Economies that are afflicted by a high level of corruption - which involves the misuse of power, whether in the form of money or authority, in order to achieve certain goals in illegal, dishonest or unfair ways - are not capable of prospering as fully as those with a low level...
The West African regional bloc ECOWAS is backing Nigeria's candidate to head the World Trade Organization (WTO) and calls on other African countries to follow, a document showed on Monday, in a possible step towards uniting Africa behind her. "The ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government...calls on other...
African leaders have been cautioned to be circumspect with debt forgiveness calls, as they have a great tendency to not only disturb the bond market but also make it difficult for a successful future bond issuance by African countries. Calls are rife that with the havoc caused to African countries...
Across sub-Saharan Africa, digital technologies are driving change—from kids learning to code outside Niger’s capital, to drones delivering medicines to remote communities in Sierra Leone. This is all helping to build resilience. In the latest analytical chapter for the Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa,the IMF’s African department* examines how...
Across Africa the news that a former colonial power, the UK, is to take a more strategic, political, hard-nosed approach to the way it spends its overseas aid budget, has been greeted with a mixture of frustration and cynicism. In announcing a merger between the Foreign Office (FCO) and the...
When COVID-19 broke out in Africa, two non-African billionaires were among the first to donate masks, PPE’s, and other resources to support the fight against the pandemic across the African continent. Whilst their generosity and magnanimous actions were celebrated by African leaders, the same left us reflecting on the...
As African oil and gas countries struggle with Covid-19’s devastating impact on demand, two international groups seem to be celebrating it. Earlier this month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) described the low oil prices caused by the pandemic as a “golden opportunity”...
It explored digital responses that can be quickly deployed to address the disruptions to food systems, caused by COVID-19 Africa must seize the opportunity of the COVID-19 pandemic to deepen the digitalization of agricultural value chains and transform the sector, speakers at a webinar jointly hosted by the FAO Investment...
African countries must look to their local and global bond markets to raise enough capital to reboot their economies, which have been severely ravaged by COVID-19, African banks bosses have noted. Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ecobank, Ade Ayeyemi and the CEO of Equity Group Holding, James Mwangi noted...
Africa already in recession before pandemic Bad debts could hit 10% as coronavirus knocks economy - BASA That would mark highest ever level, over the 6% seen in 2009 Banks expected to have sufficient capital to handle hit South Africa’s bad debts could hit 10% of bank lending this...