Continent Radar - Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched a five-day workshop in Addis Ababa to strengthen Ethiopia's capital markets. The event, co-organized with key Ethiopian financial institutions, aims to support the country's transition towards a more developed capital market capable of mobilizing long-term domestic finance for sustainable development. The workshop brings together regulators, market institutions, and investors to discuss practical implementation of capital market reforms, with a focus on gender-responsive thematic finance and institutional investor participation. The initiative is expected to inform the development of a Gender Bond Framework, institutional-investor engagement pathways, and a roadmap for Ethiopia's capital market development. By providing technical support and expertise, the ECA is helping Ethiopia build a more inclusive and resilient financial system.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has concluded a five-day study tour in Egypt to support Sudan's efforts to reform its tax administration. The tour, which included technical workshops and field visits, aimed to provide Sudanese officials with insights into Egypt's tax reforms, digital tools, and taxpayer services. This initiative comes as Sudan struggles to recover from a severe economic disruption caused by civil conflict, which has led to a significant decline in tax revenues. With tax collection at only 1 percent of GDP, Sudan is working to strengthen its domestic resource mobilization to restore fiscal stability and support post-conflict recovery. The ECA's support is part of its ongoing efforts to promote economic governance, domestic resource mobilization, and sustainable development in Sudan and other member states.

As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, Africa is poised to become a key player in the decarbonization landscape. With nearly 40% of the world's reserves of essential minerals, the continent has a clear comparative advantage. However, it continues to capture only a marginal share of the value generated across these supply chains. Policymakers and experts are calling for a shift from raw material exports to domestic value addition and industrial transformation, highlighting the need for regional cooperation, forward-looking trade policies, and responsible investment frameworks. The African Union Commission is pushing for a decisive shift in scale and ambition, with the African Continental Free Trade Area seen as a critical enabler for the development of integrated regional value chains. Strengthening productive capacities, developing Special Economic Zones, and enhancing coordination with the private sector are also key imperatives. If successful, this transformation could anchor Africa's green industrialization within an inclusive and sustainable development trajectory, delivering tangible benefits for its people.

As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolving landscape of decarbonization. With vast reserves of critical minerals, the continent is calling for a shift from raw material exports to domestic value addition and industrial transformation. Policymakers and international institutions are advocating for Africa to harness its critical minerals as a strategic lever for green industrialization, inclusive growth, and an equitable energy transition. The continent holds a clear comparative advantage, with close to 40% of the world's reserves of essential minerals, but continues to capture only a marginal share of the value generated across these supply chains. To address this, the African Union Commission is pushing for a decisive shift in scale and ambition, with a focus on developing integrated regional value chains, strengthening industrial and technological capabilities, and strategic alignment with global market dynamics. The development of Special Economic Zones, enhanced coordination, and deeper engagement with the private sector are also seen as critical to driving this transformation.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is providing technical support to Niger to help the country tap into its demographic dividend. A strategic workshop in Dosso, attended by national experts from April 8 to 13, aims to strengthen Niger's capacity to monitor and integrate demographic dividend-sensitive budgeting into its planning and budgeting processes. The initiative focuses on three key areas: updating the Demographic Dividend Monitoring Synthetic Index, transforming post-2020 budgets, and analyzing results to embed the demographic dividend-sensitive approach into Niger's planning tools. This effort is part of the African Union's roadmap to drive sustainable development in Africa and supports Niger's goal to achieve emergence by 2030 and the African Union's Agenda 2063 objectives.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has convened a high-level virtual webinar to unlock regional value chains and empower youth-led enterprises in Africa. With nearly 70% of Africa's population under 30, youth unemployment is a pressing development challenge. The webinar, ahead of the Africa Development Impact Forum, highlighted the need for a fundamental shift in approaching youth economic inclusion, from treating young people as job seekers to empowering them as job creators. Compelling examples of African youth transforming constraints into opportunities were shared, including the story of a young Zimbabwean entrepreneur who built a logistics platform that now operates across several countries. The webinar emphasized the importance of creating solutions to unleash the potential of youth, with governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and development partners called upon to act in a concrete and coordinated manner.

African countries need to strengthen their debt governance systems by leveraging data, technology, and institutional reforms to ensure fiscal sustainability and support development. This was the key takeaway from a high-level side event at the Conference of Ministers, where the Economic Commission for Africa launched its third Economic Governance Report. The report highlights that over 40% of African countries spend more on debt servicing than on health, and that debt data systems are often fragmented and incomplete. To address this, the report proposes a 'growth-enhancing governance' approach, focusing on stronger institutional coordination, integrated and transparent data systems, and aligning borrowing with national development priorities. Participants emphasized the importance of data systems in effective fiscal governance and called for coordinated action, including integrated debt data frameworks, stronger legal and regulatory systems, and investment in technical capacity.

African leaders are shifting their focus towards achieving digital independence and sovereignty over their data, recognizing it as a crucial aspect of economic security and national resilience. At the 58th Session of the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of Ministers, high-level policymakers and tech leaders emphasized the need for the continent to move beyond being passive consumers of technology and instead become the primary architects of their Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and sovereign data solutions. This includes developing local talent for data processing, computing, and AI model training, as well as fostering public-private partnerships anchored in robust cybersecurity and personal data protection laws. The discussion highlighted the urgency of transitioning towards self-reliance, matched by a new era of 'Mega Execution' where policy conceptualization is followed by tangible rollout. Key steps include increasing data center capacity, developing 'AI factories' to host and process African data locally, and creating 'data embassies' to enable countries to pool demand and resources while retaining the economic value of Africa's data within the continent.

Sierra Leone's Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Amara Kallon, has praised the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) for its significant impact on African governance systems. During a courtesy visit to IDEP in Dakar, Senegal, Minister Kallon highlighted the institution's role in training generations of Sierra Leonean leaders, including himself. He noted that IDEP's legacy is making a difference in Africa, citing the transformation of his ministry into one of Sierra Leone's top governance institutions over the past five years. The visit also marked a significant milestone in the collaboration between IDEP and Sierra Leone, with the upcoming launch of the Sierra Leone Public Service Academy, an initiative inspired by Minister Kallon's experience and backed by IDEP support. The Minister called for the strengthening of the IDEP Alumni Network, encouraging the creation of regular forums and alumni-led support initiatives to inspire the next generation. The session concluded with a renewed commitment from both sides to deepen collaboration and continue advancing public service excellence on the continent.