Nairobi: As the second day of the Evidence for Development Conference commenced in Nairobi, African governments have been urged to move away from outdated aid models and focus on smarter, locally grounded solutions to finance the continent’s future.
According to Kenya News Agency, policymakers, economists, researchers, and civil society actors gathered at the conference to discuss policy and actively reshape Africa’s approach to funding its development. The event emphasized the importance of data, evidence, and community input in policy formulation, placing domestic financing at the heart of discussions.
A key message emerged from the day’s sessions: for Africa to achieve its long-term goals, particularly the African Union’s Agenda 2063, it must prioritize optimizing domestic resources over relying on external aid. This shift is crucial as development aid from international partners continues to dwindle.
Dr. Daniel Mwai, a Presidential Advisor on Health Financing in Kenya, highlighted the inefficiencies in Africa’s health systems, noting that better planning and integration could reduce costs by as much as 40 percent. He advocated for a shift toward preventive healthcare and a more coordinated approach to service delivery.
Subnational leaders, such as Roseline Omollo, the County Executive Committee Member Health from Homa Bay County, shared innovative, community-led strategies to improve healthcare delivery and reduce costs. Her county’s efforts to boost enrollment in the Social Health Authority (SHA) and engage citizens in health management served as a model for other regions.
A recurring sentiment was the need to move away from Western development templates that ignore Africa’s social, cultural, and economic contexts. Prof. Victor Murinde, Executive Director of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), urged African governments to embrace the ‘Big Five’ of Big Data-Volume, Variety, Velocity, Veracity, and Value-to transform domestic financial systems. He emphasized the role of AI and Machine Learning in credit scoring, asset management, and central banking, warning that innovation must be matched with integrity, talent, and ethical governance.
Dr. Jackson Otieno from the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) presented a sobering fiscal picture, noting that in 2020, development aid accounted for more than 20 percent of health spending in 24 African countries, surpassing government expenditure in 10. He stressed the need for African countries to transition from donor dependency to domestic resource mobilization, recommending health taxes, anti-corruption measures, and expanded insurance coverage to unlock greater resources for development.
Kwame Owino, CEO of the Institute of Economic Affairs, added that governments must spend efficiently, prioritize high-impact public goods, and reduce wastage as citizens reach their limits.
The conference, co-convened by AUDA-NEPAD, AFIDEP, and SFA Foundation, also explored the role of emerging technologies like Big Data, AI, and machine learning in optimizing financial systems and improving governance. Experts suggested that these technologies could help Africa make better use of its resources, reduce inefficiencies, and drive inclusive growth.
With growing global uncertainties, shrinking aid, and increasing debt burdens, the call for African countries to transition from donor dependence to domestic resource mobilization was loud and clear. The takeaway is evident: Africa must take ownership of its destiny by financing its development from within.