African Development: "Heavy" on Rhetoric and "Light" on Implementation

Since gaining independence, African states have produced an endless array of blueprints, visions, and master plans at continental, regional, and national levels to guide their regional integration and development plans. From the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980 to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as numerous long-term “Vision” strategies and sectoral policies, the continent’s political and institutional landscape is rich with declarations promising transformation, inclusiveness, and self-reliance. And the list grows bigger every year. Yet, despite this arsenal of strategic and planning tools, implementation has been slow, fragmented, and under-resourced, resulting in a persistent gap between the ambitions on paper and the outcomes on the ground.

African development discourse has long been characterized by a language of aspiration. The lexicon of “sustainable growth”, “structural transformation” and “inclusive industrialization” has become standard in national strategies as well as in regional and continental frameworks. These documents convey a narrative of dynamism, modernization, and reform. They are designed not only to articulate ambitious national, regional and continental goals but also to signal alignment with global development norms: from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to trade and investment frameworks favored by multilateral institutions. In doing so, they serve multiple purposes: to inspire domestic stakeholders by outlining a vision of progress; to reassure donors and investors that resources will be directed according to recognized standards; and to legitimize governments both at home and on the international stage, demonstrating that leaders are proactive, forward-looking, and committed to transformation. Yet, while these documents excel at crafting a polished narrative, their rhetorical appeal often masks the institutional and operational weaknesses that hinder real implementation.

The gap between rhetoric and implementation stems from multiple, deeply rooted causes. Weak institutional capacity is a major factor: ministries that should oversee the implementation of strategies and plans often lack the technical skills, coordination mechanisms, and financial autonomy needed to turn these documents into action. Bureaucratic fragmentation - where responsibilities overlap and accountability is diffuse - further compounds the problem. Political incentives are another barrier. Development rhetoric offers quick legitimacy; implementation requires sustained effort and sometimes unpopular reforms. As a result, leaders often prioritize visibility over depth, launching new initiatives while older ones languish unfinished. Donor-driven conditionalities and project cycles reinforce short-termism, privileging measurable outputs over structural transformation.

External partners, too, play a role in perpetuating the rhetoric-implementation divide. Donors and international financial institutions often demand the adoption of globally standardized language, such as “good governance”, “digital transformation”, “green growth”. Unfortunately, not always such language aligns with local realities or capacities. African governments, eager to attract funding, adapt their narratives accordingly. Thus, the discourse of development becomes a form of currency, traded in change of aid, loans, and legitimacy.

While such alignment can help mobilize resources, it can also stifle indigenous policy thinking, creating a cycle in which new slogans replace old ones without addressing structural constraints like limited infrastructure, low productivity, and weak institutions.

The consequences of this gap between rhetoric and implementation are reflected in Africa’s current development status. Despite abundant natural resources, a young and growing population, and significant improvements in governance in some countries, Africa remains the least developed continent in the world by many key indicators. Average GDP per capita in sub-Saharan Africa is still below $5,000, compared to over $22,000 in Latin America and Carribean, or over $62,000 in Europe. Poverty rates, access to quality healthcare and education, infrastructure deficits, and economic diversification all lag far behind global averages. While other regions have successfully leveraged industrialization, technological innovation, and regional integration to accelerate development, Africa continues to struggle with low productivity, prevalence of informal labor markets, and dependence on primary commodity exports. This stark reality underscores the urgency of moving beyond rhetorical commitments to concrete, sustained, and coordinated implementation strategies that address structural constraints.

Yet rhetoric is not inherently empty. It has symbolic and mobilizing power. The language of transformation can unify diverse actors, set norms, and frame collective ambitions. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), for instance, emerged from years of rhetorical commitment to integration; its eventual implementation shows that words can precede and enable action when sustained political will exists. The challenge, therefore, is not to abandon rhetoric but to discipline it so to ensure that discourse is grounded in realism, evidence, and institutional feasibility. African policymakers and partners must learn to value continuity over novelty, results over declarations, and governance over glamour.

And most importantly, domestic constituencies (private sector, academia, and civil society) must be empowered to hold governments accountable for the promises they make. Sustainable development cannot be imposed from the top down, nor can it depend solely on external financing or donor pressure. Genuine transformation requires the active participation of local actors who can demand transparency, monitor delivery, and contribute to evidence-based policymaking. The private sector should be central in identifying practical constraints to investment, innovation, and trade, while academic institutions provide independent research, impact assessments, and policy critiques. Equally vital is civil society, which amplifies citizen voices, exposes policy failures, and ensures that promises become enforceable commitments. When domestic constituencies are empowered, rhetoric becomes a contract rather than a performance, and accountability drives real progress.

Africa’s real challenge is not a lack of vision, but too many visions without the means to achieve them. The continent’s future will depend on abandoning stop-and-go approaches and committing to sustained continuity. Only by doing so can words be turned into decisive action and promises into tangible, lasting results.