UNCTAD

The escalating concentration of global extreme poverty is particularly pronounced in Africa, where the continent presently accounts for 55% of the total worldwide poverty. Reports indicate that these numbers are expected to rise due to the enduring impacts of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the conflict in Ukraine. As we hit the six-year mark before the designated milestone for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is apparent that African nations are still notably behind in making substantial strides toward the specific targets outlined in the SDG Agenda. Expanding upon the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which concluded in 2015, the SDGs underscore the commitment to addressing a broad spectrum of global challenges. The SDG Agenda tackles 17 pivotal development challenges, spanning areas such as poverty, health, gender equality, crucial aspects of economic growth, urgent global warming issues, social justice, and the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies. Globally, there is a recognition that countries bear the primary responsibility for addressing systemic issues leading to revenue loss, and global cooperation is essential to supporting national efforts in achieving the SDGs. Within the African context, there have been calls to African leaders to address structural barriers impeding domestic resource mobilization as a key to the successful implementation of development projects aimed at enhancing the lives of African citizens. This is viewed as a sustainable solution to confront the severe and multidimensional nature of poverty in African nations, requiring concerted efforts from leaders to reshape policies that currently facilitate capital outflows.

Febuary 13, 2024

As you might be aware, and as per our discussions during the 8th World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi, UNCTAD and the Academy of International Business (AIB) now accept policy-oriented papers on international investment in development from PhD students and early-career researchers with no more than 5 years of experience.

This remarkable book on business and human rights norms in Africa, is written in three parts. Part one, examines the key contexts and principles which underpin the nature and scope of business and human rights in Africa, and the relevant corporate governance theories and regulations. Part two, proposes human rights-based approach (es) to business and human rights in Africa and examines the human rights corporate duty to respect, the integration of such a rights-based approach in development and the question of access for effective remedies. Finally, part three, examines the implementation of the protect, respect, and remedy framework in Africa’s energy and extractive sectors, with particular focus given to three focal jurisdictions in Africa: Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.

On the 22nd day of May 2021, AfronomicsLaw Academic Forum held a Guest Lecture titled 'Trade Facilitation: The Key to a Borderless Africa'. The esteemed speakers were Dr Tsotang Tsietsi and Mr Craig Merito, who addressed the role of trade facilitation as a mechanism to enhance intra-African trade. Dr Tsietsi, the first speaker, is a Senior Lecturer at the National University of Lesotho. She holds an LLM from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Cape Town. Mr. Craig Merito is an international trade expert and consultant with over 25 years of experience. This piece will reflect on the issues raised by Dr Tsietsi before proceeding to those encompassed by Mr. Merito.

November 11, 2021

Project Seeks Legal Consultant to Assist with Feasibility Study of DOVE Fund

Background

The News and Events published every week include conferences, major developments in the field of International Economic Law in Africa at the national, sub-regional and regional levels as well as relevant case law.

In order to decide whether to include IF in the AfCFTA and how, African policymakers should be aware of all these different approaches and dynamics around Investment Facilitation to be able to set their own priorities in this relatively “new” area in international investment law, crafting an innovative and holistic approach for their future investment protocol. To date, international and regional approaches in IF are still in the making – making it easier for policymakers to identify what works best for Africa. In the process, policymakers can also leverage their own cutting-edge reform efforts on investment protection and regulation, and set a regional standard as a rule-maker – which could, in turn, influence ongoing or other future global processes on this topic.

The WAEMU competition policy is, from the point of view of material and procedural law, in conformity with international standards, with certain specificities relating to the control of concentrations, the establishment of a special category of anti-competitive practices attributable to States and, above all, a centralized institutional approach with almost exclusive competence of the Community bodies. Then, eighteen (18) years (2003-2021) after the adoption of the implementing texts, WAEMU competition policy has therefore contributed to the consolidation of the Customs Union, the free movement of goods and liberalization in several sectors of activity (telecommunications, communication, energy, etc.). Moreover, it has become an essential tool for promoting regional economic integration in the Union.

This webinar will consider reforms of the international investment policy regime in Africa. The webinar follows up our recently concluded symposium on Investor-State Dispute Settlement designed to centre voices from the Global South in the veritable tradition of Afronomicslaw.org

While international trade has undergone significant structural changes recently, particularly with the proliferation of new generation of free trade agreements (FTAs), the debate on the consequences of IIAs for sustainable development continues to widen and intensify. In effect, while there has been fundamental changes in the international investment landscape in terms of players (now comprising state-owned enterprises and sovereign wealth funds) and FDI direction (with emerging economies now being, not only recipients, but increasingly home states), governments are also now adopting industrial policies and development strategies that contrast with their erstwhile hands-off approach to economic development.