At the heart of the African Union Agenda 2063 (AU2063) is the sustained economic  growth and integration and sustained of over 1.2bn people across the continent  (African Union Commission n.d.). Like other continents, Africa continues to be hit  by rising inflation, conflicts, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. AU2063  remains a beacon of hope to many, and the African Continental Free Trade Area  (AfCFTA) agreement is a key transformational tool for realising the goal of inclusive  and sustained intra-continental trade. 

Accountancy and finance professionals continue to play a central role in enabling  sustainable development across the world and must play an even more prominent  role in achieving Africa’s trade integration ambition, including the empowerment of  businesses and governments on the continent.

The accountancy profession connects several elements of Africa’s economy and brings  together a wide range of diverse stakeholders. It is crucial that we understand and  consider the most impactful ways of performing this role and supporting AU2063. 

Accountancy and finance professionals in Africa must underpin the collective efforts of  key players in realising the goals of AU2063.

PAFA’s and ACCA’s commitments to AU2063 and the UN SDGs have increasingly  strengthened PAFA’s vision of a profession that creates sustainable value for the  citizens of Africa and ACCA’s vision of a profession that drives positive change and  helps build a better world. This report builds on our respective visions to consider how  the accountancy profession in Africa can maximise its current capacities in enabling  intra-continental trade, leveraging the AfCFTA.

Our partnership enables us to join forces to strengthen the profession’s influence and  effectiveness as a driver of socio-economic development across national, continental  and global ecosystems.