The Economic Report on Africa is the flagship report of the Economic Commission for Africa. The 2019 edition focuses on fiscal policy for financing sustainable development in Africa. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals, the financing needs across the continent are huge, and the financing gap is wide. In order to achieve the Goals, studies estimate the financing needs for Africa to be in the range of $614 billion to $638 billion per year. Countries in Africa need to enhance domestic resource mobilization to finance the work towards the achievement of the Goals, and that requires sustained improvement in the efficiency and efficacy of fiscal policy.  The 2019 Economic Report on Africa provides an evidence-based assessment of the nature and performance of fiscal policy in Africa, including an analysis of challenges, opportunities and best practices. It presents an argument for the need to increase the proportion of government revenues to gross domestic product, which is currently low, at 21.4 percent. Furthermore, it is argued that African countries could increase government revenue and boost that proportion, by 12 to 20 percent.

Objective

The main objective of the launch is to share the key findings of the Report. The event will provide an opportunity to present evidence-based information to policymakers and other stakeholders on how to increase government revenues using country case studies. Expected outcomes.  The event will provide a robust assessment of fiscal performance in Africa, share the identified opportunities and challenges to mobilize financial resources through fiscal instruments and provide a specific package of policy options and recommendations aimed at increasing tax and nontax revenues in Africa.

Target audience

The event is aimed at officials of the ministries of finance and economic planning, national and regional planners, civil society, the private sector, and policymakers.

Venue, date and time

• United Nations Conference Center (UNCC), CR6
  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• 7 June 2019, from 9.30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
  For further information, please contact:

Khaled Hussein
ChiefMacroeconomic Analysis Section
Tel.: + 251 (0)11 544 3163
Email: hussein44@un.org
PO Box 3001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,