Socio-Economic Development

The News and Events category publishes the latest News and Events relating to International Economic Law relating to Africa and the Global South. Every week, Afronomicslaw.org receive the News and Events in their e-mail accounts. 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. News and Events with a Global South focus are also often included.

With African non-central governments (NCGs) (i.e., sub-states, regions, cities, municipalities, local governments, etc.) increasingly vulnerable to climate induced impacts, there is a pressing need for local adaptation and mitigation financing that aligns with both environmental and socio-economic priorities. This need has precipitated a shift towards climate finance instruments to meet the funding deficit for local adaptation and mitigation projects at the local level. A case in point is the Tanga UWASA bond, East Africa’s first subnational water infrastructure green bond. Touted as an important step towards local revenue mobilization for green projects from the domestic debt market, this instrument raises critical questions about debt responsibility, the prioritization of bankable projects over community needs, and the risk of financialization of essential public utilities.This study explores whether the Tanga UWASA Green Bond represents true domestic capital mobilization or entrenchment of foreign financial dependence, given its recent listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE).

This report explores whether the Tanga UWASA Green Bond represents true domestic capital mobilisation or entrenchment of foreign financial dependence, given its recent listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE). Additionally, the report addresses the hidden transaction costs, the crowding-out effect on private capital, and the potential for socio-economic displacement tied to investor-driven return imperatives. By evaluating the bond’s structure against international green bond standards and Tanzania’s Five-Year Development Plan, this report critiques the potential of green finance to balance debt sustainability with meaningful environmental and social outcomes.

The conference comes as a result of several months of reflections on various aspects of the AfCFTA. As part of the “PROGRESS” research project of the AIRESS, the conference aims at assessing the first five years of implementation of the AfCFTA. It will discuss different issues ranging from legal and conceptual design to more specific issues related to implementation.

The fuel subsidy removal, while potentially necessary for long-term fiscal sustainability, has undeniably exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis for many Nigerians. The government's communication regarding the benefits of the reform has not resonated with a population grappling with immediate economic hardship. To regain public trust, the government must demonstrate tangible progress in utilizing the freed-up funds for social development and implement more effective and transparent social safety nets. Moving forward, the government must prioritize a more phased approach to economic reforms, coupled with robust measures to mitigate their immediate impact on the most vulnerable segments of society.

CITD is proud to announce its first annual signature conference, Rethinking World Trade 2023 on the margins of the World Bank/IMF meetings.

Welcome to the inaugural Sovereign Debt Academy convened by the African Sovereign Debt Justice Network (AfSDJN). AfSDJN is a coalition of citizens, scholars, civil society actors and church groups committed to exposing the adverse impact of unsustainable levels of African sovereign debt on the lives of ordinary citizens.

The Afronomcislaw.org Academic Forum Guest Lecture Series.

January 21, 2021

Afronomicslaw.org invites you to the official launch of the African Sovereign Debt Justice Network

Register to attend by clicking on this link: Zoom Registration

Date: January 26th, 2021

The role of the international community in achieving adequate access to energy and reducing energy poverty, particularly at the regional level, is the central theme of Dr Victoria R Nalule’s book under this review.