DevDispatch Recommends: November 2023 Publications
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.
Here is our selection of November releases, read to find out if they mirror the month’s festivities.
A Guide for Customs Administrations and economic operators on the practical implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area
By The World Customs Organization
The World Customs Organization with the support of the European Union under the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme developed this comprehensive guide to help customs administrations and economic operators to effectively implement Annex 2 on Rules of Origin of the Protocol on Trade and its relevant appendices within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Interested parties can expect to enhance their knowledge on basic origin provisions in the AfCFTA Agreement, administrative, enforcement and institutional arrangement.
We recommend this 54 page guide for customs administrators.
Green technology and youth employment in Africa
By The Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI)
This scoping publication explores the critical role of green technology in addressing the intertwined crisis of climate, biodiversity and development. The report argues that green technology will not only offer resilient, climate-smart interventions, but it will provide opportunities for job creation and entrepreneurial activities in Africa, particularly for young people who will bear the brunt of climate and biodiversity crisis on the continent. It also points to several gaps and opportunities for improved policy and programmatic coherence, focus and impact.
The report which is 89 pages long concludes that an inclusive and integrated strategy is necessary to foster the development of job-creating green technology in Africa. Researchers working in the youth innovation space, as well as young entrepreneurs will find this report insightful.
Food Outlook - Biannual Report on Global Food Markets-November 2023
By The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The predictions presented in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s biannual report on Global Food Markets point towards favourable production with regards to basic food items. However, the global food production systems continue to be susceptible to disruptions caused by severe weather conditions, escalating geopolitical tensions, and policy changes. This report argues that these factors have the potential to disrupt the delicate balance between supply and demand, in turn, affecting international trade in food commodities and posing challenges to global food security. In making its arguement, the report shares a breakdown of markets of different basic food items, explores major policy developments across identified markets and concludes with food price indices.
The report is 91 pages long and is recommended for policymakers overseeing food sectors.
Within Reach: Navigating the Political Economy of Decarbonization
By the World Bank Group
Lack of progress in the implementation of national policies to combat climate change, as stipulated in the 2015 Paris Agreement, has raised doubts about the practicality of meeting climate targets. This assertion made in this report centres the political economy as one of the primary impediments to climate action. It offers a practical guide to help countries address barriers in implementing climate policies on three fronts including climate governance, policy sequencing, policy design and engagement.
We recommend this 172 page publication for government officials and policymakers working within the climate change space.
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.
Gender-responsive climate change actions in Africa
By the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
This paper offers a thorough examination of the essential factors necessary for executing gender responsive climate adaptation and mitigation actions. Additionally, it presents case studies that reflect the efforts of African countries in implementing gender-responsive climate action. Drawing from its findings, the paper offers recommendations aimed at tackling the enduring gender disparities in climate action within Africa.
Gender activists working at the intersection of policy and climate change should bookmark this 50 page resource.
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.