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Office of the Chief Economist, Africa Region

ECONOMIC UPDATE April 8, 2024

Africa’s Pulse: Tackling Inequality is Necessary for Growth and Poverty Reduction

The report projects that growth will accelerate from a low of 2.6% in 2023 to 3.4 % in 2024. However, the recovery remains fragile due to uncertain global economic conditions, growing debt service payments, frequent climate-related disasters, and escalating conflict and violence.

CPIA Africa: Assessing Africa's Policies and Institutions

The 2023 Africa Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report covers the period January to December 2022. The overall average score for Sub-Saharan Africa’s IDA-eligible countries remained unchanged in 2022 at 3.1.

Africa’s Resource Future

Africa’s Resource Future examines the role of natural resource wealth in driving Africa’s economic transformation and the implications of the low-carbon transition for resource-rich economies. The journey toward a just transition for Africa will depend on successfully and inclusively harnessing the economic benefits of natural resources in the region.

Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs

Digital Africa, Technological Transformation for Jobs examines pathways to produce and promote the expanded use of affordable and attractive digital technologies (DTs) that are appropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa’s growing workforce and facilitate continued learning through use.

The Office of the Chief Economist in the Africa Region (AFRCE) generates timely and relevant knowledge on policy and institutional reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa. It produces research articles and reports on the most pressing development issues facing the continent and fosters a community of economists interested in Sub-Saharan Africa, within the World Bank and on the continent.

Our work revolves around four pillars:

  1. Knowledge Generation: We seek to bring the best possible knowledge to bear on policy and institutional reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa through the production and oversight of research articles and reports on the most pressing development issues facing the continent. 
  2. Knowledge Outreach: We provide regular opportunities for leading researchers and policy makers to interact, debate and discuss research and policy issues relevant to economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.   
  3. Linking Knowledge to Operations: We guide the production and implementation of the World Bank’s strategy of assistance for the Africa Region.  In addition to producing analytical and advisory products, and providing inputs to lending operations, the Chief Economist chairs supports WBG country office teams by chairing reviews of country analytical products and hosting policy dialogues.
  4. Building Capacity: Through our initiatives and fellowship programs we collaborate and partner with governments, think tanks, and academic institutions in Africa to facilitate economic development of the region.

Additional Resources

Contacts

Rose-Claire Pakabomba
Office of the Chief Economist in Africa
rpakabomba@worldbank.org