The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
This policy brief analyzes the coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuel sector in South Africa, exploring the role of subsidies in driving the consumption of coal-derived fuels. It focuses on the various support measures that have and continue to benefit the CTL industry. The CTL industry is monopolized by Sasol, a company minority-owned …
There was a modest decline in underweight prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. Anaemia declined fastest among adult women and the richest pregnant women, although it affects all women with no marked disparities. Overweight is increasing rapidly among adult women and women with no education. Capital city residents had a threefold more …
The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed online shopping behaviours, according to a survey of about 3,700 consumers in nine emerging and developed economies.The survey, entitled “COVID-19 and E-commerce”, examined how the pandemic has changed the way consumers use e-commerce and digital solutions. It covered Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, the Republic …
A summary of the findings from the interviews is published today in The People Beyond the Poaching: Interviews with convicted offenders in South Africa. Almost three-quarters of offenders had been imprisoned for rhino-related crimes, the remainder for abalone- and cycad-related offences. More than half of the offenders said they participated …
Since the Rio+20, several African countries have adopted green-growth strategies and are pursuing green growth in selected sectors. As of June 2015, several countries had or were in the process of developing green economy strategies or action plans at the national level. These include Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South …
While South Africa is recognised as a strong voice in climate change negotiations, it is certainly not the most powerful country. As such, South Africa has had a difficult balancing act to play in protecting its interests. Its approach, which has mirrored its international diplomacy more generally, has been to …
The study analyses the impact on the economy and examines how people with different demographics residing in different geographical areas are affected by COVID-19. Using a multivariate probit model, the study focuses on how COVID-19 will drive temporary and long-term changes in poverty levels in South Africa and predicts the …
While national emission trends are a useful tool for measuring government progress towards meeting the Paris Agreement 1.5˚C temperature limit at a global level, each government will have to address its own sectors, each with their own, different baseline. What should government sectoral benchmarks be? Will they meet the global …
This study, present results from a large ensemble of projected changes in seasonal precipitation and near-surface air temperature changes for the nation of South Africa. The ensemble isbased on a combination of pattern-change responses derived from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP-5) climate models along with the Massachusetts …
A higher level of preparedness is urgently needed to prevent and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Africa, including additional resources for testing and to reduce the impact on households and the economy, the African Development Bank said in its new Southern Africa Regional Economic Outlook. In the worst-case scenario, …
In this paper, the authors examined whether income-related inequalities in health became more pro-poor in the COVID-19 era relative to before the epidemic. Furthermore, they ascertained the variables that predict observed income-related health inequality in South Africa during the epidemic. The results indicate that poor health was pro-poor in both …
A recent study commissioned by the government and funded by the European Union, and conducted by experts from different institutions, with me as the leader, focused on the potential contribution of redistributive land reform to employment creation. The study revealed a considerable, unmet demand for land by both smallholders and …
Emerging economies are facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis. The synchronous collapse in global demand and the widespread disruptions in supply chains are inflicting severe economic pain through trade, financial and commodity prices channels. To contain the pandemic, emerging economies have imposed, to varying degrees, lockdowns and social distancing …
The OECD Economic Outlook is the OECD's twice-yearly analysis of the major economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, prices, fiscal and current account balances. Coverage is provided for all OECD member countries as well as …
Africa faces significant challenges in accessing high-quality pharmaceuticals, exacerbating a continued high burden of disease. The availability of essential drugs in the public sector across the continent has been reported to be less than 60 per cent. One factor contributing to this shortfall is Africa’s heavy reliance on imported medicines. …
Directions issued In terms of Regulation 4(3) Of The Regulations made under the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (ACT NO. 57 OF 2002): Regarding the Re-Opening of Schools And Measures to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID -19 in the National Department of Basic Education, All Provincial Education Departments, …
Low-income families have increased their spending on food by more than 30% since March when the national Covid-19 lockdown began. This according to a report published by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PEJDG) . The group collected its food price data from five supermarkets and four butcheries that …
The impact of climate change on economic growth has received considerable attention in recent years based on several macro-econometric studies estimating the impact of country-level temperatures on GDP growth rates. We build on this literature, but instead of per-capita GDP, we consider inequality and poverty at the country and sub-national …
A recent poll explores the relationship between COVID-19 social distancing and health among 6,801 tobacco and nicotine users in 5 countries (United States, United Kingdom, Italy, South Africa, and India). Released by the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, the survey found that more than two thirds of the respondents rely …
To amend the Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Act, 1991, so as to provide for the application for conversion of land tenure rights to ownership; to provide for the notice of informing interested persons of an application to convert land tenure rights into ownership; to provide for an opportunity for …
