Reflecting on the fourth annual Pathway to 17 Summit

The fourth annual Pathway to 17 Summit, held virtually from 11 to 14 November 2024, was an inspiring and transformative event. With four compelling themes, three co-hosts, one knowledge partner, and six content partners, the summit brought together diverse voices and ideas to explore innovative pathways towards achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each day of the summit was dedicated to a unique theme, creating a focused experience for participants. 

“I thoroughly enjoyed the quality of the content presented at the summit, especially the focus on innovation, sustainability, and their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The presence of globally experienced speakers added immense value, as the discussions were both inspiring and practical. Additionally, the opportunity to network with participants and exchange ideas was one of the standout aspects of the event. The organisation was seamless, which made it easier to maximise the benefits of the sessions.”  

– Anonymous 

 

 

Day one set the tone with the theme Gender Equality: Empowering Changemakers with FinEquity Africa as the knowledge partner. Moderated by our Tariro Nyimo with esteemed speakers Shiphra Chisha (President of Africa Women in Business) and Dr. Khetsiwe Dlamini, (Executive Director at Triple C Advisory), the opening plenary celebrated African women leaders’ unique contributions and examined strategies to advance gender equity across the continent. Dr. Dlamini underscored the progress in gender equality while highlighting sobering statistics: women’s unpaid labour constitutes 75% globally, and most the world’s poorest women reside in Africa. However, Africa has the highest female board representation at 25%, surpassing the global average of 17%, exemplifies the potential of gender equity to serve as a transformative highway to achieving the SDGs. This session’s impact resonated deeply, setting a bold, empowering agenda for the summit. 

Day two spotlighted Innovative and Inclusive Fintech, with the Alliance of Digital Finance and Fintech Associations hosting an exploration of strategies to accelerate fintech growth. Speakers: Raquel Nogueira (Portugal Fintech), Alex Simuyandi (Emerald Africa Financing Facility), Jasiel Martin-Odoom (Accion Venture Lab) and Annabelle Albert (LHoFT – Luxembourg House of Financial Technology),  explored the challenges fintechs face in scaling and fostering innovation. Moderated by João Gaspar (President of Mozambique Fintech Association), the discussion highlighted solutions to unlock the potential of emerging startups, emphasising collaboration and the need for inclusive financial technologies to drive economic transformation. 

 

“[…] it is unique in its overall presentation,[it] feels like I attend[ed] in physical conference room. Secondly, I found it as a very useful learning ground that really brings out positive outcome in developing countries.”  

– Anonymous 

 

On day three, the focus shifted to Job-Creating Innovations in SDGs, hosted by TwentyforGood. A standout session, Driving Green Growth: Unlocking Jobs in the Circular Economy, featured speakers Tracey Gilmore (Taking Care of Business (TCB)) and Bezawit Eshetu (African Circular Economy Network (ACEN Foundation)), who shared insights with our Gavin Krugel (Digital Frontiers) on how circular economy principles can generate employment opportunities while promoting sustainable resource use. By showcasing real-world examples of closed-loop supply chains and innovative recycling initiatives, this session emphasised the potential for green growth to foster entrepreneurship and reduce environmental footprints. 

The summit concluded with the theme Building Africa’s Digital Public Infrastructure, hosted by Digital Genesis, a joint offering and partnership between Digital Frontiers and Genesis Analytics. A compelling session on Governance in Digital Public Infrastructure: Opening Government Data for Transparency and Innovation explored African perspectives on DPI governance. Expert panellists Pria Chetty (Genesis Analytics) and Krisstina Rao (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose), moderated by Gavin Krugel, shared strategies to promote transparency, empower citizens, and stimulate economic growth through open data initiatives. Their insights demonstrated how effective DPI governance can catalyse innovation and inclusion across the continent. 

The summit’s four dynamic networking sessions further enriched the experience, fostering meaningful connections across the thematic areas.  

 

“I had a wonderful experience during the [summit]. I love how Swapcard organized my schedule and its seamlessness. The speakers were experts in their fields and topics were good too. […] my overall review is excellent.”   

– Anonymous 

 

This year’s Pathway to 17 Summit achieved remarkable engagement, boasting 1000 registrations from 92 countries and featuring 59 speakers from 49 different organisations. The most attended sessions included the opening plenary, Leading the Future: Insights from Influential Women Leaders, Data for Inclusion – Leveraging Gender Disaggregated Data and Strategies to Accelerate Fintech Growth. Attendee feedback highlighted the summit’s seamless organisation, high-quality content and the invaluable opportunity to network with global experts. One participant praised the event’s alignment wih the SDGs and its focus on practical, innovative solutions, while another commended its accessibility and immersive virtual experience.  

By bringing together diverse perspectives and actionable insights, the Pathway to 17 Summit 2024 reaffirmed its commitment to driving progress toward a sustainable, equitable future. 

 

Pathway to 17 is an initiative of Digital Frontiers and supported through funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation