A very appropriate theme when Africa is rising, was one of my first thoughts. Participants were researchers, academics, policymakers from the UN, AU, governments and NGOs as well as people like me who have had to try to implement policies agreed by ‘partner countries’ and the financiers, donors.

So, an important opportunity for reaching out, exchanging views and learning from research and experiences elsewhere in the world? I left with a sense of disappointment, especially with African policymakers. I am equally disappointed with Africa’s so-called development partners who, except for the Dutch, did not even show up.

Growth in Africa is impressive these days, but it lacks the structural transformation that would mean less poverty, more jobs and prosperity. Over the last 40 years the structure of Africa’s economy has not changed. We were told the intriguing story of how Southeast Asia became the most successful region in the world…