An activist explains how to wear a face mask in Nairobia’s Mathare slum. Photo Credit: Fredrik Lernery/AFP/Getty
Policy Brief: COVID-19- Impacts on African economies
April 2020
The impacts of the “COVID-19 shock” on African economies are unfolding rapidly and can be expected to vary widely by country. The effects can be divided into indirect effects depending on countries’ exposure to international trade, tourism and FDI in particular; and direct effects depending on the extent of health expenses and degree of “shutdown” the countries have introduced to respond to COVID-19, as well as the economy’s poverty level and dependence on informal economic activity.
This brief explores evidence on these effects and the most vulnerable countries in the “direct” and “indirect” categories. It also provides a summary of actions that African governments have taken as well as four “innovative ideas” to consider in future, especially to continue poverty reduction and sustainable development, as part of Africa’s COVID-19 recovery plan and in partnership with development actors, including China.
The brief was produced for The Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network (PEGNet), an organisation funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and hosted by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Comments are welcome to angelabenefo@developmentreimagined.com & hannahryder@developmentreimagined.com
Download the Brief here
View on PEGNet website here
May 2020
