insert_link Uncategorized World Bank approves $1.5 billion funding for Ethiopia The World Bank pledged $16.6 billion of funding to Ethiopia over three years, providing a fillip to eastern Africa’s biggest economy as it restructures its debt and opens up the nation to foreign investors. Bloomberg Africa reports that the International Development Association’s assistance includes a $1 billion grant and a $500 million concessional loan to help the Horn of Africa nation strengthen its financial sector and improve fiscal transparency. According […] todayJuly 31, 2024 9
insert_link South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to parliament listed South Africa’s old problems – but no new solutions By Vinothan Naidoo, University of Cape Town South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening of parliament speech successfully captured the spirit of a diverse and cohesive multi-party government ready to get down to work. But it failed to tell South Africans how the new dispensation will do things differently, and better. In the May 2024 national and provincial elections, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress party received just […] todayJuly 22, 2024 13
insert_link Africa African countries could unlock billions in local and global trade – what’s working and what’s not By Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth Africa’s share of global trade remains disproportionately small, hovering around 2%-3%. Countries on the continent trade more with the rest of the world than they do among themselves. Africa needs to improve its share of trade to boost growth and reduce poverty. Aid for Trade is a development initiative that seeks to remove barriers to trade […] todayJune 11, 2024 11
insert_link Namibia Namibia’s Rating Upgraded: Importance for the Country and Its People By Josef Kefas Sheehama Periodically, the Namibian government establishes policies to address the unstable state of the economy. Encouraging economic growth requires policymakers to put in place measures that support investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Therefore, the government can assist in fostering an environment that is conducive to business and promotes employment and economic growth. As an Independent Economic and Business Researcher, I therefore wholeheartedly commend the […] todayJune 6, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa Minimum wage for South African farm workers: study shows 2013 hike helped reduce poverty even though compliance was poor By Ihsaan Bassier, London School of Economics and Political Science and Vimal Ranchhod, University of Cape Town Minimum wage policies are typically aimed at reducing poverty. Yet there is little direct evidence of this effect, especially in developing countries. And none for South Africa. In a recent paper, we consider the income, employment and poverty effects of the largest minimum wage increase South Africa has […] todayMay 17, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study By Leila Patel, University of Johannesburg and Yolanda Sadie, University of Johannesburg Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africa’s 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 May. The country’s social grants system is one of the largest in Africa in terms of number of beneficiaries. Research shows that this has helped reduce poverty. […] todayMay 15, 2024 12
insert_link Opinion Pieces Reflections on the economic legacy of his excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob By Josef Kefas Sheehama Today, Namibia mourns the loss of one of its most influential leaders. His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, Namibia's 3rd president, 04 February 2024 at the age of 82. It is fair that we revisit His Excellency Dr. Hage G Geingob role in the economic governance of Namibia, particularly, some of the economic policies and programmes that laid the foundation for the […] todayFebruary 21, 2024 10
insert_link Business / Economics Rinaani Musutua, an advocate for economic and social justice with the Basic Income Grant Coalition, provides her perspective on Namibia’s unemployment rate. https://youtu.be/kpiINO-03g0 Following the recent mid-term budget review, which saw a substantial increase in budgets for seventeen government offices, ministries, and agencies, totaling 2.5 billion Namibian dollars, Rinaani Musutua, an advocate for economic and social justice with the Basic Income Grant Coalition, provides her perspective on Namibia's unemployment rate. todayNovember 6, 2023 18