DevDispatch Recommends: January 2023 Publications
Welcome to the first DevDispatch Recommends for 2023! Between renewable energy, African trade prospects, work-life balance, and the state of economic affairs in Africa, this first offering is nothing short of insightful.
Enjoy!
Top Priorities for the Continent in 2023: Foresight Africa
By African Growth Institute at Brookings
This year’s edition of Foresight Africa maps the continent’s economic state of affairs through a collection of essays and viewpoints. Over 50 authors shared detailed information on topics including economic recovery and growth, food security, education, health security, climate change and gender equity. The 174 paged report takes a positive stance by handling quite delicately the balance between reporting that feeds into negative stereotypes around the continent, and showcasing through case studies, the resilience and innovative solutions employed by different cities, to weather the storm. In the process, the publication highlights top priorities for the continent in 2023.
This is a must read for economists, researchers, African development practitioners and policymakers.
Working Time and Work-Life Balance Around the World
By International Labour Organization (ILO)
The report draws readers attention to working time, defined as the number of hours of work and the organization of those working hours. It suggests that in most countries, what is deemed official working hours is unclear in the formal and informal economy, owing to uneven distribution of work. Place the effects of COVID-19 restrictions and digital transformation in the mix, and the lines are further blurred. In conclusion, the publication suggests policy designs to promote better work–life balance.
We recommend this 171 paged report for human development and human resources practitioners, as well as labour unions.
Gender Impact Investing & The Rise of False Solutions: An Analysis for Feminist Movements
By The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)
This report spotlights the new Gender Impact Investing trend, otherwise known as GII, developed as a solution to tackle gender inequality. In other words, promoting gender equality through increased resources for women and girls. The Association for Women’s Rights in Development team who are behind the publication offer readers a critical analysis and substantiated evidence to understand GII, its narratives, and its economic and political implications for feminist movements. The report questions the future of GII, dissects sources of GII funds including its risks and offers considerations for feminist groups including lack of accountability of investors, and false solutions vs the feminist agenda for system change.
At 40 pages, this is a quick read recommended for feminists, advocates for gender equality, and those with the gender impact investing landscape.
Africa’s Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook - January 2023
By the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
The African Development Bank introduced this biannual publication to provide African policymakers, global investors, researchers, and other development partners with an up-to- date evidence-based assessment of the continent’s recent macroeconomic performance, as well as a short- to medium-term outlook, amid dynamic global economic developments. Amongst its key messages, the report suggests that the medium-term outlook remains stable following a downturn in 2022, and that the estimated average growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) slowed to 3.8% in 2022 from 4.8% in 2021, and it is projected to stabilize at 4% over 2023–24.
It offers 70 pages worth of invaluable insights for financiers, development economists and policymakers.
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.
Renewable Energy Roadmap: Nigeria
By International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Energy Commission of Nigeria
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
Amidst a growing population and a range of socio‐economic challenges, the report argues that it is critical for Nigeria to increase universal access to modern energy services, and demonstrates how renewable energy technologies will be pivotal in reaching this desired state. Its final chapter aptly titled “Actions Needed Now,” identifies key barriers within the Renewable Energy Roadmap in sectors including agriculture, transport, and power.
This 126 paged report is a key resource for climate change innovators and policymakers in Nigeria.
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.
Energizing health: accelerating electricity access in health-care facilities
By the World Health Organization (WHO), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), World Bank Group
This 240 paged report makes a case for renewable energy as a catalyst for universal health coverage, highlighting how access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, particularly electricity in health facilities, is critical to meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. It delves into what delivering healthcare in the climate change era looks like, techno-economic considerations for electrification of health-care facilities and shares case studies on India, Uganda and Nepal, to assess the state of electrification in the three countries.
Practitioners interested in energizing health will find this report insightful.
AfCFTA: A New Era for Global Business and Investment in Africa
By the World Economic Forum, AfCFTA Secretariat
The report details how public-private partnerships can support the implementation of the AfCFTA. It outlines high-potential sectors eyed to facilitate the AfCFTA through high trade volumes including the automotive industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics. For each one, it highlights key trends and opportunities. One of the report’s go to chapters is an offering of operational tools for companies wishing to conduct operations in Africa.
Businesses within the continent and those wishing to invest in Africa should get hold of this 37 paged report.
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.