Capacity Building in Africa: 31 Years of Sustainable Development Action
Over 30 years of progress in research capacity building in Africa have brought about significant achievements in training African researchers, supporting thematic research projects, and fostering impactful policy-making. With over 3,500 researchers trained, 4,200 economists graduated, and numerous research projects guided, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) has played a pivotal role in shaping the continent's economic landscape. Through collaborative research driven by policy demand, AERC has contributed to addressing key issues such as healthcare financing, trade, regional integration, agriculture, climate change, and more. The foundation laid by AERC is crucial for Africa's development trajectory, emphasizing evidence-based policy making and research-driven solutions.
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Presentation Transcript
From Research to Sustainable From Research to Sustainable Development Action: How Far we Development Action: How Far we have Come? have Come? 2019 GDN Conference, October 23, Bonn Knowledge for Sustainable Development: the Research Policy-Policy Nexus Njuguna Ndung u African Economic Research Consortium, AERC
Capacity Building through Capacity Building through Research: Research: Africa s Story = AERC s Story Africa s Story = AERC s Story Over 30 years Over 30 years 2019 1988 Macro stability High inflation Institutional strength (Ministries of Finance, Central Banks) Macro-instability Brain drain Capacity in public institutions and think tanks Weak institutions Weak graduate training in economics and poor academic infrastructure A period of policy clarity National Visions and clear strategic directions Capacity constraint and poor policy response Digital revolution/evolution
Our Approachto Capacity Building in Africa for Evidence Based Policy Making
Expanding Research Themes over time -Policy Demand Thematic Research Areas Thematic Research Areas The Entry Point for Young Researchers for capacity building The Entry Point for Young Researchers for capacity building 1. Poverty, Labour Markets, and Income Distribution 2. Macroeconomic Policy and Growth 3. Finance and Resource Mobilization 4. Production, Trade and Economic Integration 5. Agriculture, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research driven by policy demand: Recent Collaborative Research driven by policy demand: Recent Healthcare Financing in Africa Healthcare Financing in Africa Rethinking Trade and Regional Integration Rethinking Trade and Regional Integration Impact of Agricultural and Food Policies on Nutrition Outcomes in Africa Impact of Agricultural and Food Policies on Nutrition Outcomes in Africa Rethinking Relationships Between Growth, Poverty, Inequality and Redistribution in Africa Rethinking Relationships Between Growth, Poverty, Inequality and Redistribution in Africa
AchievementsTo Date What can we celebrate after 31 years of capacity building in Sub Saharan Africa? Over 3,500 African economic researchers trained (building capacity) Over 4,200 economists have graduated through AERC graduate training programs, 400 of those at PhD level. 4,000 researchers from 41 countries financially supported through research grants and biannual participation research activities (impact) Guided over 1,000 thematic research projects involving over 4,000 researchers globally (global influence) Most of these AERC outputs are in African institutions as policy makers, policy analysts, thought leaders and leaders of government in Ministries/Agencies/Think Tanks Creating the foundation for Africa Rising Fostering globally impactful research on the continent
Participating Researchers 40 per year in 1988 120 per year in 2018 From 7 countries to 41
But More Remains to be Done Declining economic performance, rising poverty, youth unemployment and deteriorating institutions. Strengthening institutions and leadership in those institutions Diversify economies to maximize growth and welfare Critical mass to provide leadership at policy making levels and policy leadership Expanding access to more diverse populations language and gender - Fragile and post-conflict countries being left behind Ever increasing economic policy and institutional challenges Require new knowledge and new tools Big data, AI and Digital evolution Replicate the successes of digital financial services innovation across Africa economies Financial inclusion can be an instrument of fighting poverty sustainably.
