By Joannes Yimbesalu MC/MPA Mason 2025
This April, global development experts, policymakers, and private sector leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and identify scalable solutions for inclusive economic growth at the . Among the attendees was Joannes Yimbesalu MC/MPA Mason 2025. In his personal essay below, Yimbesalu reflects on his experience and the lessons he learned.
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I had the incredible opportunity to attend the in Washington, D.C., which I discovered through the Harvard Center for International Development. The theme of this year’s gathering, “Jobs: The Path to Prosperity,” felt particularly timely and relevant, especially for Africa where youth unemployment continues to be one of the most urgent development challenges.
Two sessions stood out: “Boosting SME Finance for Growth and Job Creation” and “Job Creation in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.” These sessions highlighted the vital role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving economic transformation and employment in Africa. The key message from both discussions was the need to support African SMEs in transitioning from informality to formality. Informal businesses make up a significant portion of Africa’s private sector—enabling them to formalize will unlock productivity, expand access to finance, and ultimately create millions of sustainable jobs for youth.
I also learned about the importance of designing financing mechanisms that are accessible to young entrepreneurs, particularly women and those in rural or conflict-affected areas. One speaker noted, “Africa doesn’t have a shortage of ideas; it has a shortage of the right capital reaching the right hands.”
The sessions emphasized the need to create an enabling environment through policy reforms, infrastructure investment, and access to affordable capital to stimulate private sector-led job growth.
A personal highlight was meeting World Bank Vice President for Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning , who many expect will be the next president of the (AfDB). I was deeply inspired by his humility, soft-spoken nature, and clear vision for Africa’s future.
During a session led by , Maimbo laid out his compelling vision for Africa’s development, one that is bold, grounded in experience, and youth focused. He emphasized the need to invest in job-rich sectors like agriculture, housing, and the creative industries. He also spoke about unlocking the power of the digital economy to bridge opportunity gaps and enable Africa to leapfrog traditional development pathways.
One quote that stayed with me is when he said: “My generation needs to trust our young people more. Creating jobs at scale requires throwing everything—an