This book is organised as follows: the first chapter examines the pattern of structural transformation in Middle East and North Africa, or MENA and summarises the role of various factors examined thoroughly in the rest of the volume. The second chapter examines the correlates of this overall disappointing performance. At the macro level, MENA countries have been unable to maintain depreciated (undervalued) real exchange rates for long periods, yet such undervaluation has proved important to offset the market failures and poor institutional environment that severely hit the dynamic non-resource-intensive traded sectors.
The document presents a series of climate change-related projects that the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) has supported from all around the world. It also contains a series of tools for green investors, including:
This paper presents comparative data on innovation in selected climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies in the context of Africa. Such analysis informs policy aimed at encouraging international technology transfer and development of domestic innovation capacities. The authors present detailed analysis of the role of Africa in development of these technologies (invention), and then move on to examine Africa as a technology market (as reflected in patenting). In addition, the authors briefly touch upon the question of cross-border technology development (co-invention) in Africa. Despite Africa’s generally low volume of inventive activity in these fields in comparison with other countries, inventive activity is disproportionately directed towards mitigation and adaptation technologies. In addition, the rate of international co-invention for most mitigation and adaptation technologies is much higher in Africa than in the rest of the world. And finally, rates of protection of climate technologies at African intellectual property offices are high relative to other technologies.
The focus of this chapter is to determine the manner in which Aid for Trade projects and programmes can assist countries in southern and eastern Africa to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change in moving to a green economy by focusing on green growth and sustainable development. First, a brief overview of Africa’s climate change vulnerabilities on the regional and sectoral level is provided to establish the urgent necessity for a transition to a green economy. Due to their critical importance for economic growth, development and trade in Africa, the sectors focused on are agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and tourism. Second, the chapter focuses on the important contribution of a green economy in generating economic and environmental benefits for African economies. Third, the concept and categories of Aid for Trade are outlined, and the flow of Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements to African countries is analysed.
This paper explores the high dependency of a number of countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on mineral resources, and the relative lack of expected social benefits from the extractive industries sector in these countries. The brief finds opportunities for greener and inclusive growth by linking extractive industries to other development goals beyond economic returns, as well as by integrating environmental concerns more broadly into economic development plans.