Economic Analysis of Africa, By Africans

The international community will understand Africa’s voice on economics far better, if the content is professional, research-based, and supported by data and scientific evidence.

In order to maximise efforts in research, policy analysis and information dissemination, Africans need to make more use of the skills of African academics and researchers, both within and outside the continent,” said President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Donald Kaberuka.

He expressed this sentiment at the weekend, at a joint press conference with Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Abdoulie Janneh.

This comes after the opening of the Second African Economic Conference (AEC).

Mr Kaberuka said the AfDB realises that there are many research institutions, think thanks and African intellectuals here and abroad that could analyse the economic condition of the continent in a better way.

However, he said, for a long time, analysis of African economic conditions has been the domain of external institutions, which are external to the continent, rather than bringing African intellectuals together to exercise their voice.

The AfDB expects the outcomes of the conference would, over time, influence the thinking of African governance, pronounce polices and analyze economic conditions of the continent, he said.

Mr Janneh said the conference dwells on serious issues and challenges on Africa’s economic situations.

“We felt we are building the coalition of African intellectuals to really reflect on challenges facing Africa,” he said.

The Second AEC, which is jointly organised by the AfDB Group and the UNECA, deliberated under the theme “Opportunities and Challenges of Development for Africa in the Global Arena”.

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