DevDispatch Recommends: October 2023 Publications
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.
Buckle up!
Africa's pulse: An Analysis of issues shaping Africa's Economic Future- Delivering Growth to People Through Better Jobs
By The World Bank
A decade of slow economic growth in Africa could possibly be on the horizon according to this October 2023 edition of the World Bank’s Africa’s Pulse report. This is backed by statistics that show that economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is expected to slow down to 2.5% in 2023 from 3.6% in 2022, and that in per capita terms, growth in the region has not increased since 2015.
To turn the tide, the report proposes job-friendly policy reform to deliver greater welfare to the African people. This entails employing policy interventions to promote a fair jobs ecosystem.
The report contains 113 pages worth of valuable information for African economists.
Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions: Enhancing the foundations of resilient, sustainable and affordable power systems
By International Energy Agency (IEA)
Grids take centre stage as a cornerstone for electricity systems in this publication, which argues that successful clean energy transitions will hinge on the ability of grids to advance and adapt to the requirements for these new systems to work at optimal levels.
The report gives an overview of current electricity grids zoning on ageing, interconnection and digitalisation. It also looks at how delays in grid development are hindering the connection of new wind and solar projects, and offers policy recommendations for creating an enabling framework to realise success in this area.
We recommend that policymakers within the energy space read this 126 paged resource.
Regional Economic Outlook Sub-Saharan Africa: Light on the horizon?
By the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
This latest offering by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) scans economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa in recent years amidst challenges including the COVID-19 and the global recession. In an attempt to find a glimmer of hope, the publication showcases positive developments on the continent such as the declaration of the end of the pandemic by the World Health Organization, a downturn in global inflation and normalisation of global supply chains.
The 30 paged brief is a quick read ideal for economists, and policymakers within the finance arena looking to foster macroeconomic stability amid limited resources, and balance urgent development and humanitarian needs.
A Review of Intergovernmental Cooperation on the Mitigation of Climate Change
By World Resources Institute
The World Resources Institute released this working paper to review the level of government involvement in cooperative initiatives aimed at facilitating low emissions and climate-resilient development, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
The paper gives an overview of the commitments of governments in these initiatives across sectors including energy supply, transport, land use, industry, buildings and crosscutting sectors. Energy supply holds the most uptake at 28%, followed by transport boasting 18% of the share. In its assessment, the paper concludes that most initiatives are focused on knowledge sharing, with only a few identifying targets, setting reciprocal obligations to implement policy, and/or making available robust mechanisms of support and transparency.
Government authorities and policy makers in the climate change and environmental management space will find this 30 paged paper relevant.
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.
Non-State Armed Groups and Illicit Economies in West Africa: Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)
By Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime and ACLED
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
Operations of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in the Sahel region of Africa are under analysis in this report. It examines factors that contribute to JNIM’s resilience and success as an armed group capable of regrouping and reorganising with minimal interference.
The paper’s findings point to Illicit markets as a key driving factor in JNIM’s success, serving as a source of financing for its operations and sustaining its legitimacy. The publication purports that delinking the group from these activities would be a step forward towards deligitimising it.
We recommend this publication for researchers whose enquiry focuses on non state armed groups.
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.