"Here" is a hypothetical place where governance is poor, rule of law is not respected, and justice is often denied. Many, particularly the poor and the marginalised, suffer daily indignities, big and small, and live a life marked by fear and insecurity."Denmark", on the other hand, is where good governance prevails and is reflected in predictable and accountable actions by others, including the State.The journey From Here to Denmark is essentially a quest of ensuring good governance. Improving governance needs good, strong institutions.Time, history, culture, leadership and yes, luck all have a role to play in this journey. But the experiences of several countries which have made this transition convincingly point to the overriding importance of human capital and an empowered citizenry who can actively participate in the affairs of their society in building strong institutions.

"Here" is a hypothetical place where governance is poor, rule of law is not respected, and justice is often denied. Many, particularly the poor and the marginalised, suffer daily indignities, big and small, and live a life marked by fear and insecurity. "Denmark", on the other hand, is where good governance prevails and is reflected in predictable and accountable actions by others, including the State. The journey From Here to Denmark is essentially a quest of ensuring good governance. Improving governance needs good, strong institutions. Time, history, culture, leadership and yes, luck all have a role to play in this journey. But the experiences of several countries which have made this transition convincingly point to the overriding importance of human capital and an empowered citizenry who can actively participate in the affairs of their society in building strong institutions.

"Here" is a hypothetical place where governance is poor, rule of law is not respected, and justice is often denied. Many, particularly the poor and the marginalised, suffer daily indignities, big and small, and live a life marked by fear and insecurity. "Denmark", on the other hand, is where good governance prevails and is reflected in predictable and accountable actions by others, including the State. The journey From Here to Denmark is essentially a quest of ensuring good governance. Improving governance needs good, strong institutions. Time, history, culture, leadership and yes, luck all have a role to play in this journey. But the experiences of several countries which have made this transition convincingly point to the overriding importance of human capital and an empowered citizenry who can actively participate in the affairs of their society in building strong institutions.

Africa is at a critical inflection point. After decades of disappointing performance a combination of sound macro policies and a commodity price bonanza has led to a dramatic and long overdue surge in African growth rates and concomitant improvement in social indicators. This impressive performance has now created its own challenge for African leadership-the heightened aspirations of their own people and the expectation of the world at large. And responding to this challenge will definitely require more than staying the course-more of the same will not work. It will require bold and tenacious pursuit of multifaceted policies and initiatives that will call for intellectual integrity and single?minded determination combined with political courage at home and statesmanship abroad. It is in this context that the experience of the other emerging markets economies may provide pointers as African leaders grapple with the complex multidimensional issues of not just maintaining but accelerating economic growth, prosperity and well?being of their populace. To set the stage for defining the opportunities and the promise that can lie ahead, this report sets out alternative scenarios of what the outcomes could be but not predictions of what they will be. This study also outlines a framework and action agenda that can deliver Africa's promise.

"Here" is a hypothetical place where governance is poor, rule of law is not respected, and justice is often denied. Many, particularly the poor and the marginalised, suffer daily indignities, big and small, and live a life marked by fear and insecurity."Denmark", on the other hand, is where good governance prevails and is reflected in predictable and accountable actions by others, including the State.The journey From Here to Denmark is essentially a quest of ensuring good governance. Improving governance needs good, strong institutions.Time, history, culture, leadership and yes, luck all have a role to play in this journey. But the experiences of several countries which have made this transition convincingly point to the overriding importance of human capital and an empowered citizenry who can actively participate in the affairs of their society in building strong institutions.

"Here" is a hypothetical place where governance is poor, rule of law is not respected, and justice is often denied. Many, particularly the poor and the marginalised, suffer daily indignities, big and small, and live a life marked by fear and insecurity. "Denmark", on the other hand, is where good governance prevails and is reflected in predictable and accountable actions by others, including the State. The journey From Here to Denmark is essentially a quest of ensuring good governance. Improving governance needs good, strong institutions. Time, history, culture, leadership and yes, luck all have a role to play in this journey. But the experiences of several countries which have made this transition convincingly point to the overriding importance of human capital and an empowered citizenry who can actively participate in the affairs of their society in building strong institutions.

"Here" is a hypothetical place where governance is poor, rule of law is not respected, and justice is often denied. Many, particularly the poor and the marginalised, suffer daily indignities, big and small, and live a life marked by fear and insecurity. "Denmark", on the other hand, is where good governance prevails and is reflected in predictable and accountable actions by others, including the State. The journey From Here to Denmark is essentially a quest of ensuring good governance. Improving governance needs good, strong institutions. Time, history, culture, leadership and yes, luck all have a role to play in this journey. But the experiences of several countries which have made this transition convincingly point to the overriding importance of human capital and an empowered citizenry who can actively participate in the affairs of their society in building strong institutions.

Africa is at a critical inflection point. After decades of disappointing performance a combination of sound macro policies and a commodity price bonanza has led to a dramatic and long overdue surge in African growth rates and concomitant improvement in social indicators. This impressive performance has now created its own challenge for African leadership-the heightened aspirations of their own people and the expectation of the world at large. And responding to this challenge will definitely require more than staying the course-more of the same will not work. It will require bold and tenacious pursuit of multifaceted policies and initiatives that will call for intellectual integrity and single?minded determination combined with political courage at home and statesmanship abroad. It is in this context that the experience of the other emerging markets economies may provide pointers as African leaders grapple with the complex multidimensional issues of not just maintaining but accelerating economic growth, prosperity and well?being of their populace. To set the stage for defining the opportunities and the promise that can lie ahead, this report sets out alternative scenarios of what the outcomes could be but not predictions of what they will be. This study also outlines a framework and action agenda that can deliver Africa's promise.