan Africa’s Growth Trajectory, underscores the region’s rapidly growing working-age population, which is expected to increase from 10% to 25% of the global workforce in the coming decades. According to the research, this demographic transformation could either position Sub-Saharan Africa as a key driver of global economic growth or lead to stagnation with far-reaching global consequences if not adequately addressed.

Key findings emphasize the diversity within the region, the critical need for infrastructure and human capital investment, and the essential role of multilateral development banks in supporting projects that the private sector may deem too risky. The report also calls for increased private investment to close the existing financing gaps.

To catalyze action on these insights, Bridgewater Associates, Global Citizen, and Harith General Partners will host the Economic Development Assembly in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on October 9-10. This event, organized in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, will serve as a platform to urge global leaders to enhance their contributions to the International Development Association’s (IDA) replenishment efforts, beginning with the IDA21 cycle.

The assembly aims to bring together policymakers, private investors, and multilateral development banks to explore how best to harness the economic opportunities presented by Sub-Saharan Africa’s demographic growth, ensuring a prosperous future for the region and contributing to the global fight against extreme poverty.