Vol 62 No 9 | ECONOMYAFRICA Forecasts fail to lift the gloom 29th April 2021 Growth predictions have risen, but Covid-19 will have a devastating impact on Africa's economy, health and education The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank upped their forecasts for sub-Saharan Africa's growth at their 2021 Spring Meetings, but the economic impact from Covid-19 is still...
Vol 62 No 9 | UNITED STATESAFRICA No more picking winners 29th April 2021 'No special favours' for individual countries but, instead, 'broad engagement' with Africa was the message from Robert Godec, the United States African Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary, ahead of...
DISPATCHES Vol 62 No 9 | UNITED STATESAFRICACLIMATE CHANGE Emission targets, climate finance and ecological trade-offs led the agenda at Washington summit 28th April 2021 Africa's involvement is key to making a success of the latest wave of green tax, finance and technology initiatives United States President Joe Biden's virtual climate summit on 22-23 April, in which he pledged to cut US fossil fuel emissions by up to 52% of 2005 levels... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 62 No 9 | UNITED STATESAFRICA Washington's front bench on Africa takes shape 19th April 2021 Career diplomats dominate the new team as the Biden administration tries to repair ties and regain influence The nomination of Mary 'Molly' Catherine Phee as US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa on 15 April reinforces the message that career diplomats are back in charge,... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 62 No 9 | EUROPEAN UNIONAFRICAACP Long-awaited new trade treaty lacks substance for Africa 19th April 2021 Mandarins in Brussels call it a turning point but the deal makes few commitments on trade terms, climate and migration cash The European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific Community on Thursday (15 April) signed off on the successor to the Cotonou agreement, ending two-and-a-half years of negotiations. READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 62 No 7 | ECONOMYINTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDAFRICA Points of light as finance chiefs plot economic recovery 9th April 2021 The IMF wins support for $650 billion reserve currency plan as the US proposes global minimum corporate tax and G-20 extends debt relief package There are signs that the $650 billion issuance of new Special Drawing Rights, the International Monetary Fund's reserve currency, will offer a bigger boost to African treasuries than... READ FOR FREE
Vol 62 No 6 | AFRICAHEALTHCOVID-19 Sparring for a jab 18th March 2021 Trade and production deals may help the region’s vaccination drive in the short term more than lobbying for changes to the IP and patent laws The challenge to access vaccines against Covid-19 is not just an African problem, it is a global battle. But it has shone a spotlight on the complexities that... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 62 No 6 | TRADEAFRICAUNITED NATIONS Recovery will need better trade terms and debt relief deals 19th March 2021 The UN's latest report strikes a more positive note if commodity prices hold up and there is more flexibility on debt This year's rebound in commodity prices and the fact that Africa's public health systems have experienced far less pressure from the pandemic than initially feared are two glimmers... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 62 No 6 | ECONOMYAFRICA More debt to tread water 15th March 2021 Although it's campaigning for debt relief, the AfFB is more upbeat than the other multilaterals on the continent's prospects for recovery this year Africa will recover from its worst recession in half a century and reach growth of 3.4% in 2021, but long-term structural damage to the continent's economies is inevitable.... READ FOR FREE
Vol 62 No 5 | INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDAFRICA The money-sharing puzzle 4th March 2021 The Fund prepares to hand out huge sums to its members, but an outdated formula means it may fail to kick-start economies United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stalled a G20 plan for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to issue hundreds of millions of dollars in Special Drawing Rights (SDR),...