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Leveraging on China’s Thirst to Develop Africa
I recently heard a great daughter of Africa tell a story of two sisters who chose two different paths.

The $20 Billion African Remittance Market
Remittances (money sent back home from Africans living abroad) back to Africa constitute some big numbers for Africa. About $10 billion gets sent to sub-Saharan Africa. That’s the official number of course, a World Bank report stated that it’s likely double that amount, due to Africans using non-traditional means to send capital back home.

Trade Versus Aid in Africa, Who Wins?
It seemed like the time was right for me to pen this post about trade -vs- aid. This is a discussion that has a tremendous amount of relevance in Sub Saharan Africa. But it is also relevant in other parts of the world where developing economies are predominate.

References: Constraints of growth-oriented enterprises in the southern and eastern African region
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References: Learning to change: Skills development among the economically vulnerable and socially excluded in developing countries
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4.2.1 The gendered nature of poverty

Over two thirds of those living in absolute poverty are women (UNDP, 1998). As noted earlier, women are very heavily concentrated in the most marginal survival enterprises (often working at home) and in wage employment in secondary labour markets that are characterised by low skills and high turnover. In Sub-Saharan Africa, they also undertake the bulk of agricultural production. The 'training crisis' is, therefore, overwhelmingly linked to the economic and social vulnerability of women and particularly the multiple constraints that prevent them from exploiting training opportunities.

3.1.4 Overall resource availability: Training priorities, resources and reorientation
The extent of public sector training for the poor is also strongly influenced by resource availability and the overall incidence of poverty.

VII G. Strengthen Education: PROMOTING STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Increasing public knowledge about the functioning of the stock market could promote the development of the stock market in Africa.

VII D. Promote Institutional Investors: PROMOTING STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
The involvement of institutional investors in African exchanges must be pursued vigorously. Institutional investors often are at the forefront in promoting efficient market practices and financial innovation.

VI. D. Shareholder Protection: WHAT DETERMINES STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA?
Another key determinant of stock market development is the level of shareholder protection in publicly traded companies, as stipulated in securities or company laws (Shleifer and Vishny, 1997).

VI. C. Institutional Quality: WHAT DETERMINES STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA?
Institutional quality is important for stock market development because efficient and accountable institutions tend broaden appeal and confidence in equity investment.

VI. B. Banking Sector Development: WHAT DETERMINES STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA?
The development of the banking sector is important for stock market development in Africa.

VI. A. Macroeconomic Stability: WHAT DETERMINES STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA?

The previous section has provided enough evidence to make a convincing case that stock market development at least creates the enabling environment for a successful economic growth. The policy question, therefore, is what determines stock market development? The literature suggests that sound macroeconomic environment, well developed banking sector, transparent and accountable institutions, and shareholder protection are necessary preconditions for the efficient functioning of stock markets in Africa.

III. STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA:TRENDS AND CHARACTERISTICS
There has been a considerable development in the African capital markets since the early 1990s. Prior to 1989, there were just five stock markets in sub-Saharan Africa and three in North Africa.

Introduction: Stock Market Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
This paper examines the economic importance and the future of African stock markets. It seeks to shed light on the controversial link between stock market and economic growth— from both corporate finance and macroeconomic perspectives. It also discusses policy options for promoting the development of the stock market in Africa.

II.a Merchandise Trade: TRADE AND CAPITAL FLOWS BETWEEN CHINA AND AFRICA

This section pulls together the information available and attempts to quantify, to the extent possible, China’s economic engagement with Africa.3 Emerging from the review is a recognition of China’s multifaceted influence: as market for Africa’s exports, donor, financer and investor, and contactor and builder. While official financial and technical assistance predominated in the past, commercial activities, which have increased rapidly in the last few years, are now dominant in financial terms.

What Drives China’s Growing Role in Africa?

China’s fast-growing economic ties with Africa are attracting considerable attention. The relationship came into the spotlight during the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing in November 2006 and the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Shanghai in May 2007. While the expansion of trade and investment between Africa and China has been generally welcomed, concerns have been expressed about how China’s growing presence might affect African development.2 But what roles exactly has China played?

Policies to Develop Human Resources

Now that the importance of human capital in attracting FDI is understood, the next question is: what are the past HRD policy experiences of host developing countries that have strived to attract inward FDI? This section focuses on formal education policies to attract FDI. While vocational training policies also help improve human resources of host developing countries, they are likely to be more important after some influx of FDI into the economy.

Improving Management of Oil Revenue during Periods of Price Booms

With more than 100 billion barrels, Africa had 9 per cent of the world’s oil reserves by the end of 2003. Half are located in North Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, the oil-producing countries can be divided into three categories: the old ones where production is in decline (Congo, Cameroon and Gabon); those where production is still on the increase (Angola, Nigeria); and the new members of the club (Equatorial Guinea, Chad and São Tomé and Principe). However, most of these countries have suffered from the “oil curse” finding themselves heavily indebted and impoverished.

The Rise of China and India: What's in it for Africa?
China’s and India’s strong appetite for energy and metal has boosted international prices and the volume and value of African exports.

Rates of Return on Educational Investment from Micro Studies: The Effects of Human Capital on Economic Development
The conventional wisdom is that there is a high rate of return on primary schooling. This view is based largely on surveys of rate of return studies by Psacharopoulos.

Enhancing Africa’s Trade: From Marginalization to an Export-Led Approach to Development
This paper reviews Africa’s role in the global trading system and discusses the constraints and options for Africa to move from its current marginalization to an exportled approach to economic development.

Micro-finance Policy and Development Framework: Ethiopia
Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 63 million people and almost 44% of the population being in the age of 15 years and below. Ethiopia ranks 158 out of 162 countries in the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2001a).

Introduction - Abstract - Factors Impeding the Poverty Reduction Capacity of Micro-credit: Some Field Observations from Malawi and Ethiopia

Poverty reduction has been identified as the overarching long term goal for most of the development interventions in Africa, and more recently crystallised in the Millennium Development Goals and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). In Africa, more than 40% of its 750 million people live below the internationally recognized poverty line of $1 a day, and the evidence is even more worrying for sub-saharan Africa.

Conclusions - Promoting Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learning What Works

Both domestic and external factors contributed to sub-Saharan Africa's poor overall economic performance in the 1980s and early 1990s. Key constraints to growth included inappropriate economic policies, inadequate human capital development, and low levels of private investment. But for the first time in a generation, there is evidence of economic progress in an increasing number of countries in the region.

Policy Implications
The empirical work undertaken highlights a number of key policy-related and conventional variables that have significantly affected the growth performance of sub-Saharan Africa during 1981–97. To a large extent, it has also shown that the positive evolution of these variables has played an important role in the economic recovery of the region during 1995–97.

Adjustment and Recovery During 1995–97
To what extent did the variables highlighted above play an important role in explaining the more recent economic recovery? To answer this question, IMF researchers looked at the experiences of a sample of 46 countries during 1995–97.

Determinants of Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
Several underlying factors can affect the rate of output change. Key among these are the rate of investment, increase in the size of the workforce, and changes in economic policies.

Sub-Saharan Africa Learning What Works
Africa is the world's poorest continent. But for the first time in a generation—amid all the bad news—there is hope for change. An increasing number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa are showing signs of economic progress, reflecting the implementation of better economic policies and structural reforms.

I. WHAT CAN MICROFINANCE DO FOR AFRICA?

When properly harnessed, microfinance offers a variety of benefits to the African people. Foremost, microfinance initiatives can effectively address material poverty, the physical deprivation of goods, services, and the income to attain them. When properly guided, the material benefits of microfinancing can extend beyond the household into the community. At the personal level, microfinance can effectively address issues associated with “non-material poverty, which includes social and psychological effects that prevent people from realizing their potential.

5.3 Harnessing the potential and sharing the stresses of economic integration: Working Out of Poverty
Many low-income countries are already closely connected to international markets, with exports and imports of goods and services constituting on average 43 per cent of GDP for the LDCs in 1997-98.

5.2 International economic integration and social justice: Working Out of Poverty
Policies to improve the governance of the labour market based on the decent work approach can create and enlarge the channels that ensure that sustainable growth yields the largest possible reduction in poverty. However, a large proportion of people experiencing extreme poverty live in countries that are themselves economically and socially excluded.

2.3 Women workers and the work of women: Working Out of Poverty

Today’s girl child is tomorrow’s older woman worker, and it is her opportunities and experiences now that will shape her ability to obtain and maintain decent work throughout her adult life, and enjoy security and protection in her old age. If girls, compared to boys, face negative cultural attitudes and practices and discrimination from birth, they will grow up to be women with greater constraints and few choices and opportunities. In turn, they will be less able to influence positively the lives of their daughters and sons, so that poverty is likely to be passed on from one generation to the next.

2.1 The cruel dilemma of school or work: Working Out of Poverty

The education and preparation for working life of the current generation of children are of key importance to the drive to reduce and eradicate extreme poverty. Access to basic education has improved in a large number of countries, but the poor have benefited much less than those who are better off. Over 115 million school-age children, mainly in low-income countries, were not in school in 1999; 56 per cent of them were girls. On current trends, a large number of South and West Asian and African countries are unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring that all children complete a full course of primary education by 2015.

2.0 Work and the life cycle of poverty: Working Out of Poverty

Surviving on the poverty line requires considerable ingenuity, courage, self-discipline and endurance. No opportunity to earn some money or payment in kind can be missed. Children and elderly dependants as well as adult members of the family often have to work in some way or other for a bare subsistence income. Hunger is ever present. Sickness or an accident means disaster. Mending the roof, buying clothes, furniture, even exercise books and pencils for school are major investments.

Kinnevik Invests $14m in African Microfinance Institution Bayport Financial Services
Investment AB Kinnevik, a Stockholm-based international investment firm, announced that it has invested USD 14 million in the African microfinance institution (MFI) Bayport Financial Services. The financing is provided as a combination of debt and equity.

Microfinance as Key Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Component: The Majority of PRSPs Include Access to Financial Services

By the late 1990s, it was clear that something was not working in the field of development. Deteriorating economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, the failure of Structural Adjustment Programmes used by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the question of how to link debt relief to poverty reduction led policy makers to adopt the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) initiative in September 1999.

Lessons Learned
The privatisation process in Africa is still far from complete and has led to mixed results. The successful cases of the Compagnie Ivorienne d’Electricité, Sonatel, and Société d’Energie et d’Eau du Gabon can not hide the dramatic failures.

A Limited Impact on Private Sector Development
Since the beginning of the process in 1990, the number of privatisations through public flotation has been only 4 per cent of total transactions. Moreover, the trend is downward, confirming the difficulty in African countries of building stock exchanges and capital markets, still often used by governments to raise loan finance rather than capital for industry.

Privatisation: A Challenge for Sub-Saharan Africa
Thirty-eight sub-Saharan African countries have implemented privatisation programmes, following the mid-1980s pattern in the OECD countries: privatisations of small and medium-sized enterprises in the early 1990s; and larger enterprises, including, companies in the utilities sector, by the mid-1990s.

5.0 Conclusions: Microfinance in Africa - Experience and Lessons from Selected African Countries
In sub-Saharan Africa, there is ample evidence that the poor, particularly those in the rural sector, value both deposit and credit facilities. The existence and growth of cooperative banking and combined savings and credit institutions in the microfinance sector in sub- Saharan Africa reflects the growing demand for both savings and credit facilities.

1.0 Introduction: Microfinance in Africa - Experience and Lessons from Selected African Countries

Small enterprises and most of the poor population in sub-Saharan Africa have very limited access to deposit and credit facilities and other financial services provided by formal financial institutions. For example, in Ghana and Tanzania, only about 5–6 percent of the population has access to the banking sector. This lack of access to financial services from the formal financial system is quite striking, when one considers that in many African countries the poor represent the largest share of the population and that the informal sector is an important part of the economy.

6.1 The informal sector: Gender Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Africa 2007
Entrepreneurs—male or female—constitute a very small percentage of the population, according to household survey data. Almost everywhere, less than 1 percent of all women of working age (15 to 65 years old) are “employers”—that is, women who own a business in which they employ hired labor.

5.5 Energy access as market failure: Enterprise solutions to poverty
In sub-Saharan African countries as in other poor regions, development of the SME sector in energy and other segments is constrained by market failure.

Wanted: jobs for Africa’s youth - Time For Action
Young people (between 15 and 24 years old) made up 63 per cent of the jobless in sub-Saharan Africa in 2003, even though they constituted just 33 per cent of the labour market.

Wanted: jobs for Africa’s youth
Seeking urgent solutions for armies of young unemployed

2.4 Growth prospects for 2007 and the medium-term outlook: Economic Report on Africa 2007
Africa is expected to grow at a rate of 5.8 per cent in 2007, slightly higher than the rate recorded in 2006 (5.7 per cent) (figure 2.8). Positive growth rates are projected for all subregions led by North Africa (6.6 per cent), East Africa (6.0 per cent), Southern Africa (5.4 per cent), West Africa (4.9 per cent) and Central Africa (3.5 per cent).

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