Watch the full International Forum on Africa 2021: "Investing for a sustainable recovery in Africa", which took place on Monday, 22nd of February 2021.
Visit the website for more information: http://www.oecd.org/development/afric...​

The global economic recession triggered by COVID-19 is hitting African countries hard. In 2020, 41 African economies experienced a decline in their gross domestic product (GDP). Now is the time for bold, ambitious and coordinated action.

Although situations vary across the continent, this crisis has made undeniably clear that post-COVID strategies need to tackle two major obstacles to Africa’s long-term sustainable growth: dependence on external markets, and the incapacity of the formal economic sectors to create enough quality jobs.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), now open for business, provides a platform to do just that. More specifically, to accelerate productive transformation, create regional value chains and spur continental integration. Its effective implementation, however, depends on African economies’ capacity to create fiscal space and boost private investment in quality infrastructure and sustainable projects.

What are the key priorities for implementing the AfCFTA and accelerating Africa’s productive transformation? How can African governments strengthen their borrowing capacity and improve their debt management? How can bilateral and multilateral co-operation facilitate the process? The 2021 edition of the Forum gathered key actors to share their views and solutions for action.