Economy

  • 15 Jul 2016

    Global and regional options for industrialisation strategies

    Topics: 
    Agriculture & Fisheries
    Economy
    Regional integration
    Body: 
    To accelerate their industrialisation in the face of tough global competition, West African countries must leverage their comparative and competitive advantages. Several strategies are available to them. The first is integration into global value chains, by initially developing low added value and labour intensive activities before gradually moving upmarket in the value chain. A second strategy is based on the transformation of local products, such as mango, shea, cashew and textiles. A third strategy is that of regional value chains, which focuses on local production of goods for regional markets. Read on
  • 15 Jul 2016

    Cape Verde, Senegal lead in CPIA ratings

    Country: 
    Cabo Verde
    Ghana
    Senegal
    Topics: 
    Development co-operation
    Economy
    Employment
    Body: 
    The World Bank has published the 2015 rankings in its Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report for Africa. Revised annually, the CPIA score evaluates, on a scale of 1 to 6, the capacity of a country's policies and institutions to support sustainable growth and poverty reduction. With Cape Verde and Senegal, West Africa is home to the second and third best scores in the continental ranking, after Rwanda. Read on
  • 21 Jun 2016

    West Africa's economy stalled in 2015, gradual recovery in 2016

    Topics: 
    Economy
    SWAC: 
    SWAC
    Body: 
    With growth estimated at 3.3%, the West African economy was less dynamic than that of East Africa (6.3%), Central Africa (3.7%) and North Africa (3.5 %), but stronger than that of Southern Africa (2.8%). This performance is mainly due to the economic downturn in Nigeria. In the short term, the report forecasts a gradual recovery in economic activity in the region, which is expected to grow 4.3% in 2016 and 5.5% in 2017. Côte d’Ivoire could become the continent’s most dynamic economy in 2016, with growth of 8.6%. Read on
  • 07 May 2016

    Eradicating poverty in Africa

    Country: 
    Nigeria
    Topics: 
    Economy
    Food security & Nutrition
    Opinion: 
    Opinion
    Body: 
    Eradicating poverty and ensuring food security depends on the health of the ecosystems that underpin human health, well-being, livelihoods, jobs and sustainable growth. Nigerian Minister of Environment Amina J Mohammed makes the case for an ecosystem-based adaptation approach to agriculture in an opinion article in Al Jazeera. Read on
  • 07 Apr 2016

    To industrialise, West Africa must integrate

    Topics: 
    Economy
    Infrastructure
    Regional integration
    Opinion: 
    Opinion
    Body: 
    In an interview with the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), NEPAD CEO Ibrahim Mayaki analyses the dynamics of industrialisation in Africa and explains the challenges facing West Africa in this area. Industrialisation in the sub-region lags significantly behind the two major industrial regions that make up North Africa on the one hand and Southern and East Africa on the other. Read on
  • 24 Mar 2016

    Troubled waters: What Nigeria can do...?

    Country: 
    Nigeria
    Topics: 
    Economy
    Employment
    Security
    Opinion: 
    Opinion
    Body: 
    Nigeria has the largest economy on the continent but its development receives little attention in the global debate on international security, economic development and humanitarian issues. The country, however, faces many difficulties. These were discussed at a conference of the Africa Security Initiative at the Brookings Institution on 29 February... Read on
  • 15 Mar 2016

    Four questions on the state of UEMOA and implications for other regional economic communities

    Topics: 
    Economy
    Regional integration
    Opinion: 
    Opinion
    Members: 
    UEMOA
    Body: 
    To what extent does UEMOA encourage trade and financial integration? How do UEMOA countries compare to other sub-Saharan African countries in terms of macroeconomic stability? Has UEMOA’s fixed exchange rate regime impeded competitiveness? And how has UEMOA promoted economic convergence among member countries? Amadou Sy and Mariama Sow provide some answers to these key questions in an article posted on the Brookings blog. Read on
  • 04 Mar 2016

    UEMOA, Afristat launch Regional Statistics Programme

    Country: 
    Benin
    Burkina Faso
    Côte d'Ivoire
    Guinea-Bissau
    Mali
    Niger
    Senegal
    Togo
    Topics: 
    Economy
    Members: 
    UEMOA
    Body: 
    UEMOA is working to improve the collection and use of economic statistics within its eight member states. Directors general of national statistics agencies took part in a workshop to launch the Regional Statistics Programme (PRS-UEMOA) 2015-20 from 1 to 4 March in Bamako. The PRS is the result of a co-operation agreement between the UEMOA Commission and the Economic and Statistical Observatory for Sub-Saharan Africa (AFRISTAT), signed in November 2015 Read on
  • 21 Jan 2016

    IMF foresees economic rebound in Ghana

    Country: 
    Ghana
    Topics: 
    Development co-operation
    Economy
    Body: 
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted stronger economic growth in Ghana this year. The international lender completed its second review of Ghana's extended credit facility, concluding that macro-economic reforms are largely on track. The Fund approved a USD 114.6 million disbursement, part of a USD 918 million assistance package agreed in April 2015. Read on

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