2013 Africa Progress Report: African Union Briefing Following the publication of the Africa Progress Report on Oil, Gas and Mining, the Africa Progress Panel held an African Union Briefing to put forward the recommendations set forth in the report. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Head of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Carlos Lopes, helped present this year's Africa Progress Report on Thursday (May 23) to African policy makers and leaders on the sidelines of the AU summit in Addis Ababa. Launch of the 2013 Africa Progress Report The Africa Progress Panel, chaired by Mr. Kofi Annan, launched the report in May 2013 during the World Economic Forum on Africa in South Africa. The Africa Progress Panel is convinced that Africa can better manage its vast natural resource wealth to improve the lives of the region’s people by setting out bold national agendas for strengthening transparency and accountability. Imagine an African continent – Kofi Annan Imagine an African continent, where leaders use mineral wealth wisely to fund better health, education, energy, and infrastructure too. Africa, our continent has oil, gas, platinum, diamonds, cobalt, copper, and more. If we use these resources wisely, they will improve the lives of millions of Africans. If we don't, they can fuel corruption, conflict, and social instability. Transparency and accountability are key. 2013 Africa Progress Report: Equity in Extractives Africa is standing on the edge of enormous opportunity and African policy makers and their partners have critical choices to make. They can either invest their natural resource revenue in people to generate jobs and opportunities for millions in present and future generations. Or they can squander this opportunity, allowing jobless growth and inequality to take root.