Monthly Highlights from ECDPM's Weekly Compass Update, GREAT Insights, Volume 1, Issue 1 (January-February 2012)
Accelerating growth through improved intra-Africa trade Weekly Compass, No. 99, 27 January 2012
At the request of the African Union, African scholars from the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution put forward policy recommendations for increasing intra-African trade. The report comprises a series of policy briefs that address the major barriers to increasing intraregional trade, namely, economic diversification, conflict, regional integration, infrastructure, and border issues….
Building a sustainable future for Africa’s extractive industry: From vision to action Weekly Compass, No. 96, 16 December 2011
ECDPM’s Isabelle Ramdoo attended the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development in Addis Ababa this week. The conference brought together African Ministers and experts in mining and natural resources and development partners to agree an action plan for the implementation of the African Mining Vision. This vision aims to ensure transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socioeconomic development……
Policy coherence must move beyond “do no harm” Weekly Compass, No. 97, 13 January 2012
More pro-active integration of development objectives into EU policies, beyond simply attempting to lower negative impacts of different policies on Southern countries, is needed according to the recently published European Union 2011 Report on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). The report self-critically assesses progress in implementing EU commitments to PCD in areas such as trade and security……
Global economic crisis with new countries affected looms Weekly Compass, No. 98, 20 January 2012
Two new flagship reports released by the World Bank and the United Nations predict that global economic growth and international trade will continue to slow sharply in 2012. Both organizations have downgraded their forecasts and warn that the risk for another severe global economic downturn remains…..
African Union to focus on trade, peace and governance in 2012 Weekly Compass, No. 98, 20 January 2012
Inter-African trade, which is high on the agenda at the upcoming African Union summit, will not remain the AU’s only priority in 2012. According to a report in Africa Review the ambitious list of priorities comprises efforts to boost the continent’s global role, and plans to review the AU’s international partnerships in order “to ensure they bring greater benefits to Africa”……
EC releases overdue plans for trade and development Weekly Compass, No. 99, 27 January 2012
While not putting forward new legislative proposals, the European Commission’s Trade and Development Communication, published today, sets out how the EU's trade, investment and development policies could support developing countries’ domestic reforms. The Communication calls for increased "differentiation" of EU policies and focused support for Least Developed Countries and “other countries most in need”. It puts emphasis on how domestic reform and good governance are necessary to make trade work for development……
Networks key to successful agriculture innovation in Africa Weekly Compass, No. 99, 27 January 2012
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa undertook 21 case studies in sub-Saharan Africa to identify how different stakeholders can work together to foster research and innovation to improve the livelihoods of Africa’s smallholder farmers. Several challenges to effective collaboration exist, including a lack of capacity or willingness to work together and weak institutional structures……
Developing countries can become middle-income countries within two generations Weekly Compass, No. 99, 27 January 2012
World Bank chief Economist Justin Yifu Lin sets out the “third wave” of development thinking in his book “New Structural Economics: A Framework for Rethinking Development and Policy”. His neocalssical framework emphasizes that the market is the basic mechanism for resource allocation, but that governments must play an active role in facilitating structural changes…..
This Monthly Highlights was published in GREAT Insights Volume 1, Issue 1
