OECD Observer i-Sheet: Africa’s shifting boundaries

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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