This policy brief examines the persistent gap between policy formulation and implementation in Africa. Drawing on discussions from the Africa Think Tank Spotlight Series webinar and the Africa Think Tank Summit 2025, it argues that Africa's main development challenge is no longer a lack of policy ideas but weaknesses in implementation. The publication proposes National Implementation Compacts (NICs) as a governance mechanism to strengthen accountability, financing, monitoring, learning, and collaboration among governments, think tanks, development partners, and other stakeholders to improve development outcomes and accelerate progress toward Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.