Special on the occasion of the 18th International Economic Forum on Africa, 31 October 2018
AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT i-Sheet
DYNAMICS browse on paper, read online
GROWTH, JOBS AND INEQUALITIES
www.oecdobserver.org/Africa
Africa’s shifting boundaries Regional integration, which has long been an aspiration among African leaders, was given fresh impetus in March 2018 when an historic decision was agreed to create the African Continental Free Trade Area. It is another step towards realising the immense promise which Africa holds and will be key in helping the continent meet a range of development challenges, from infrastructure and digitalisation, through labour and migration, to health and education. The selected articles and viewpoints in this special OECD Observer i-Sheet prepared for the 18th International Economic Forum on Africa explore some of the headline issues. Browse on paper, read online.
Read more at https://oe.cd/obs/Africa
2018
DYNAMICS
2
GROWTH, JOBS AND INEQUALITIES
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TOP STORIES
Africa: A continent of opportunity
Africa’s Development Dynamics
Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD
Mario Pezzini, Director of the OECD Development Centre and Special Advisor to the OECD Secretary-General on Development
I am delighted to open the 18th International Economic Forum on Africa. What we will be focusing on is precisely how we can design the policies which will lead to inclusion and ensure that everyone–families, farmers and businesses–reaps the benefits of Africa’s integration.
2018
Africa’s growth was the second highest in the world at 4.6% between 2000 and 2016. Prospects for more resilient growth are fuelled by at least two key factors.
Africa’s integration: Groundbreaking but not so new
How can the new African free trade agreement unlock Africa’s potential?
Sarah Lawan and Rodrigo Deiana, OECD Development Centre
Landry Signé, David M. Rubenstein Fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program and the Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution
The post-colonial thirst for “breaking with the old order and indigenising the direction of Africa’s economic development” led to the shaping of the African Economic Community (AEC), a panAfrican single market.
Full article https://oe.cd/2oX
African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Africa has an opportunity to show leadership on the world stage through strength in unity, as the rest of the world retreats from multilateralism and increases protectionism.
©Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters
Full article https://oe.cd/2oZ
©Shutterstock
Full article https://oe.cd/obs/3zy
Gleaming train station in Nigeria
Full article https://oe.cd/2oU
Get the plumbing right: Financial integration It’s time to foster Africa’s science revolution Thierry Zomahoun, President and CEO of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), should support Africa’s trade integration Founder and Chair, Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Amadou Sy, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and Advisor, African Department, IMF
Policies to reduce obstacles to intra-African trade have been a priority for African policymakers. However, lost in the debate about leveraging Africa’s trade integration for stronger and more inclusive economic growth is a policy discussion on increased financial integration.
Accelerating the knowledge-led development of Africa through sciencedriven policy and investments is important for boosting long-term growth and well-being.
Full article https://oe.cd/2oW
Full article https://oe.cd/obs/3zx
BOOKSHOP
To order these titles and more go to: www.OECD-iLibrary.org See also www.oecd.org/Africa www.oecdobserver.org/Africa
3 OECD OBSERVER ROUNDTABLE
Raise the global value of African knowledge Yvonne Mburu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nexakili
What policy initiatives would you prioritise to promote regional integration in Africa and what international co-operation initiatives would you encourage most?
African countries must embark on a deliberate mission of converging their educational curricula and leveraging technology to accelerate knowledge production and circulation within the continent.
https://oe.cd/obs/3zv Supporting a key aspiration of African countries
Promoting results-driven education
Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Home Affairs, South Africa
Amel Karboul, CEO, Africa and Middle East Education Outcomes Fund
Regional integration (free movement of goods, services, people and capital between countries) has been a key aspiration of African countries since the achievement of independence.
The learning crisis is a time bomb that could undermine the achievement of all of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and demands urgent global action.
Liberalisation’s limits
A partner in all areas
Mamadou Diallo, Deputy General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation
Stefano Manservisi, Director-General for International Cooperation and Development, European Commission
For decades, Africa has been losing opportunities to industrialise, diversify its economy and eliminate poverty through decent work.
In the years to come, Africa intends to go through three main structural changes: increase the added-value of what is produced, reduce dependency on fossil fuels and join the digital revolution.
Beer, conflict and compensation: Heineken-Congo agreement
What hope for peace in Mali? Julia Wanjiru, Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD)
Roel Nieuwenkamp, Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct
©Kris Pannecoucke/PANOS REA
Heineken’s agreement with Congolese workers sets excellent example of dispute settlement on responsible business conduct.
©Hervé Cortinat/OECD
The Malian government must speed up progress in implementing its ambitious integrated development plan for the country’s northern regions, without which there can be no lasting peace and any progress on improving livelihoods.
President Keïta at the OECD in 2015
The Bralima brewery beside the Congo River
Full article https://oe.cd/23v
Full article https://oe.cd/obs/mr2
Making Africa healthy A number of countries in Africa have viable pharmaceutical industries, which could be further bolstered by reform, such as the strengthening of regulatory authorities, regional market consolidation and reforming public procurement processes.
Africa’s school progress Higher investment in human development in Africa is paying off. One reflection of this is the share of both girls and boys completing their secondary education, which has increased between 2005 and 2014.
Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
After eight years of studies and discussions, the Inga 3 hydroelectric dam project on the Congo River will finally enter its operational phase. This is a milestone for Africa.
Full article https://oe.cd/obs/xz
Full article https://oe.cd/1Rt DATABANK
Infrastructure: We must find alternatives to state funding
Gender composition of secondary school completion by region of Africa, 2005 and 2014 (% age group) Central Africa
% relevant age group 80
East Africa
West Africa
60 50 35
40
39
44
50
46 31
30 20
17
45
47
North Africa 69
63
59
57
70
Southern Africa
58
46
54 43
35
33
13
10 0
Full article https://oe.cd/28T
Male
2005
Female
Source: African Economic Outlook 2017: Entrepreneurship and Industrialisation
Male
2014
Female
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/aeo-2017-en
m.oecdobserver.org
4 MULTIMEDIA
Philanthropy for Development–seven things you should know
Tax Inspectors Without Borders: Levelling the paying field in Liberia
Interviews and videos from rice traders in the Dendi region
https://bit.ly/2H9bL2w
https://bit.ly/2ptSfqu
https://bit.ly/2PUtPAU
COVER STORY OF A CRISIS Snapshots of the crisis through the lens of OECD Observer covers since 2008
No 269 October 2008
www.oecdobserver.org
Ministerial roundtable Green collar jobs? Poverty in work Down to business Myths and migrants Renminbi or dollar?
No 274 October 2009
Immigrants face the crisis Part-time work The income taxes you really pay Economic outlook www.oecdobserver.org
No 280 July 2010
www.oecdobserver.org
Confidence
The missing factor
Jobs crisis Policies that work
No bonus: Publicis takes a lead
Euro spotlight Occupy: Main lessons
Brazil reaches new heights: Special focus No 287 Q4 2011
www.oecdobserver.org
Huffington on the squeezed middle Generations together?
Spotlight: Higher education and globalisation
No 290-291 Q1-Q2 2012
Guest minister: UK’s David Willetts
Ministerial Council and Forum Special 2012
www.oecdobserver.org
Databank: The state’s anti-poverty effect
Gender: Pushing for a change OECD Skills Strategy Tax and inequality Long-term investment
Inequality
Why the struggle matters
Central banks: False beliefs and unhappy endings
Governments and markets: Time to get serious
Information jobs: Databank
Bank crisis: Funding the gap
Missing entrepreneurs
Microcredit’s big future No 284 Q1 2011
www.oecdobserver.org
OECD Economic Outlook
Africa’s tax system
No 305 Q1 2016
Greening the OECD
www.oecdobserver.org
Ireland’s economy
Spotlight: Ireland’s economy at the cutting edge
www.oecdobserver.org No 276-277 December 2009-January 2010
Chile and the OECD Is financial stability enough? Copenhagen: No cop out A closer look at US healthcare costs Tax for development Israel’s economy OECD Economic Outlook: Country snapshots
Special focus: Canada and the OECD
The future of work
©Serprix.com
Beyond GDP Your Better Life Index
Economic outlook How fragile?
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