One major lesson for Africa from the Covid-19 pandemic is that it had an outsize negative impact on workers in jobs that cannot be performed remotely.  Such jobs are typically in the informal sectors that dominate Africa’s economies. Services and other sectors more amenable to remote work were far less affected, which reduced the need for government social safety net… Read More

Demand for more extensive rail infrastructure in Africa received a boost following the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in early 2021. The agreement aims to boost intra-regional trade and integration, two goals that rail corridors meet.   In March 2022, during virtual boardroom sessions organized by the Africa Investment Forum,  investors, deal brokers and government ministers… Read More

The Africa Investment Forum has a strong track record of supporting the success of women business owners and entrepreneurs. Less well-known is that the Africa Investment Forum, an initiative of the African Development Bank and seven partners, also works to channel investment to sectors offering women better access to higher skilled and better paying employment. As African countries mount robust… Read More

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program is a flagship African Development Bank initiative. The zones bring together the production, processing, storage, transport, and marketing of commodities – including cotton and maize. This will increase productivity and competitiveness and reduce logistics costs. The program has four broad components: support for the development of enabling climate-adapted infrastructure for agro-industrial hubs; improving… Read More