Experts call for concessionary financing to help Africa build resilience and boost economic growth

AfriCatalyst, an-Africa based global development advisory firm, has developed a practical guide to inform policymakers and domestic stakeholders about the RSF’s key features, eligibility criteria, and objectives. With financial, health and climate shocks threatening to reverse two decades of development progress in Africa, experts have called for urgent concessionary financing to help the continent build…

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Stakeholders Seek Concessional Financing In Africa

Some stakeholders have called for urgent concessionary financing to help Africa build resilience against shocks and boosts its economic growth. They said this was crucial, especially with financial, health and climate shocks threatening to reverse two decades of development progress in Africa. They spoke during a one-day virtual workshop on “Catalysing Access to the International…

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G20 must push relief to avoid debt crises – experts, campaigner

Wealthy nations must improve their floundering flagship debt relief initiative or face a spate of debt crises in the developing world, experts and campaigners say as a meeting of finance chiefs of G20 major economies opened on Thursday. As the pandemic battered global economies, the Group of 20 leading economies launched measures, including a temporary…

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What the strong dollar means for Americans

The U.S. dollar is getting stronger amid a global battle with high inflation. Americans are getting less bang for their buck at home, but a stronger dollar makes foreign goods more affordable and international travel relatively cheaper.  The dollar broke even with the euro for the first time in 20 years last week, and the…

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International forum brings world security leaders to Dal with post‑COVID era top of mind

The Halifax International Security Forum held its annual Public Panel at Dalhousie University in partnership with Saint Mary’s University on November 18, the precursor to one of the world’s preeminent security forums. The forum, founded in 2009 and based out of Washington D.C., brings high level thinkers, policy makers and government officials from around the…

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What Did the Paris Summit Deliver for Africa and What’s Next?

Africa continues to face daunting challenges arising notably from high indebtedness, inflationary pressures, financing shortages, climate change, stagflation, and geopolitical tensions. Although the continent contributes the least to CO2 emissions, the Loss and Damage Collaboration estimates that 97% of people affected by extreme events live in developing countries, with the majority of them being in…

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The African Union Should Prepare Now for G20 Membership

As more countries call for the AU to be granted full membership, African leaders must reach a consensus on economic issues, devise a clear plan for reforming the global financial architecture, and draw up a list of possible representatives to send to G20 summits. Otherwise, it will be difficult for African countries to achieve the…

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Why financial inclusion still matters to Africa

Financial exclusion is hurting Africa’s prosperity hopes. Currently, 40% of the continent’s population remains unbanked, while around 90% of financial transactions are cash-based. Advancing digital financial services and identity infrastructure can help transform financial inclusion and governance; and strengthen resilience for the 1.4 billion citizens. The clamor for financial inclusion in Africa began in the…

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Towards Africa Climate Week: Expectations and Key Issues

The anticipation is palpable. The hope is credible. Growing up in the harsh, remote regions of Southern Somalia, Noor Mohammed is used to frequent bouts of droughts. She vividly remembers the time she buried her 5-year-old daughter along the way as she traveled to access relief food near the battered capital Mogadishu. To her, the…

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Explainer: What you need to know about the Africa Climate Week

After months of anticipation and careful planning, the D-Day has finally arrived. Beginning Monday, September 4th, 2023, leaders from governments, businesses, multilateral partners, international organizations, and civil society will come together to explore ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while upscaling the continent’s efforts to deal with the mounting impacts of the climate crisis. Africa…

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Press Release: Scaling debt-for-climate swaps to finance Climate Action

Nairobi, Kenya– At the event, top African experts call for more innovation, partnerships and government reforms to unlock billions in climate finance. With Africa requiring over $300 billion annually for climate adaptation, policymakers and government officials meeting at a high-level event on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, have called for the…

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Turning Debt into Climate Action: Africa’s Path to Sustainability

To address the impacts of climate change, government and business leaders meeting at a high-level event, cohosted by AfriCatalyst and Open Society Foundations (OSF), have unveiled a novel financial strategy that could become the continent’s go-to mechanism when seeking climate finance. Experts agree that African nations – already losing 9% of their GDPs to climate-related…

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