New data on Africa’s impressive economic growth (Google / Deseret News)

Read at : Google Alerts – images of the Africa Drought

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865580652/Is-Africa-going-boom-or-bust.html

Is Africa going boom or bust?

Opening flower of Iris (Photo WVC)

Two men are vying for the distinction of the wealthiest man in Africa. The current leader, Ethiopian-born Mohammed Al-Amoudi, made his $12.5 billion fortune in oil, according to Forbes. But close on Al-Amoudi’s heels is Nigerian Aliko Dangote, who made his $11.2 billion fortune in cement.

Part of what is interesting about Dangote and Al-Amoudi is that both earned their fortunes through legitimate business dealings. This stands in stark contrast to the history of African wealth often accumulated through fraud and corruption. These billionaires represent more than a less corrupt continent, according to the Economist, but that isn’t all. “Legitimately self-made African billionaires are harbingers of hope. They exemplify how far Africa has come and give reason to believe that its recent high growth rates may continue.”

The Economist is referring to new data on Africa’s impressive economic growth. “From Ghana in the West to Mozambique in the South, Africa’s economies are consistently growing faster than those of almost any other region of the world,” according to the Economist. “At least a dozen have expanded by more than 6% a year for six or more years.” Between 2001 and 2010, six African countries — Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique and Rwanda — were on the International Monetary Fund’s list of the 10 fastest growing economies.

Confronting bias

This promising trajectory notwithstanding, images of a thriving Africa are not normally what Westerners see. Swedish photographer Jens Assur hopes to confront this bias with his new photo exhibit, “Africa is a Great Country,” which is currently on display at Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm.

(continued)

Economics of Desertification and Drought (Google / The Namibian)

Read at : Google Alerts – desertification

http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2013/may/article/the-economics-of-desertification-land-degradation-and-drought/

The Economics of Desertification, Land Degradation And Drought

By: Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny H Seibeb

AFTER the pronouncement by President Hifikepunye Pohamba that drought-stricken farmers would be subsidised and upon learning that 330 927 Namibians are currently facing food insecurity, the authors of this opinion piece sat together in Windhoek over a cup of tea, and pondered over what strategies and alternatives would be best for sustainable land use and management to mitigate the impact of a poor rainy season.

We also discussed at length the overall economics of desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD), and its entire cost to the Green Gross Domestic Product (GGDP). What binds us together in this is that we are both hewn from the regions of Namibia where severe effects of DLDD is experienced, viz the drylands of the Karas and Kunene.

Issues concerning DLDD are inadequately addressed in today’s political discourse at the national, regional and global levels. In Sub-Saharan Africa, while scientific evidence points to an increase in frequency and severity of drought, the occurrences are approached as an emergency management issue and not as a recurrent issue for which proper planning and budgeting is needed. Engagement is needed to raise awareness on the negative impacts of DLDD in terms of socio-economic development and economic opportunities.

(continued)

A green push for Asia (AlertNet)

Read at :

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/as-asian-growth-slows-a-green-push-could-pay-experts

As Asian growth slows, a green push could pay – experts

By Chelsea Diana

LONDON (AlertNet) – As Asia moves away from export-led growth, the need to invest in green growth instead is key, panelists said at an Overseas Development Institute-held discussion.

But, who is green growth for and what implications does it have for both the public and private sector?

The answer is complicated, with some seeing “inclusive” green growth as a way to reduce poverty, while others see poverty reduction as the eventual result of an improved and more resilient economy.

ASIA IN CRISIS

Global financial crises have had a major impact on Asia, which has seen declines in exports and GDP growth. Masahiro Kawai, chief executive of the Asia Development Bank Institute, said inclusive green growth could help.

To cope with changing conditions, inter-regional trade has become more common in Asia, in particular incorporating developing countries such as India and Cambodia into supply chains.

With more countries involved in regional trade, green growth, specifically low-carbon growth, will be key to ensuring environmental stability, improvement of human health and pollution reductions, he said.

GREEN ECONOMICS

With environmental degradation and climate change making big impacts on the continent, one solution is to focus on the three pillars of green growth: environmental, economic and social, said Alex Bowen, a green growth research fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences.

(continued)

Drought warning shadows a heavy cloud of uncertainty over the economic outlook of Tanzania (allAfrica)

Read at :

http://allafrica.com/stories/201009140654.html

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Tanzania: Drought Spell Bad for Economy Growth

Abduel Elinaza

13 September 2010

Dar Es Salaam — The drought warning by the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) in most parts of the country shadows a heavy cloud of uncertainty over the economic outlook that was earlier predicted to grow by 7 per cent. The drought, which TMA forecasts to start as early as next month may backtrack the projections on the economy that is projected to grow at less than one per cent per annum in the next four years consecutively.

Low rainfall raises the prospect of a skyrocketing of the price of key consumer goods such as cereals and beans. Prices of manufactured goods such as edible cooking oil may also go up as the local producers who depend on raw materials locally would be forced to import to cover the deficit. Electricity generation could also be a headache to the local manufacturers as they would be forced to switch to generators. Continue reading “Drought warning shadows a heavy cloud of uncertainty over the economic outlook of Tanzania (allAfrica)”

Strengthening South-South Cooperation is indispensable for African development (Afrique Avenir)

Read at : Afrique Avenir

http://www.afriqueavenir.org/en/2010/05/14/strengthening-south-south-cooperation-is-indispensable-for-african-development/

Strengthening South-South Cooperation is indispensable for African development

From 29th to 30th April in Casablanca in Morocco, about thousand economic operators, businessmen and bankers from eleven African countries including Congo-Brazzaville, participated in the first international forum “Africa Development”. The forum was aimed at creating new exchange and investment opportunities to push economic growth in Africa.

Despite its various richness and its large stretches of land, Africa is still dealing with poor trade exchanges, making South-South cooperation fruitless. In an effort to correct these gaps and fall in step with other continents, the forum is hoping to provide economic operators and investors, through different workshops, with current issues concerning trade and investment framework.

Forum in Casablanca – a fundamental element of South-South cooperation

Opening with the subject “Which development and investment opportunities in Africa to weather financial crisis?”, the forum’s target, according to an organizer, is to inject a new dynamic into trade partnerships and investment relations among African deciders. Worried about the world crisis, Africans are looking for new means to boost their development, i. e. their future, by identifying possible economic interests thanks to this forum. “We initiated this forum as a common space for women, businessmen and deciders where they can persuade economic operators to participate in construction of tomorrow’s Africa due to the influx of foreign investors who are becoming more and more interested in this continent” , said Mohamed El Kettani, the CEO of the Group Attijariwafa, at the opening of the forum.

(continued)

Economic Risks From Species Loss (Globalisation and the Environment)

Read at : http://globalisation-and-the-environment.blogspot.com/2008/05/economic-risks-from-species-loss.html

Economic Risks From Species Loss

Ahead of a UN conference on biodiversity in Bonn, Germany in 10 days time, the standard pre-conference press release hits the streets. As an economist the whole bio-diversity loss argument is not as simple as you might think. If some obscure mammal, bird on insect dies out in Brazil due to de-forestation what is the economic cost to you and me? Arguably nothing expect the extraordinary long odds that one of these species held the key to the cure for cancer of some equally scary disease and the “love of variety” argument where we gain utility from seeing said insets or birds in real life or more likely on television. This has to weighed against the economic reasons for the original loss – in this case deforestation which occurred in the first place due to the economic necessity of local people who are just trying to survive. Continue reading “Economic Risks From Species Loss (Globalisation and the Environment)”

In my library : “ENVIRONMENT matters at the World Bank”

Publication :

Towards sustainable development : 2007 Annual Review

“ENVIRONMENT matters at the World Bank”

Click on the page to enlarge it

id21RuralNews Number 25, January 2008 (id21)

*** id21RuralNews Number 25, January 2008 ***

New thinking needed to address the rural employment crisis

A further 106 million people will have joined the rural labour force in
the developing world by 2015. What work will they find and where? Canwages rise enough to allow people to escape poverty? Can enough
additional jobs be created in rural areas or must more people migrate to cities?
http://www.id21.org/rural/r5sw1g1.html

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Social entrepreneurship in Kenya

Technological innovation and entrepreneurship are crucial to development. A new entrepreneurial approach to development is emerging. This involves designing new technologies and adapting existing ones to suit the specific requirements of poor people. These are then bought by poor people to form the basis of small businesses or used to help people meet their basic human needs.
http://www.id21.org/insights/insights68/art06.html

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Road safety and women’s commerce in Cameroon

Women in Cameroon who buy goods in rural areas to sell at urban markets are known as ‘Bayam Salam’ women. The practice is important for many women’s income and economic independence. It is becoming more and more common as it requires little capital to start up this business. However, the women are reliant on transport that is often unsafe.
http://www.id21.org/rural/r2vm1g1.html

********

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Energy access: a prerequisite to achieving the Millennium Development Goals

About 1.6 billion people globally lack access to electricity and about
2.5 billion rely on traditional fuels as their primary source of energy.
Energy is not part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but it is important for achieving them because it promotes economic development and can help alleviate poverty.
http://www.id21.org/rural/r6gnesd1g1.html

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Can renewable energy help reduce poverty?

Current patterns of energy production are polluting, unsustainable and
characterised by unequal consumption and access. Finding appropriate
energy solutions for economic growth and increased social equity, while protecting the environment, is a massive challenge. Some countries are showing how to develop renewable energy technologies suited to local conditions.
http://www.id21.org/rural/r6gnesd1g2.html

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OTHER NEWS
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Latest ‘id21 insights’

The growing demand for livestock
id21 insights 72, February 2008
http://www.id21.org/insights/insights72/index.html

Climate change and cities
id21 insights 71, January 2008
http://www.id21.org/insights/insights71/index.html

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Water for Energy and Energy for Water
WISIONS has launched a call for good practice examples in renewable
energy and water resource efficiency. Up to five good practice projects
will be chosen for publication and will receive a grant of 500 Euros.
The application deadline is 16 February 2008
http://www.wisions.net/pages/PREP.htm

********

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*** id21RuralNews Number 25, February 2008 ***

id21 is a free service that communicates the latest UK-based
international development research to decision-makers and practitionersworking in developing countries. http://www.id21.org. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your colleagues.

id21 is enabled by the UK Department for International Development and hosted by the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of id21, IDS or other contributing institutions. Unless stated otherwise
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Is Africa going boom or bust?

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WORLD’S POOREST COUNTRIES BETTER PLACED FOR TRANSITION TO GREEN ECONOMY – UN REPORT

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Tanzania: Drought Spell Bad for Economy Growth

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Strengthening South-South Cooperation is indispensable for African development

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Economic Risks From Species Loss

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