For the AfCFTA to realize its aims and objectives of setting Africa on the path of shared socio-economic prosperity, the economy must run on an indigenous machinery of a home-grown medium of exchange.
The increasing cost of capital in Africa, exceeding levels observed in other regions, the lack of reliable information and data which is essential for investors to make informed decisions, collectively represent major impediments to new investments in Africa and the continent’s appeal to foreign investors.
November has been filled with noteworthy events including the Intra-African Trade Fair, COP28, and the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign. We are grateful to have brought you all the new and exciting global development publications released this year and we hope we have in some way contributed to your reading goals for 2023.
The adoption of cryptocurrencies holds significant potential in strengthening intra-African trade and fostering economic growth. However, crucial concerns on regulation must be duly addressed to unlock the immense economic opportunities and sustainable development across the continent.
Entrepreneur, ecological organic agriculture practitioner and sustainability advocate Nandi Mkwanazi let DevDispatch Contributor Beru Lilako into her world to speak all things about climate change, food security and the AfCFTA. Nandi is also the Southern African Development Community chairperson of the Afrikan Youth Business Council.
Regional trade integration could become the vehicle for economies on the continent to transition to higher growth and job creation in a changing global environment. In particular, it can help to make countries more resilient to climate change and risks of geopolitical fragmentation.
We are exactly a month away from COP28 running from the 30th of November to the 12th of December and naturally, our radar is set on all things climate action. This month we recommend two publications on climate change, delve into Africa's economic trajectory and explore non-state armed groups in this month's releases.
Rounding up Global Goals Week last week is our September recommendations focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We hope you find our selection insightful!
This month, our blogger Beru Lilako interviewed Alastair Tempest, a digital trade and E-commerce expert who leads the Ecommerce Forum of Africa and its national chapter, the E-commerce Forum of South Africa. He shared his insights on the ongoing protocol negotiations, the opportunities and challenges of E-commerce integration, and the lessons that Africa can learn from the European Union in light of the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-30)
Imagine a continent where value chains thrive, people can trade freely across borders, businesses can access new markets and opportunities, where farmers can earn significant income from their produce, consumers can enjoy a variety of high-quality goods and services, and where poverty, unemployment and inequality are reduced. This is the AfCFTA’s promise to spearhead economic transformation in Africa.