DevDispatch Recommends: October 2021 Publications
Every month, we share the latest global development publications to help you keep abreast of the issues. October is no different so enjoy!
The Impact of COVID-19 on African Civil Society Organizations: Ongoing Uncertainty and a Glimmer of Optimism
By Epic Africa and African NGOs
The COVID-19 pandemic infiltrated and continues to have adverse impacts on different socio-economic facets. This report, which is the second edition released by Epic Africa and African NGOs, draws attention to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on African CSOs to determine how African CSOs are responding to the pandemic and cultivate lessons and trends that may help predict the future.
The report whose findings are based on a survey of funders and 1039 CSOs from 46 African countries looks into the challenges faced by African CSOs in delivering their essential mandate to ensure that public policy choices and actions do the least harm and respect human rights.
Key findings from the surveys conducted include:
- 97.8% of CSOs indicated that COVID-19 impacted and disrupted their operations in one or more ways. In 2020 this figure was 98%.
- 68.1% experienced a loss of funding since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 12.4% compared to 2020. The funders surveyed indicated that 76.9% of their grantees already lost funding.
- 40.7% experienced increased demand in services, compared to 31.5% in 2020.
- 75.3% felt that COVID-19 would have a devastating impact on the sustainability of many CSOs, compared to 78% in 2020.
- The situation has improved, as 56.1% reduced or cancelled their operations, compared to 69.3% in 2020.
The report is a quick read at 40 pages tailored for African CSOs and funders
World Economic Outlook: Recovery During a Pandemic Health Concerns, Supply Disruptions and Price Pressures
By IMF
The October edition of the World Economic Outlook report highlights some concerns around the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economic recovery as the pandemic resurges. While noting that global economic recovery is steady, areas of distress include disruption of supply chains in critical global links further feeding inflation in many countries.
The forecast is that the global economy is projected to grow by 5.9% in 2021 and 4.9% in 2022 (0.1% point lower for 2021 than in the July 2021 World Economic Outlook.) The outlook also shows that in some emerging markets and developing economies, price pressures are expected to persist because of elevated food prices, lagged effects of higher oil prices, and exchange rate depreciation increasing the prices of imported goods. Overall, the balance of risks for growth is tilted more on the downside.
In preparing for the post-pandemic economy, the importance of facilitating new growth opportunities related to green technology and digitalization, reducing inequality, and ensuring sustainable public finances is highlighted.
The 140 pager is a great resource for economists, financiers and policymakers
The eighth edition of the ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work
By ILO
The eight edition of the ILO Monitor looking into COVID-19 and the world of work gives a global overview of different recovery trends between developed and developing countries examining how the countries are faring, eighteen months after the pandemic was declared.
The key messages from the 35 paged brief include the fact that progress in terms of vaccination and return to the workplace has been slower in low-middle income countries with vaccination posited as a precursor for labour market recovery and less stringent workplace restrictions. Vaccination rates are cited at 59.8% for high-income countries and 1.6% for low-income countries. In 2021, global labour productivity growth slowed down significantly, with negative growth in low- and lower-middle-income countries. As a result, the “productivity gap” between developing and advanced economies has increased. An unequal picture is painted on employment and unemployment trends, the number of people fully participating in the labour market has not fully recovered and young people and women are the most affected demographic.
The report concludes by citing that global action, including financial and technical support, is key for human-centred recovery.
The report is recommended for human resource practitioners and policymakers
State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2021: How Adaptation Can Make Africa Safer,
Greener and More Prosperous in a Warming World
By Global Center on Adaptation
and African Development Bank
The report highlights the importance of adaptation to mitigate the impact of climate change in Africa, a continent highly dependent on rainfed agriculture to sustain livelihoods. It combines in-depth analyses, case studies, and viewpoints from those on the frontlines of climate change impacts in Africa to present innovative adaptation and resilience ideas, solutions, and policy recommendations.
Some of the blueprints recommended for successful adaptation include:
Mainstreaming adaptation– creating national adaptation strategies and viewing every decision and every plan through the lens of how those actions can improve long-term resilience.
Dramatically increasing financial support for adaptation– 40 African nations have estimated their investment needs for adaptation at roughly $331 billion by 2030.
Harnessing the power of the private sector– Ninety percent of the jobs in Africa and 75 percent of the continent’s economic output come from the private sector.
Creating more opportunities for young people- With 43 percent of its population under the age of 15, Africa has the largest youth population in the world.
Empowering women-Women are especially vulnerable to climate change because they typically lack property and land tenure rights and are often forced to work on the least productive land, while also taking on laborious tasks like collecting water and fuelwood.
The extensive 290 paged report is recommended for climate experts and policy makers in Africa
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Africa's Pulse: An Analysis of issues Shaping Africa's Economic Future
By World Bank
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
While the global economy continues to recover steadily, a parallel movement is slowly forming in terms of economic progress owing to inequities in vaccine supply. Advanced economies are rebounding faster due to unprecedented fiscal support coupled with vaccine rollout, while the developing world is struggling with a slow pace of vaccination rollout and little fiscal support.
The report gives a snapshot of issues shaping Africa’s economic future. It states that although Sub-Saharan Africa emerged from the recession in 2021, its recovery is still “timid and fragile.” The region is projected to grow at a rate of 3.3%—a weaker recovery pace than that of advanced and emerging market economies. In 2022–23, the region is projected to grow at rates below 4%.
The report argues that accelerating the economic recovery in Sub-Saharan Africa requires significant additional financing and that policies to foster sustainable and inclusive growth cannot be divorced from the climate crisis—for which Africa bears the least responsibility but the largest brunt. In addition, because of limited fiscal space but also fiscal discipline, African countries have not been able to inject the level of resources required to launch a vigorous policy response to COVID-19.
The report which is 112 pages long is recommended for economists and financiers in Africa
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Malawi Economic Monitor, December 2020 : Doing More with Less - Improving Service Delivery in Energy and Water
By the World Bank
The pandemic has induced a sharp recession in many countries across the globe. Malawi’s economy has been heavily affected, with growth projected at 1.0 percent in 2020, down from earlier projections of 4.8 percent. With population growth around 3.0 percent, this represents a 2.0 percent contraction in per capita GDP. Political stability has returned following the June 2020 Presidential elections, which should support investment. However, global and domestic factors emanating from the pandemic are affecting Malawi’s economy, including: 1) disruption in global value chains and trade and logistics; 2) decrease in tourism; and 3) decrease in remittances. This has combined with social distancing policies and behavior to also reduce domestic demand. The Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) provides an analysis of economic and structural development issues in Malawi. The publication intends to foster better-informed policy analysis and debate regarding the key challenges that Malawi faces in its endeavor to achieve high rates of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2021
By GSMA
With digital transformation taking shape around the world, access to mobile phones and the internet continue to prove to be the gate key into the new digital era. Mobile phones are the primary way for most of the population to access the internet in low and middle income countries. More and more people are getting connected everyday however there is a noticeable gender gap as women are getting left behind due to various reasons such as lower incomes, lower literacy rates. Even women who have experienced similar levels of education and income too. Men are still less likely to own a mobile phone.
This report reviews the barriers women face in adopting the internet and owning a mobile phone compared to the barriers faced by men. This topic is of importance as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to be digitally connected for work, education and social wellbeing. There is a clear need to focus on gender equality when reaching women at an organisational and policy level.
This report lays out recommendations for mobile operators, internet companies, policymakers and regulators as well as the development community at large, and should be a quick read for all at only 63 pages.
Global SDG Accountability Report
By the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network.
This report serves to ascertain the level of accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals at a subnational, national and international level. Information gathered from the SDG Accountability Survey serves as the basis of this report by collecting reflections and inputs from stakeholders around the world.
Split into four sections the report looks at:
1. The foundations of the 2030 Agenda – which explains and contextualises the SDGs;
2. A snapshot of SDG accountability – which outlines the challenges being faced by stakeholders in implementing the SDGs especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Building a Global Multistakeholder Movement for SDG Accountability – which focuses on case studies of different stakeholders and their role in accountability and how they can improve accountability
4. Recommendations to Advance Accountability for the SDGs & the 2030 Agenda – which summarises the findings of the report and provides recommendations for specific stakeholders.
This report is an asset for the media, parliamentarians and national human rights institutions. It’s 101 pages but is organised such that it can be read in sections relevant to the information you are looking for.
The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Education, Livelihoods & Food Security Status: Policy Implications For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
By P. Tamasiga, A.T. Guta, H. Onyeaka, H. Nkoutchou and M.S. Kalane.
Sub-Saharan countries were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 as they were already experiencing weak health care systems, low financing for testing and very few resources for response measures. This data-driven report outlines the key trends of the COVID-19 pandemic by region, highlighting case trajectories, lockdown and containment measures, economic impacts, education impacts and health impacts. South Africa still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Along with containing COVID-19, Central Africa is still facing the additional challenges of pre-existing health concerns, especially malaria.
The policy implications are focussed on supply chains, trade and market access, food and agricultural production, misinformation and the media, health, education and strategic communication. Sub-Saharan Africa has already been deemed to be the most at risk for food insecurity and this is expected to increase 2.5 fold.
Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021
By WHO
This report looks into how effective the strategies planned for 2016-2021 have been in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Progress has indeed been made despite the disruption of the global pandemic but in the same breath, there are still many targets that have not been reached. The number of new HIV infections has fallen by 23% to its lowest rate since 2010 with 1.7 million new infections in 2019 however this is far from the target of only 500 000 new infections.
Stigma and lack of resources to implement people-centred policies and services still remain the largest hindrance. COVID-19 severely affected the ability for people to get tested easily. This report analyses the success and shortfalls of each WHO region. The report recommends that the only way to try and get back on track is for governments to collaborate their efforts into universal health care systems beneficial for the most vulnerable.
This report is targeted at anyone who works with marginalised communities of people infected by HIV, hepatitis or any STIs and is also a good read for health care workers and policy makers. It is moderately long at 108 pages.
Mainstreaming gender in urban public transport
By Stockholm Environment Institute
Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent, yet walking still remains the most affordable mode of transport in urban areas. This is due to a lack of service provision. There is also a large gender inequality problem when it comes to transport both in operation and in use. This report seeks to shed light on the under researched matter of women’s participation in transport decision making and their use of public transport systems.
The report uses the case studies of Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala by interviewing all members of society from taxi drivers to policy makers in the ministries of transport and transport planners. The report identifies accessibility and safety of public transport systems, sexual assault and harassment, lack of integrated and gender sensitive urban planning and underrepresentation as larger barriers towards gene=der mainstreaming in transport.
This report is the perfect short read for city and transport planners at only 40 pages.
Terrorism in the Sahel Facts and Figures
By NATO Strategic Direction- South, ACSRT
The fight against terrorism in the Sahel is still a major issue that deserves attention as the number of terrorist attacks has increased by 18.5% in 2020. This report analyses current and past data to show a conclusive analysis on the rate of terrorism. The largest threats come from the following terrorist groups Boko Haram, ISGS, JNIM and ISWAP and the most affected countries are Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
This analysis is taken in the form of quantitative analysis with a lot of informative graphs and infographics as well as qualitatively by looking at the types of attacks. The report concludes that 2020 has been the most intense year in terms of terrorism in the Sahel.
This report is target to all members defence ministries and counter-terrorism organisations. It is a very brief read with only 37 pages.