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Development
RSS FeedGlobal: Defanging the NGOs
2012-03-19, Issue 576
'Defanging' - that’s what one observer has called it. 'Wrecking' might be another term for what CIDA is doing to Canada’s once vibrant, once independent NGO sector. A survey of 158 organizations just released by the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC) and its seven provincial/regional counterparts has confirmed what many already suspected: that CIDA’s new rules of engagement have weakened the credibility and the capacities of NGOs, added to their costs, damaged or disrupted their overseas programs and put a chill on the advocacy work of those that were so inclined.
Global: South Centre seminar warns of effects of economic downturn
2012-03-19, Issue 576
This latest issue of the South Bulletin (12 March 2012) focuses on several events linked to the South Centre’s Board and Council meetings and held on 31 January – 3 February 2012 in Geneva. The main article briefly reports on the South Centre’s Seminar on the Global Economic Downturn and Current Multilateral Negotiations, held on 2-3 February in Geneva. Conference speakers warned that developing countries had not de-coupled from the advanced economies and would be adversely affected in different ways by the new global economic slowdown.
Tanzania: Experts caution Dar es Salaam over Lamu port plan
2012-03-08, Issue 574
Tanzanian ports may soon become idle if plans to build new and competitive facilities are not implemented now.This comes in the wake of plans by Kenya to construct a 23 billion US dollar transshipment port at Lamu. Experts say that in today's business every port in the world keeps pace with fewer but much larger shipping lines and concentration of cargo into bigger vessels able to utilise just a few key hub ports.
South Africa: ANC policy papers show discontent with world bodies
2012-03-06, Issue 574
The United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must be reformed, according to an ANC discussion document on international relations. 'The current global governance regimes remain untransformed and ill-prepared to respond to the systemic challenges that are arising,' the ANC said in new policy papers.
South Africa: Loan sneaked to Swaziland
2012-03-06, Issue 574
South Africa is sneaking E2.4 billion (US$320 million) to Swaziland to help it shore up its ailing economy so that the undemocratic kingdom does not have to instigate political reforms, a Swazi campaigning group claimed. The Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations (SCCCO) says the loan money is being channelled into Swaziland disguised as cash from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). This way Swaziland gets the money without reforms by King Mswati.
East Africa: Oil rush in full swing
2012-03-08, Issue 574
East Africa is in the middle of a major scramble for oil and gas resources as exploration firms rush to seal deals and optimism grows about more oil strikes. Last year saw at least 17 notable deals in East Africa, including five corporate ones worth over $250 million combined, more than double the number in 2010, which was just eight. Mid this year, Tullow, a wildcat oil prospector, is expected to announce the results of the wells it is currently drilling in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Global: Brazil emerging as South-South donor
2012-03-08, Issue 574
The Brazilian government is stepping up South-South aid, to strengthen the South American giant’s status as a donor country and its international clout. It now provides assistance to 65 countries, and its financial aid has grown threefold in the last seven years. A project to extend financing for food purchases to five countries in Africa has helped confirm that Brazil, traditionally a recipient of aid, has taken its place among the group of foreign donor countries.
Liberia: The social impact of FDIs
2012-03-08, Issue 574
The marginalization of indigenous communities during concession negotiations and project implementation has resulted in high tensions around a number of foreign direct investment projects in Liberia, says this report from Columbia University's Centre for Conflict Resolution that looks at the social impact of FDI. 'This tension has occasionally led to violence and other forms of social unrest, which could feasibly lead to conditions that might threaten peace in the country.'
Global: The future of the United Nations Development System
2012-03-12, Issue 574
In line with calls from the Global South for changes in the UN governance system, a survey report carried out in 2010 showed overwhelming support for changes in the mandates and functions of the UN agencies and for NGO and private sector representation in UN governance. The government respondents to the survey were also equally strongly in favour of both, and more so than the UN respondents. Download the report by clicking on the link provided. To participate in a 2012 survey report, please click here.
Global: Report calls for stricter regulation of UK mining companies
2012-03-12, Issue 574
London Mining Network has published a report calling on the government to include a review of regulatory regimes as part of the current discussion on the Financial Services Bill. Looking at eight case studies, the report, 'UK-Listed Mining Companies & the Case for Stricter Oversight', argues that many mining companies listed in London have very poor records of complicity in human rights abuse, environmental pollution or destruction of people’s cultures and livelihoods around the world.
Somalia: UK’s Somalia ‘aid for oil’ plan ‘cynical’ says campaign group
2012-03-01, Issue 572
The World Development Movement has warned that the UK’s new drive to provide aid to Somalia is looking like a ‘cynical’ attempt to grab its oil, rather than being aimed at ensuring a better future for people in one of the world’s poorest countries. A report in the Observer newspaper on Sunday revealed that UK officials have been engaged in secret negotiations with Somali leaders to secure access to the country’s immense oil reserves. The revelation came after the UK announced a large aid package for Somalia, and David Cameron hosted a conference in London last week on the development of the war torn state.
Egypt: Interim government faces tough task selling IMF reforms
2012-03-01, Issue 572
Egypt's interim government will have to muster all its skills of persuasion to sell austerity measures to a country weary after a year of political and economic strife, if details emerging on Cairo's planned deal with the IMF are anything to go by. Egypt wants the $3.2 billion IMF accord to help it head off a looming crisis. But in return the IMF wants Egypt to cut its budget deficit.
Global: Thomas Sankara's lesson for the Greek crisis
2012-03-05, Issue 572
In this article, Leonidas Oikonomakis draws parallels between Greece's economic crisis and the statements of the late Thomas Sankara, who was president of Burkina Faso. Sankara knew all too well that he could not stand alone in his resistance to paying foreign debt and so he pleaded with the other African heads of state to follow his example. In protests against austerity measures in Greece, there are echoes of Sankara's statements.
Mozambique: Foreign funding down
2012-03-05, Issue 572
Mozambique’s Finance Minister plans this year to increase State revenues in order to overcome the growing lack of funding from abroad, Minister Manuel Chang said. 'With that increase in revenue the aim is to establish conditions needed to reduce the budget deficit, increasing the contribution of domestic resources within the State Budget,' the Finance Minister said at the 19th National Public Spending Seminar.
Africa: Is Africa really urbanising rapidly?
2012-02-21, Issue 571
It is well known that African urban populations are growing. Almost every article or policy document on the topic is foregrounded with this point. 'However, whether most African countries will fairly soon be mainly urban is another issue. There is now plenty of data to suggest that in many cases, they will not.' This is important, argues this article, because of what it reveals about how African cities have coped with the globalised economy and the livelihoods of residents in the urban setting.
Swaziland: Meltdown 'imminent'
2012-02-23, Issue 571
The International Monetary Fund has warned that Swaziland's fiscal crisis has reached a critical point and there is a high risk that the kingdom will be unable to pay its civil servants' wages for the next few months. The report also says that Swaziland's gross domestic product (GDP) will contract by 2 per cent during 2012 and, if the country does not change its 'unsustainable' fiscal policy, its debt-to-GDP ratio could reach more than 80 per cent by 2016.
Malawi: Inflation hits double digits
2012-02-23, Issue 571
The country's year on year headline inflation for January 2012 stands at 10.3 per cent, up from 9.8 per cent registered in December last year, the National Statistical Office (NSO) says. This development comes barely few days after Lilongwe based Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) noted that prices for basic commodities were still on the rise fortifying fears that an increase in the national inflation rate was imminent. Commenting on the current economic trends, former finance minister Cassim Chilumpha has said Malawians should brace up for tough times lying ahead following the persistent shortage of foreign exchange and fuel which is contributing to the surging inflation.
Global: Greeks want radical change
2012-02-23, Issue 571
An interesting survey from Greek survey organisation Public Issue shows that in 2011 one third of the population agreed that 'Our society must change radically through revolution'. Only one per cent surveyed agreed that 'our society is fine the way it is.
Africa: Free trade area planned by 2017
2012-02-23, Issue 571
Africa's 54 nations have decided to establish a continental free trade area by 2017, speed up infrastructure development and put related policies and laws in place to boost the integration process. 'The Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) should be operationalized by the indicative date of 2017, and enhanced intra-African trade and deepened market integration can contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth, employment generation, poverty reduction, inflow of foreign direct investment, industrial development and better integration of the continent into the global economy,' according to the Declaration on the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa. The document was endorsed at the 18th African Union (AU) summit 23-31 January in the Ethiopian capital.
Zimbabwe: Zim-EU trade rises
2012-02-23, Issue 571
Zimbabwe's trade with the European Union increased by 36 per cent last year, reaching 664 million euros from 488 million euros in 2010, the European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Aldo Dell'Ariccia, has said. Meanwhile, trade between the two partners is set to receive a further boost as Zimbabwe is now very close to completing the ratification of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. There are concerns, however, that Zimbabwe's full EPA ratification will pose further challenges for local industry.
Africa: EU opens door to 'debt relief' for north African states
2012-02-23, Issue 571
European governments have opened the door to a radical offer of 'debt relief' for Arab north African neighbours such as Egypt, EU and governmental sources said. The plan emerged barely 24 hours after eurozone governments backed an unprecedented write-down of Greek sovereign debt held by private investors, one expected to reduce Athens' debt burden by nearly one third, some $141 million.
Africa: Illegal money transfers hurting Africa’s growth
2012-02-27, Issue 571
Experts say that the increasing trends of illicit financial flows are posing a great threat to Africa’s fragile growth as they pump back more dollars to developed countries than those sent to poor African states. Alezar Dessie, a consultant with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, notes that out of every dollar channelled to poor countries, as much as ten dollars may have left going back to rich countries, a back flow that leaves Africa begging.
Namibia: Areva involved in nuclear energy plan
2012-02-14, Issue 570
Namibia, the fourth biggest uranium producer in the world, first floated the idea of acquiring a nuclear power plant of its own four years ago. If it goes forward, the nuclear project represents the culmination of Areva’s more than five years’ efforts in the African country, which have been beset by problems, including cost overruns, reports New Era.
Angola: Hundreds of companies privatised in 10 years
2012-02-14, Issue 570
The Angolan government will this year launch the second phase of the privatisation programme which in the last ten years has enabled the sale to private interests of 198 state companies, Economy Minister Abraão Gourgel announced. Appearing on Angola’s TPA television, Gourgel also lamented that the privatisation process started by the government in 1990 via its Business Readjustment Office had not achieved all of its goals. The low results are due to economic questions such as the lack of a capital market and social issues such as the lack of financial power to settle state debts, Gourgel said.
Global: The state of the global economy
2012-02-16, Issue 570
The South Centre organised a workshop at the beginning of February on the state of the global economy, and reflection on recent and future multilateral negotiations. The workshop provided a forum at the beginning of 2012 for policy makers, diplomats and experts of developing countries to reflect on the state of the global economy and prospects for developing countries, and on the implications of important multilateral negotiations that have recent taken place, and that will take place this year. Documents presented at the workshop and available from the South Centre website include: - The Staggering Rise of the South By Yılmaz Akyüz, Special Economic Advisor, South Centre - Instability and Downturn in the World Economy and the Prospects of the South", Statement by Petko Draganov, the Deputy Secretary-General, UNCTAD - EPA Negotiations between EU and Africa, by Aileen Kwa, Coordinator, Trade and Development Programe, South Centre.
Global: Campaigners demand fair selection process in appointment of new Bank head
2012-02-16, Issue 570
Reacting to the announcement that Robert Zoellick is stepping down as World Bank President, a global coalition of campaigners has called for an open and merit-based process to elect the next World Bank leader, and for developing countries to determine the selection. The campaigners, including Oxfam, Eurodad and the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (Afrodad), have also asked the US to announce that it will no longer seek to monopolise the Presidential position.
Africa: $50-billion illegally exported from Africa annually
2012-02-19, Issue 570
An estimated $50-billion is exported out of the African continent illegally every year, former president Thabo Mbeki said on Saturday. Mbeki was speaking at the launch of a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) high level panel in Johannesburg. The panel, chaired by Mbeki, would investigate illicit and financial flows of finance out of the continent.
Zambia: Mines audit planned
2012-02-08, Issue 569
Top African copper producer Zambia plans to audit all its mining houses in a bid to dig for back taxes of up to $1 billion it estimates it is owed, its mines minister said. Such a policy by the government of populist president Michael Sata would widen an initiative launched by the previous administration and comes against the backdrop of a surge of resource nationalism across Africa and Zambia's own doubling of copper royalties to six per cent.
South Africa: Mine nationalisation off the agenda
2012-02-07, Issue 569
Minerals Resource Minister Susan Shabangu stood up at the Mining Indaba last year and declared: 'there will be no nationalisation in my lifetime'. On Tuesday 7 February she told a packed hall of global delegates with certainty that nationalisation is off the agenda for government and the ruling ANC. Instead, she highlighted the new approach of resource nationalism - a milder form of state intervention that will include a higher tax regime for the industry.
South Africa: We won't be bullied on nationalisation, says Mantashe
2012-02-07, Issue 569
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe says the ruling party will not be bullied into stopping discussion on the nationalisation of mines because it will scare off investors. Mantashe said this as Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel told a high-profile mining indaba in Cape Town yesterday that the nationalisation of South Africa's mines was not an option. 'The mining sector is so fundamentally important as a platform to construct the [upliftment] transition that we can't be able to take this idea of nationalisation forward,' Manuel said.
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