Prices are a key determinant of access to food in West Africa as households rely on markets for two-thirds of their food supply. Food prices in sub-Saharan Africa are 30 to 40% more expensive than in the rest of the world at comparable levels of GDP per capita. They vary greatly across countries – from -28% in Mauritania to +14% in Ghana compared to the West African average. Read on

Members of the commissions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) met on 8 September at the 16th Meeting of the Joint Technical Secretariat, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to take stock of their partnerships and discuss future policies. Read on

Aïd-El-Kébir, the Muslim sacrifice feast also known as “Tabaski,” was celebrated on 1 September across West Africa, 69 days after the end of Ramadan. It is one of the most important religious days on the Muslim calendar and represents a busy and expensive time for families. Read on

Over the last few years, several researchers have challenged African statistics. Among the many examples was the article written by World Bank economist Shantayanan Devarajan in 2013, “Africa’s Statistical Tragedy.” It painted a gloomy picture of African statistics as affected by the lack of capacity of statistical institutions, an unclear administration of responsibilities, a lack of stable state funding, and the destabilising effect of donor funding. This public questioning of public statistics in Africa provoked reactions. Read on