Figures of the week: Trends in sub-Saharan African debt and equity flows (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/12/22/figures-of-the-week-trends-in-sub-saharan-african-debt-and-equity-flows/

Figures of the week: Nigeria’s 2017 budget (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/12/15/figures-of-the-week-nigerias-2017-budget/

Figures of the week: Trade Week Africa and the Continental Free Trade Area (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/11/30/figures-of-the-week-trade-week-africa-and-the-continental-free-trade-area/

Figures of the week: COP22 and climate action in sub-Saharan Africa (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/11/16/figures-of-the-week-cop22-and-climate-action-in-sub-saharan-africa/

Figures of the week: Kenya’s growth trends and prospects in Africa’s Lions (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/11/02/figures-of-the-week-kenyas-growth-trends-and-prospects-in-africas-lions/

AGI Markets Monitor: Rising commodity prices, Mozambique’s debt crisis, and Nigeria’s parallel exchange market (Amadou Sy, Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/10/27/agi-markets-monitor-rising-commodity-prices-mozambiques-debt-crisis-and-nigerias-parallel-exchange-market/

Figure of the week: African Green Revolution Forum highlights linkages between agricultural growth and poverty reduction (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/09/08/figure-of-the-week-african-green-revolution-forum-highlights-linkages-between-agricultural-growth-and-poverty-reduction/

Figure of the week: Despite regional FDI gains, Kenya grapples with its East African partners over trade (Amy Copley, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/2016/08/04/figure-of-the-week-despite-regional-fdi-gains-kenya-grapples-with-its-east-african-partners-over-trade/

AGI Markets Monitor: Brexit’s impact on Africa, Nigeria’s new exchange rate regime, and South Africa’s credit reviews (Amadou Sy, Amy Copley, Brookings)

The Africa Growth Initiative Markets Monitor aims to provide up-to-date financial market and foreign exchange analysis for Africa watchers with a wide range of economic, business, and financial interests in the continent. Following the May 2016 update, theJuly 2016 update continues tracking the diverse performances of African financial and foreign exchange markets through June 30, 2016.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/07/21-africa-markets-monitor-brexit-exchange-rate-regime-sy-copley

Figure of the Week: AU grows closer as EU negotiates Brexit (Amy Copley, Brookings)

While the recent United Kingdom vote in favor of Brexit has prompted new debates on the sustainability of the European Union and created the potential foreconomic disruption in Africa, African Union (AU) leaders meet this week to discuss Africa’s progress toward greater continental integration. In the Brookings Africa Growth Initiative’s Foresight Africa 2016 report, we highlighted some of the key differences between the two unions. While the European Union far surpasses its African counterpart in terms of financial resources, with the AU’s budget amounting to less than 1 percent of the EU’s, what the AU lacks in funds it makes up for in demographic resources, with a population of 1,050 million people—more than double that of the EU. Africa also stands to benefit from a young and dynamic workforce, with youth (15-24 years of age) comprising nearly one-fifth of the region’s total population.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/07/14-african-union-brexit-copley

Africa in the news: Nigeria meets bond investors, Angolan president appoints daughter state oil firm’s chair, and ECOWAS summit focuses on regional priorities (Amy Copley, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/06/10-nigeria-bond-angola-oil-ecowas-security-copley

Africa in the news: Nigeria establishes flexible exchange rate, Kenya reaffirms plan to close Dabaab refugee camp, and AfDB meetings focus on energy needs (Amy Copley, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/05/27-nigeria-exchange-rate-dabaab-african-development-bank-copley

External risks to Africa’s growth: Falling commodity prices, China’s economic slowdown, and rising external debt (Amy Copley, Brookings)

As Africa continues to face a number of challenges due the “triple threat” of falling commodity prices, China’s economic slowdown, and the rising cost of external debt, these external shocks also provide opportunities in 2016 for implementing innovative, robust policies to accelerate and sustain future growth. In the inaugural Doing Business in Africa: A Risks, Trends, and Opportunities Roundtable, participants from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector explored what these external shocks mean for doing business on the continent and how related policy measures can support new and existing economic opportunities. Since external factors—including GDP growth in G-7 countries and China, oil and non-oil commodity prices, and borrowing costs in international capital markets—account for nearly half of GDP growth fluctuations in sub-Saharan Africa, understanding exactly how these factors influence the economic activities in African countries and what can be done to weather and emerge stronger from these shocks is important to fostering successful businesses and investments in the region. During the roundtable, participants engaged one another on solutions for these challenges, sharing their unique perspectives and opening the discussion to related, medium-terms risks as well

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/05/27-external-risks-to-african-growth-copley

Africa Growth Initiative Markets Monitor: May 2016 update (Amadou Sy, Amy Copley, Brookings)

The onset of low oil and other commodity prices in 2014 (see Figure 1), compounded with China’s slowdown, more restrictive global financing conditions, and domestic structural challenges, have elicited mixed reactions from the financial and foreign exchange markets of Africa’s major economies. To better understand these market trends—their underlying determinants as well as their implications for the continent—the Africa Growth Initiative has launched a new blog series called the Africa Growth Initiative Markets Monitor, which will provide regular updates and analysis on the latest developments in African stock and bond markets, credit ratings, and currencies.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/05/09-africa-growth-initiative-markets-monitor-sy-copley

WATCH: South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on the country’s challenges, potential, and resilience (Amy Copley, Brookings)

At a time of decelerating regional growth in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa—one of the continent’s leading economies—is facing the brunt of concurrent external and domestic growth shocks. During a Brookings event on April 14, 2016 moderated by Africa Growth Initiative Director Amadou Sy, South African minister of finance, the Honorable Pravin Gordhan, provided cause for encouragement, as he highlighted strategies that South Africa is implementing to reverse slowing growth trends, boost social cohesion, and springboard inclusive, sustainable development.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/05/05-south-african-finance-minister-pravin-gordhan-copley

Africa in the news: Kenya and Uganda discuss oil pipeline route, Nigeria’s Central Bank raises interest rate, and South Africa’s Zuma faces Gupta probe (Amy Copley, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/03/25-kenya-uganda-oil-nigeria-central-bank-zuma-copley