Articles
Industrialisation is an imperative for Africa. With a global economy constrained by climate change and driven by competitive supply chains, the continents’ aspirations are difficult to fulfil. Accelerated and profound economic structural transformation is the only means to do so and to address chronic poverty
Poverty reduction has been essentially associated with a profound structural transformation of the economy, a process entailing a reallocation of economic activities from the less productive sectors to the more productive ones. The speed with which this process takes place has been a key factor that differentiates deve-lopment levels across countries. The issue of structural transformation has been at the core of economic development debates with initial empirical analyses originated with Fisher (1935, 1939) and Clark (1940) who dealt with sectoral shifts in the composition of the labor force.
Air transport in Africa still does not count for much on a global scale. However, strong GDP growth, the continent’s fast-growing urbanization and the expansion of the middle classes – who want to travel – are likely to shake up this situation. The African aviation market is about to experience unprecedented growth. The IATA is forecasting an average annual increase of 5.7% in air traffic until 2034. The sector also offers major investment opportunities – estimated at over $160 billion for the acquisition of new aircraft alone.
This lecture honouring Harold Wolpe comes at a time when his contribution is more appreciated than ever before. Although his focus was South Africa his provocative contributions surpassed the country. Wolpe was one of the admired conceptualisers of his generation. By inventing a new radicalism he left his mark on South African scholarship, introduced new approaches to the race question, and infuriated enough to be classified by some as a pariah. Academics that are activists always walk a similar path and indulge in their independence of thought.
The world’s oceans, seas and rivers are a major source of wealth, creating trillions of dollars’ worth in goods and services as well as employing billions of people. Three out of four jobs that make up the entire global workforce are water-dependent. It is forecasted that the annual economic value of maritime-related activities will reach 2.5 trillion euros per year by 2020, while the International Energy Agency estimates that renewable energy from the ocean has a power potential sufficient to provide up to 400% of current global energy demand. Yet Africa’s blue potential remains untapped.
China’s relationship with Africa is changing. From what was once a narrative built on the sale of primary commodities, to fuel China’s booming economic growth, it is increasingly being defined by an emerging, confident Africa with its own socio-economic and political priorities. Many African countries now want tangible and credible benefits beyond the revenues from natural resource exports. In short, China’s relationship with Africa has transformed into one defined by dynamism and African agency, lessening the hold the former previously had.
It costs more to move a container from Kenya to Burundi than from Belgium or the United Kingdom to Kenya. Twenty percent of Africa’s international infrastructure networks, such as the Trans-African Highway network, are impassable. Flight connectivity is the lowest in the world and centered on only about 328 hubs for a land mass of around 11.7 million square miles, making it time consuming and costly to travel between African countries (United Nations Statistics Division, 2016).
Published in the IMF's quarterly publication entitled: Finance and Development - June edition
The Second Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in December 2015 marked the significance and extent to which China's relationship with Africa is changing. China's tripling of its financing commitment to US$60 billion signalled its confidence in the economic transformation prospects of the African continent. The changing Sino-Africa relationship is underpinned by a shift towards a more balanced partnership that recognises Africa's socio-economic and political priorities, beyond the demand for its natural resources.
Published in the Strategic Review for Southern Africa Volume 38, No 1, May 2016
Ceci est une tribune de Carlos Lopes, Secrétaire exécutif de la Commission économique pour l’Afrique des Nations Unies. Titulaire d’un doctorat en histoire de l’Université de Paris I (Panthéon Sorbonne), ainsi que d’un master de recherche obtenu à l’Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement de Genève, il a d’abord servi dans la Fonction publique de son pays d’origine, la Guinée Bissau, dans les domaines de la recherche, de la diplomatie et de la planification, avant de rejoindre le Programme des Nations Unies pour le développement (PNUD) et les Nations Unies où il a occupé de hautes fonctions.
J’aimerais exprimer ici ma vision pour l’Afrique en déclinant les besoins du continent en matière climatique à travers une stratégie articulée autour de six points. Il s’agit de permettre aux institutions africaines d’élaborer des politiques efficaces qui contribueront à l’émergence de sociétés et économies résilientes au changement climatique. En reconnaissant la transformation des modes de vie dans des conditions climatiques en perpétuel changement, j’ai la conviction que notre génération détient les solutions pour en maîtriser les impacts et les transformer en opportunités.
África, conocida como el nuevo horizonte en el ámbito de las inversiones, presenta un atractivo cada vez más visible para las grandes empresas, instituciones e inversores.
An ‘Africa data consensus’ will reform how countries produce stats for the SDGs and social needs, says Carlos Lopes.
India and Africa have been intimately linked for centuries by ancient trade and investment links as well as close socioeconomic, cultural and political ties. These date from the era of the Mughal Empire to the struggle for freedom from colonial bondage and apartheid. The links are further reinforced by the 10 percent of Indian diaspora that lives in Africa. The journey of friendship has evolved on a path of cooperation that is multilayered, based on principles of South-South Cooperation and solidarity. Yet, very few know of the depth of this bond.
The adoption of the post -015 development agenda/sustainable development goals (SDGs) and accompanying targets is a victory for Africa in many ways.
Financer la transformation de l’Afrique. Avec Amina J. Mohammed. Le Monde.fr . Le 13 juillet 2015
Delivered on the occasion of the Second Commemorative Jakes Gerwel Lecture at the University of the Western Cape. Mail & Guardian Africa. 5 September 2015.
Les Africains célèbrent des potentialités plus que des résultats. Published in Libération on 30 September 2015.
New African Magazine. Africa’s Time, the Thinkers Issues. October 2015
Harnessing Foreign Direct Investment. Article published in the Africa Investment Report 2015; An FDI Destination on the Rise. This is Africa, October 2015.
Full Publication: Africa at a Fork in the Road: Taking Off or Disappointment Once Again?
The Role of Big Data in Africa’s regional Integration. International Trade Forum Magazine. July 2015
Chaque jour, les talents créatifs de l’Afrique tiennent le haut de l’affiche. Au Cap, les voix des stars sud-africaines de l’opéra, Andiswa Kedama et Pauline Malefane, captivent le public dans U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, une adaptation en langue xhosa du fameux opéra de Bizet. À Agadez, Bombino, guitariste, auteur et compositeur de renom international, surnommé le nouveau Jimi Hendrix, envoûte les spectateurs avec ses paroles et musiques en faveur du changement. À Accra, plus de 30 000 personnes vont danser toute la nuit au concert de P-Square, le célèbre duo hip-hop nigérian. C’est avec le même enthousiasme que Luanda accueille sur scène Big Nelo et C4 Pedro. À Maputo, les mannequins défilent sur les estrades de la «semaine de la mode » avec, sur les épaules, les dernières créations des couturiers africains. Parmi eux, Alphadi du Niger, Intisaar Mukadam du Zimbabwe, David Tlale d’Afrique du Sud ou Taibo Bacar du Mozambique, jeune talent de 29 ans dont les robes ont déjà été présentées à Milan. À Kinshasa, des foules viennent apprécier les peintures et les sculptures de l’artiste Rhode Bath-Schéba Makoumbou. Sur tout le continent, comme dans la diaspora africaine, des familles regardent sur leurs écrans de télévision des films en provenance d’Égypte ou de Nollywood (le Hollywood nigérian)…