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 …
The pandemic puts as many as 160 million jobs in tourism, manufacturing and commodity sectors in developing countries at risk, potentially threatening economic growth and decent jobs as envisaged in SDG-8. Massive job losses—especially loss of relatively well-paying jobs—will likely worsen inequality, both within and between countries. Governments in developing …
This baseline report was undertaken as part of the impact assessment of the Yield Uganda Investment Fund (YUIF), a EUR 20 million impact fund that provides targeted financing to small and medium agribusinesses (SMAs) in Uganda to help them overcome barriers to accessing capital. The Fund was established by the …
Four years of Effective governance is no mean achievement. Fulfilled promises and futuristic projects are the hall mark of this Government. Near-perfect taming of a global threat like Covid-19 menace is something more than an achievement. More effective plans are there on the anvil… On May 25th, our government will …
The COVID-19 crisis has caused untold disruption to lives and economies. As the current patterns of globalization are being questioned, the regional level will become vital in dealing with crossborder problems. It is at this level that reconnecting economies, reversing the disruption of trade and transport links, and addressing transboundary …
The global pandemic has led to major structural increases in public expenditure to support health, incomes and employment. The question of who will ultimately foot the bill will need to be answered, but the economic burden must not fall disproportionately on disadvantaged groups and countries. Reductions in corporation tax ‘to …
Estimates presented here were generated using data collected during household visits between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2020. This volume contains statistical profiles of 28 states and union territories. Introduction of a reliable measure of the unemployment rate would help the domestic and global financial markets understand India’s economic …
Africa's projected gross domestic product growth of 3.2 per cent for 2020 is now expected to fall further to -0.8 per cent due to prolonged partial and total lockdown of countries brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. A new report by Deloitte analysing the impact of Covid-19 indicates that the …
From an economic and environmental point of view, sustainable port development is a very important issue not only for the government as port management agencies but also for port authorities and terminal operators. It is important to harmonize the roles and functions of individual ports with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) …
As social protection programs and systems adapt to mitigate against the COVID-19 crisis, gender considerations are likely to be overlooked in an urgent effort to save lives and provide critical economic support. Yet past research and learning indicates that small adaptations to make program design and implementation more gender-sensitive may …
Currently (as of 22 April 2020), 81 per cent of employers and 66 per cent of own-account workers live and work in countries affected by recommended or required workplace closures, with severe impacts on incomes and jobs. Among the most vulnerable in the labour market, almost 1.6 billion informal economy …
Roughly half of all Somali households rely on remittances to cover basic needs such as food, water and basic health care. According to Somali money transfer operators (MTOs), remittances have already declined substantially since the onset of COVID-19 due to economic pressures on members of the Somali diaspora. This is …
Two concurrent global crises—a health crisis and an economic crisis—are engulfing the world. The necessary public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic is setting in motion a globally synchronized economic recession—leaving no obvious robust engine of global growth. The humanitarian dimension of these two linked events is taking the majority …
As countries adopt radical measures to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control, international trade and transport systems are under tremendous stress. Early evidence shows that international trade is collapsing, threatening access to goods and critical supplies. In response, a new UNCTAD policy brief outlines a ten-point action plan to help …
State finances of Madhya Pradesh mirrors the fiscal situation of states in India and emerging challenges that include lack of buoyancy of internal revenue, prolonged slow economic growth and uncertainties regarding central transfers, and impact of recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. While the State adhered to fiscal rules, the …
The Travel & Tourism sector faces a staggering 100 million jobs losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The startling figure, based on research from WTTC, has increased by over 30% in the last four weeks, indicating the sheer crisis affecting the …
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast in January that the global economy would grow by 3.3 percent in 2020, however its latest outlook, in April, now forecasts a contraction of 3.0 percent, with no upside scenarios and numerous risks. The scenario presented in this brief predicts that if the anticipated …
The COVID-19 pandemic will cause a dramatic drop in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. Multinational enterprises (MNEs), local businesses, and investment have been severely affected with far-reaching social and economic repercussions. Economic impact estimates and earnings revisions of the largest MNEs suggest that downward pressures on FDI could be in …
The Covid-19 shock is posing unprecedented challenges to advanced country governments. But, if the challenges are huge in advanced economies, they are enormously more daunting in developing economies. The vast majority of developing countries are heavily reliant on access to the ‘hard currencies’ of advanced countries – earned primarily through …
The COVID-19 pandemic has created severe disruption in the global financial system, with many emerging market and developing countries (EMDCs) facing liquidity shortages. In the context of intensified demand for liquidity and heightened global uncertainty, staff has revisited the 2017 proposal for a new facility to provide liquidity support to …
Digital financial services, powered by fintech, have the potential to lower costs by maximizing economies of scale, to increase the speed, security and transparency of transactions and to allow for more tailored financial services that serve the poor. This report - Digital Financial Services - describes the tools of digital …
