The generational gap in African leadership is the world’s largest. In a continent, where the average age is around 20, this poses a profound challenge. In their joint piece for Business Insider Africa, Mamphela Ramphele and Aya Chebbi champion intergenerational co-leadership.

Bridging the Generational Divide in Africa

In their recent article for Business Insider Africa, Mamphela Ramphele, Honorary Presient of The Club of Rome and Aya Chebbi, founder of Nala Feminist Collective and former African Union Special Envoy on Youth, shine a spotlight on Africa’s pronounced generational gap. Despite the continent’s youthful demographic, leadership remains predominantly older. Hence, the piece advocates for a balanced blend of youthful dynamism with the wisdom of elders to transform governance through intergenerational co-leadership.

A Call to Action for Intergenerational Leadership

The authors thus pick on the key theme of “A New Generational Contract” (NGC), a joint initiative the St. Gallen Symposium and The Club of Rome, in partnership with InTent. NGC works with business and policy organisations worldwide to recognise and bridge the generational gap, by embracing intergenerational co-leadership models. In this vein, Dr. Ramphele and Ms. Chebbi’s piece makes a compelling case for the synergistic power of youth and experience in forging a more equitable and sustainable future.

Towards Actionable Change

Ultimately, the two leaders call for the agenda to move beyond advocacy, offering concrete steps to implement this vision. It underscores the importance of inclusive frameworks that promote generational and gender diversity, emphasising listening, engagement, and mutual respect as keys to addressing complex social, environmental, and economic challenges.

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Authors: Mamphela Ramphele and Aya Chebbi