The Global Gateway: A recipe for EU geopolitical relevance?
The Global Gateway is the EU’s new connectivity strategy that aims to create smart, sustainable and secure links with countries around the world in the thematic areas of digital, energy and transport. It also aims to strengthen health and education systems across the world. The paper argues that the Global Gateway strategy has the seeds of something new, but that it will need to overcome a number of challenges to be successful.
The Global Gateway strategy presents a clear European offer based on democratic values, equal partnerships, environmental sustainability, safe and secure infrastructure, and integrates the private sector. The EU wants to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative and other regional and global players and to re-establish the EU’s standing, notably in Africa where the EU promised €150 billion of a €300 billion pledged under the Global Gateway investments.
Human development in the EU’s international spending in turbulent times: From words to deeds?
The knock-on effects of the Russian war against Ukraine are felt particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, with inflation, soaring prices of fertilisers and further food insecurity. This not only stresses the need for continuous and increasing support in human development sectors like nutrition, but also comes with a (geo)political cost to Europe.
Against the backdrop of the conflict, the EU has finalised its programming for much of the €79.5 billion Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE). This paper analyses how human development was addressed in the Multi-Annual Indicative programmes (MIPs) in sub-Saharan Africa. We suggest that human development has become a higher priority in the programming of NDICI-GE than originally planned. The EU is taking a differentiated approach to promote human development in partner countries and trying to balance country priorities and its own geopolitical objectives. Yet, it remains to be seen how this will be implemented and whether the EU will follow through on its commitments, amidst new challenges presented by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Gender, Poverty and Environmental Indicators on African Countries 2022
This is the twenty-second volume of the publication on Indicators on Gender, Poverty, the Environment and Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in African Countries by the Statistics Department of the African Development Bank Group. The publication provides information on the broad development trends relating to gender, poverty, environmental issues and the SDGs in the 54 African countries.
Nigeria Development Update (NDU): The Continuing Urgency of Business Unusual
The Nigeria Development Update (NDU) is a World Bank report series produced twice a year around Spring and Fall. The NDU assesses recent economic and social developments and prospects in Nigeria, and places these in a longer-term and global context. It also provides an in-depth examination of selected economic and policy issues and an analysis of Nigeria’s medium-term development challenges. It is intended for a wide audience, including policy makers, business leaders, financial market participants, and the community of analysts and professionals engaged in Nigeria’s evolving economy.
MENA Enterprise Survey Report Working Papers
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has published a series of Working Papers based on the findings of their MENA Enterprise Survey Report. The series covers subjects covering, inter alia, corporate ESG responsibility practices, green investment, digitalisation, MSMEs and human capital in Africa. These papers are in support of the report: Unlocking sustainable growth in the Middle East and North Africa private sector.
The Enterprise Surveys, conducted by the EIB, EBRD and the World Bank, provide insight into what lies beneath the region’s relatively slow growth, with a focus on the reasons for stagnating productivity and inadequate accumulation of human and physical capital in the private sector.
Invisible Bonds : Transboundary Resilience Building in the Horn of Africa - Lessons from World Bank Regional Projects and Advisory Services and Analytics
The Horn of Africa (HoA) is characterized by the paradox of being both integrated and isolated. The bonds of togetherness run deep among HoA countries, especially in the transboundary areas. Manifested through active pastoralist cross-border movements, market networks and trade, dynamic movement of people, and the shared impacts of shocks and stressors, the invisible bonds that exist between and in groups and communities in transboundary areas are at the core of the region’s growth and developmental potential. Despite the strong linkages in the region, there is also vulnerability and isolation. Regional integration remains challenging among countries with dissimilar resources and geometries. They face similarconstraints of high poverty levels, food insecurity, weak formal institutions, lack of or inconsistent implementation of regulations and policies, insufficient knowledge and data, conflicts over identity, resource control, and representation, and dissonance between formal and informal institutions and forced displacement, among others.
Unlocking sustainable private sector growth in the Middle East and North Africa
More than a decade after the Arab Spring, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region finds itself facing momentous challenges. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted economies and the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves through the region, with higher hydrocarbon prices, risks to food security, and lower tourist arrivals. Beyond lies the looming threat of climate change. But challenging times provide opportunities for positive change. The region’s private sector can seize this moment. It remains the hope for many young people for their future and has the potential to drive a greener region with a sustainable model of growth.
The Inflection Point: Africa's digital economy is poised to take off
A new report from Endeavor Nigeria shows that Africa’s technology ecosystem is set for a period of exponential growth, accelerated by strong market fundamentals and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, titled “The Inflection Point: Africa’s Digital Economy Is Poised To Take Off”, reviewed key events in Africa’s technology ecosystem from the last few years, identified patterns (especially in the context of other technology ecosystems across the world), and offers a roadmap to successfully navigate the opportunities that are emerging. According to the report, which drew on multiple sources, including analysis from McKinsey & Company, Africa’s digital economy is approaching its S-curve, a period of rapid, significant growth that will positively impact the continent’s GDP, job creation, and overall economic outlook.
Country Results Brief 2012-2021 - Ghana
Since 2011, the African Development Bank has produced yearly editions of its Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER), a publication that assesses the Bank’s overall contribution to development results in Africa. The ADER is complemented by a series of reviews that cover the African Development Bank’s activities in its regional member countries.
This country results brief is part of a series of summary reviews that examine ongoing operations in individual regional member countries. The African Development Bank appreciates the high level of dialogue it held with Ghanaian authorities during the preparation of several programming and project documents that fed into this review—a collaboration that testifies to the quality of the partnership between our institution and African countries.
World Investment Report 2022
International tax reforms and sustainable development.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published its world investment report for 2022. Looking specifically at the continent of Africa, this report analyses the gain in FDI inflows experienced and how the commodity and natural resource rich countries in Africa have profited from the recent crises and the push for resources necessary to achieve energy transition.
Global flows of foreign direct investment recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year, reaching $1.6 trillion. Cross-border deals and international project finance were particularly strong, encouraged by loose financing conditions and infrastructure stimulus. However, the recovery of greenfield investment in industry remains fragile, especially in developing countries.