Background and Objectives
During the first decade of the 2000s, Africa experienced growth acceleration mostly propelled by a boom in the global demand for primary commodities and geared toward the external markets, with little synergies with the rest of the economy. When that external demand weakened in the wake of the 2006-2007 global financial crisis and the end of the commodity super-cycle in 2014-2015, Africa’s growth collapsed, and the old, deep-seated, structural weaknesses of African economies resurfaced. The COVID-19 pandemic found Africa desperately unprepared to withstand yet another global shock. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the necessity and urgency of Africa accelerating economic transformation to enhance the resilience of its economic structures to exogenous economic shocks. There is, therefore, an urgent need to renew our focus on this age-old question of economic transformation, but this time, with a link to economic resilience in the context of global and regional trends and with the intention to inform ongoing and future policy discussions.
As part of the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, the virtual side event Policies for resilience and economic transformation in Africa: setting the agenda for a post-COVID-19 era will explore what is required to enhance Africa’s economic resilience against future shocks through economic transformation in the context of current global, continental, and regional trends. The webinar will also bring together speakers and panelists to discuss the roles of various stakeholders, including African governments, the private sector, civil society, regional organizations, and international partners to support such efforts.
Discussions at the webinar will be underpinned by policy-oriented research jointly carried out by the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development – Transforming and Building a Resilient Economy in Africa in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Resetting Priorities for the Policy Agenda which focuses on policies required to enhance Africa’s economic resilience against future shocks through economic transformation in the context of current global, continental, and regional trends.
Speakers
Prof. Martin Bwalya
Director of Knowledge Management and Program Evaluation – AUDA-NEPAD
Prof. Izumi Ohno
Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and Senior Research Advisor, JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development
Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon
ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa
Professor Stiglitz
University Professor, Columbia University and Co-Founder and President of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue
Register Now
Download Policy Brief View Policy Brief Download Report View Report
