Africa Development

This volume weaves through an analysis of Intellectual Property Rights as integrated with sustainable development. The contribution of IP in the achievement of sustainable development goals is brought out through nineteen chapters. This review is not a chapter-by-chapter exploration. However, it starts with a general outlook of the work presented in this book as summarized in the first chapter, highlighting key points of significance. The review follows up with a few other positive pointers to be appreciated in the general context of the work, before picking out on underlying gaps that generally stand out in all the chapters.

Through case and thematic analyses drawn from specific African countries and regional organizations, the book explores the intersection of IP with crucial sectors that are key to advancing sustainable development in Africa. In particular, the book situates the IP and sustainable development conversation within the context of agriculture and food security, access to medicines and public health, gender empowerment, small business development, innovation and patent quality, financing, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization, data protection, traditional knowledge and artificial intelligence in Africa. In this connection, the book explores the interaction between IP rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are also articulated in the African Union’s development objectives (Agenda 2063).

The African Sovereign Debt Justice Network, (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. Convened by Afronomicslaw.org with the support of Open Society for Southern Africa, (OSISA), the AfSDJN's activities are tailored around addressing the threats that sovereign debt poses for economic development, social cohesion and human rights in Africa. It advocates for debt cancellation, rescheduling and restructuring as well as increasing the accountability and responsibility of lenders and African governments about how sovereign debt is procured, spent and repaid. Focusing in particular on Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal, the AfSDJN will also amplify African voices and decolonize narratives on African sovereign debt . Its activities include producing research outputs to enhance the network’s advocacy interventions. It also seeks to create awareness on and elevate the priority given to sovereign debt and other economic justice issues on the African continent and beyond throughout 2021.