2021 annual report on the implementation of the European Union's External Action Instruments in 2020
The European Union has published its 2021 annual report on the implemtnation of the External Action Instruments in 2020. Underlining our commitment to global solidarity, the EU and its 27 Member States remain the leading providers of official development aid, with a collective contribution of EUR 66.8 billion in 2020. In terms of Africa, it focuses on the Joint Communication ‘Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa‘, the Post-Cotonou Agreement, the 10th African Union Commission-European Commission meeting held in Addis Ababa, the EU-G5 Sahel Summit further deepened relations between the G5 Sahel and the EU, the first EU/AU Research and Innovation Ministerial and the prospects of developing a joint EU/AU Innovation Agenda.
E-commerce and the digital economy in LDCs: At breaking point in COVID-19 times
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has published a report on how, in pandemic times, e-commerce and the digital economy in LDCs has been pushed to breaking point. The pandemic appears to have been exacerbating existing divides leaving countries that were already struggling to engage in ICT goods trade, many of them in Africa, even further behind. As digitisation can hugely affect the achievement of SDGs, it is essential for the international community to scale up its assistance in this sector in Africa, especially considering the continent's most vulnerable countries.
Two years have passed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the economic fall-out is still being felt all around the globe, its impacts are not fully captured. In particular, the accelerated digital transformation, with digital solutions developed and used to facilitate economic and social activities from a distance, has been accompanied by a surge in e-commerce, with potentially long-lasting effects. It has also revealed wide gaps in digital readiness, especially in the most vulnerable economies. UNCTAD’s research has shown that the pandemic has further exposed gaps in policy areas central to improving digital readiness in least developed countries (LDCs).
Foreign Direct Investment in LDCs
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published its report on foreign direct invesmtent (FDI) in LDCs. Whereas the pandemic has caused FDI to decrease in volume, Africa has actually seen an increase in volume.
The discussion in this report brings together, in a concise form, the extensive analysis of investment and investment policy trends in LDCs contained in annual editions of UNCTAD’s flagship World Investment Report (WIR). The summary report shows that since 2011, FDI inflows to LDCs as a group increased only marginally. The pandemic has further undermined the attainment of the goals of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for LDCs, as well as the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Nonetheless, FDI remains an important source of external finance for LDCs, crucial for their sustainable development and eventual graduation.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Annual report: Reducing inequality
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published its 2021 annula report, highlighting the reduction of inequality.
Particularly interesting for Africa, the report highlights trade and development trends including the cost of climate adaption and commodity dependence.
ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published its report analysing policies in support of women's economic development by members of the Development Assistance Committee. It shows, inter alia, that sub-Saharan Africa is in the top two regions that receive the highest volume of aid in support of women's economic empowerment (WEE).
This paper presents the findings of an examination of OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members’ efforts to advance women’s economic he different types of policies within which WEE is incorporated. It also highlights examples of good practices and offers policy options for development co-operation actors to support the advancement of WEE, and ultimately the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and SDG5 in particular.
BLENDED FINANCE FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a paper on using blended finance as a tool to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. With the achievement of SDGs increasingly in the international focus, investment in gender equality in Africa can be used as a key driver for economic and social developement.
Primer for the AfCFTA country business index(ACBI) : summary results for Angola, Cote D'Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Africa
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has published its primer report for the AfCFTA country business index (ACBI), summarising the reults for Angola, Cote D'Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement officially commenced operationalization a year ago, forming the cornerstone of trade integration in Africa. The objective of the AfCFTA encompasses the creation of a single continental market and aims to enhance competitiveness at the enterprise level. From a business perspective, the AfCFTA is a tool to help African businesses benefit from the great opportunities that our growing continent can offer on both the supply and demand sides.
Multilateralism at the COVID-19 Pandemic Crossroad: The 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Focus
This study reflects on what the COVID-19 pandemic has meant for trade multilateralism, and lessons to be drawn for the future. It reviews trade disruptions which resulted from the pandemic across economic sectors (e.g. agriculture, services, e-commerce, transport), examining some of the trade-related response measures adopted by members. Finally, the author reflects on the implications of the crisis on the upcoming WTO Ministerial agenda, including prospects for a comprehensive WTO response to Covid-19 as well as current discussions on a proposed TRIPS Waiver.
Inequality in Southern Africa: An Assessment of the Southern African Customs Union
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the most unequal region in the world. While there has been some progress in recent years, inequality has remained almost stagnant in the most unequal countries. Using an innovative framework, this report provides a systematic and comprehensive analysis of inequality in the region. The main conclusions are as follows: first, inherited circumstances over which an individual has little or no control (i.e., inequality of opportunity) drive overall inequality, and their contribution has increased in recent years. This is an important concern particularly because this type of inequality is not the result of people’s efforts. Second, lack of access to jobs and means of production (education, skills, land, among others) by disadvantaged populations slows progress towards a more equitable income distribution.
Finance & Development - Rethinking Fiscal: Public Finance and Fairness in a Changed World
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published its March 2022 edition of Finance & Development which focuses on the need to rethink fiscal policy as public finance operates in an entirely different environment as was present before the pandemic. This is particularly important with regards to the African continent and covers issues such as unsafe debt and hidden liabilities, responsive spending in African nations addressing the need to democratise management of public finances, tackling inequality and regional inequity.
Nearly a century ago, Joseph Schumpeter wrote, “The spirit of a people, its cultural level, its social structure…all this and more is written in its fiscal history…. The public finances are one of the best starting points for an investigation of society.”
The innovative fiscal responses to the pandemic’s economic fallout bear him out. The power and agility of fiscal policy were far beyond what was previously thought possible. Governments channeled cash directly to households and businesses to save jobs and livelihoods. As the IMF’s Vitor Gaspar notes, these actions demonstrated government’s “special role in protecting the vulnerable when things go wrong.” But now, the bill is coming due. Governments face the tricky task of reducing unprecedented debt to more sustainable levels while ensuring continued support for health systems and the most vulnerable.