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 special report from the World Peace Foundation documents how Ethiopian and Eritrean belligerents in the war in Tigray have comprehensively dismantled the region’s economy and food system. It provide evidence of their ongoing actions to deprive people of objects and activities indispensable to their survival—actions that amount to international …
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has been severe; however, countries are weathering the storm so far. Real GDP is estimated to contract by 2.0 percent in 2020—close to the lower bound of the forecast range in April 2020, and less than the contraction in advanced …
This paper assesses the socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19 in three South Asian economies -- Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka -- and corresponding fiscal policy responses to mitigate these impacts. Further, it appraises the sufficiency of these fiscal policy responses to support the economic recovery in respective economies. It also estimates fiscal …
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’s focus on energy, transportation and other types of infrastructure has the potential to make an important contribution to filling the ‘infrastructure gap’ in BRI partner countries in the Global South. But the rapid influx of infrastructure projects and other commercial activity in those countries …
Nairobi is the top city in Africa for innovation and ranks among the top 100 globally, the Knight Frank’s 'Africa Horizons Report 2021/22' indicates. The Kenya's capital ranked ahead of Cape Town which was second, Kampala third with Cairo and Johannesburg at fourth and fifth place respectively. Dar es Salaam …
The African agricultural and food market is expanding quickly as indicated by World Bank projections that show that the value of Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness industry is expected to more than triple to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, compared to 2010 (World Bank, 2013). This provides an opportunity to …
This paper summarizes unprecedented adverse health and economic impacts as well as policy responses in the Asia and Pacific region and the rest of the world generated by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. By the end of 2020, over 80 million people had been infected, with developing Asia …
This report discusses under the current trajectory, global GDP could be 11–14% less by mid-century than in a world without climate change. The loss under Paris Agreement targets would be significantly less (around 4%). Economies in south and southeast Asia are the most vulnerable to climate change effects; advanced economies …
Basic Statistics 2021 presents data for 46 economies in Asia and the Pacific on development indicators tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
This study examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the related nationwide lockdown on the Indian economy, particularly on food systems. It also takes up an important issue of millions of migrant workers in India who seem to have suffered the most during this period. The loss of their …
This report provides an update on the short-term impacts of COVID-19 on the Malawian economy in light of the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in December 2020 and January 2021. It extends and updates the results of previous SAM multiplier-based modeling undertaken by IFPRI during 2020 with a particular focus …
The impacts of COVID-19 are being felt across The Gambia’s socioeconomic landscape, exacerbating existing inequalities and threatening hard-won progress. In response, the government has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), establishing a secretariat to reprioritise the current national development plan (NDP) to serve as a blueprint for a …
The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the critical need for detailed, timely information on its evolving economic impacts, particularly for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where data availability and lack of generalizable nowcasting methodologies limit efforts for coordinated policy responses. This paper presents a suite of high frequency and granular country-level indicator tools that …
This report explores ways in which trade policy can further support a transition to a more circular economy using regional trade agreements (RTAs) as a vehicle. In doing so, it suggests possible options to incorporate circular economy-related provisions in future RTAs, building on precedents with similar objectives in agreements currently …
Despite turning out better than expected, growth in 2020 is estimated to be the worst on record, at –1.9 percent, leading to a large increase in poverty. In 2021, the region’s economy is expected to resume expansion at 3.4 percent, weaker than the 6 percent for the rest of the …
South Asia region’s economies are beginning to recover, though unevenly: economic activity in industry and export sectors have recovered to pre-COVID levels but some labor-intensive services sectors and tourism have not. Inequality has worsened on many dimensions. The process of vaccinating South Asia’s population is underway, with India taking a …
In view of importance of regular reporting of the state-wise values of HDI, GDI and GII, an attempt has been made to compute HDI, GDI and GII using the HDRO methodology and available data sets for the States/UTs as well as for the country as a whole for the years …
The Ministry is now releasing ‘Sustainable Development Goals - National Indicator Framework, Progress Report 2021 (version 3.0) which shows the data-based evidence of India’s progress towards achieving the SDGs and associated targets. The report will also help policy makers in identifying thrust areas where interventions need to be focused. Comprehensive …
India's economic output in 2021 is expected to remain below the 2019 level despite roll-out of the vaccine to deal with the menace of the coronavirus pandemic, said a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). India, according to the 'Economic and …
UN-Habitat’s new report - Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future – demonstrates how cities can reduce the impact of future pandemics and become more equitable, healthy and environmentally friendly. Urban areas have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis, with 95 per cent of …
