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112. Mining for change How can natural resources support inclusive growth in Africa
- Author:
- John Page and Finn Tarp
- Publication Date:
- 11-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United Nations University
- Abstract:
- For a growing number of countries in Africa the discovery of natural resources is a great opportunity, but one accompanied by considerable risks. There is an extensive literature linking natural resource dependence to poor economic performance. One cause is that resource-abundant economies tend to have economic and export structures that are highly concentrated on only few export products. Most of Africa’s resource-rich economies experienced increases in export concentration during the first decade of the twenty-first century.
- Topic:
- Industrial Policy, Natural Resources, Economic Growth, Mining, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Africa
113. Peacebuilding during a Pandemic: Keeping the Focus on Women’s Inclusion
- Author:
- Masooma Rahmaty and Jasmine Jaghab
- Publication Date:
- 09-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- International Peace Institute (IPI)
- Abstract:
- This year was expected to be an opportunity to assess the past twenty years of progress on the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda. Instead, it has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has dominated the international community’s attention and put recent gains for WPS at risk. One of the areas most at risk is the participation of women in peacebuilding efforts and peace processes, which is already a part of the WPS agenda where progress has been limited. This paper looks into what actions states and international actors can take to ensure women’s participation in peacebuilding and peace processes during the pandemic. It draws on two virtual meetings—one at the ministerial level and one at the ambassadorial level—convened in partnership with the government of Sweden. Based on these meetings, the paper identifies five key factors that could help the UN and its member states keep the focus on women peacebuilders during the pandemic: State leadership on WPS in multilateral fora: In the face of the pandemic, it is critical for UN member states to defend recent gains made in implementing the WPS agenda in multilateral fora, especially the Security Council. Women’s participation in formal peace processes: While the pandemic has made it even more difficult for many women to participate in formal peace processes, the normalization of virtual convenings could be an opportunity to bring more women to the table. Protection and security of women peacebuilders: The UN and its member states have a role to play in providing women peacebuilders both physical protection and international legitimacy and recognition. Financing for women peacebuilders: The pandemic has made funding even more of a challenge for women peacebuilders. Donors should recognize the important role of women’s organizations in the pandemic response and recovery when deciding how to allocate funding. Data-driven responses: There is a need for a coordinated, risk-sensitive approach to data collection to ensure that the COVID-19 response reflects an understanding of how the pandemic affects women.
- Topic:
- Security, Women, Peace, COVID-19, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
114. Financial Inclusion in Eswatini: What is Driving the Adoption of Mobile Money?
- Author:
- T. Magongo
- Publication Date:
- 08-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC)
- Abstract:
- Mobile money has gained increasing importance and prominence in many sub-Saharan African countries and as a result, it is seen as a possible key to fast-tracking financial inclusion in developing countries including Eswatini. Although financial inclusion rates have improved considerably in Eswatini, the adoption of mobile money is still relatively low in the country compared to other countries in subSaharan Africa, yet a majority of the population knows about the technology. This study investigates the driving factors of mobile money adoption in Eswatini using a logit and probit analysis based on the 2014 FinScope Financial Access and Consumer Survey. Findings reveal that the likelihood of using mobile money increases with increasing levels of financial literacy, education, sending and receiving remittances using mobile money, usage of informal financial products, living in an urban area, and adjusting income during times of shock. Results suggest opportunities for financial inclusiveness such as designing and implementation of financial literacy education and money management programs, purposely targeting the underserved population (rural), as well as informal financial product usage formalization.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, Finance, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Eswatini
115. The Great Convergence: Toward a Global Strategy for Financial Inclusion
- Author:
- Timothy Ogden
- Publication Date:
- 08-2019
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Aspen Institute
- Abstract:
- Tim Ogden, Managing Director of NYU-Wagner’s Financial Access Initiative and Aspen FSP Senior Fellow, contextualizes financial inclusion – once thought of as a solution only for the developing world – as one highly relevant in the US context. In July, Ogden shared an abbreviated version of his remarks at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor’s (CGAP) private meeting on updating financial inclusion’s collective narrative to include evolving thinking and impact. You can learn more about CGAP’s work here. This piece dives deeper into Ogden’s observations about the shared challenges and areas of growth within the landscape of global inclusion. It also proposes the need for a global financial inclusion strategy. Read Ogden’s piece, The Great Convergence to learn how financial inclusion efforts around the world are growing more relevant to the structural policies developed in the US, and vice versa.
- Topic:
- Globalization, Finance, Socioeconomics, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- North America and United States of America
116. Inclusive Growth and Structural Reforms in APEC Member Economies
- Author:
- Moonsung Kang and Geunhyo Kim
- Publication Date:
- 12-2019
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
- Abstract:
- This paper empirically analyses the simultaneous impacts of structural re-forms - trade liberalization, capital account liberalization, and financial liberal-ization - on inclusive growth using panel data for 17 APEC member econ-omies covering years from 1970 to 2016. The results show that capital ac-count liberalization and growth of market capitalization are positively associ-ated with inclusive growth of APEC member economies, especially non-high-income member economies. Trade liberalization has a negative impact on inclusive growth only of the whole income group. We further find the robust evidence that the expansion of domestic credits provided by financial sectors had a negative impact on inclusive growth. These results give implica-tions that governments of APEC member economies need to design trade policies in a way of expanding outcomes of trade liberalization in a more inclusive way and of increasing extensive margins of export sectors. In addi-tion, they need to design policies to increase access to the financial sector for the poor and socially marginalized people.
- Topic:
- Reform, Economies, Economic structure, Economic Growth, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
117. Financial Inclusion and its Impact on Employment Creation in Botswana
- Author:
- Koketso Molefhi
- Publication Date:
- 03-2019
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
- Abstract:
- The study examines the impact of financial inclusion on employment creation in Botswana using quarterly time series data for the period 2004-2016. Using Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, we find that availability of bank branches, ownership of bank account and borrowing from the commercial bank have a positive impact on employment creation in the short run. Similarly, in the long run, availability of bank branches, ownership of bank account has a positive relationship with employment creation in the long run. Depositors with commercial banks has a negative bearing on employment creation, both in the short run and in the long run. Therefore, policies should be aimed at ensuring easy access into the financial sector by way of reducing costs associated with account opening as well as creating affordable deposit and borrowing windows to the financially excluded groups.
- Topic:
- Employment, Finance, Financial Institutions, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Botswana
118. PATHWAYS FOR PEACE: INCLUSIVE APPROACHES TO PREVENTING VIOLENT CONFLICT
- Author:
- United Nations-World Bank
- Publication Date:
- 02-2019
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- Political Violence @ A Glance
- Abstract:
- In 2018, the United Nations and the World Bank Group launched a joint report, Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict. The report, a synthesis of existing evidence and theories, highlighted how development policies and programs can play a stronger role in preventing violent conflict globally. The report was prepared in response to the dramatic increase in global violent conflict since 2010. The academic and policy community provided significant input, with academics, think thanks, and development practitioners from around the world contributing more than 60 policy papers. The report finds that economic, social, political, and cultural inclusion today is a key dimension of violent conflict, and that inclusion is less about the level of welfare and poverty than about how different groups see themselves fairing in comparison with others. Today, grievances around unfair treatment are the source of most violent conflicts, as opposed to greed. Conflict moves fast across community, sub-regional, national, and regional levels and has a strong territorial dimension with cross-border and marginal regions being particularly unstable. The drivers of conflict are increasingly global, with a strong geopolitical dimension.
- Topic:
- Conflict Prevention, Conflict, Violence, Peace, and Inclusion
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
119. Stabanisation: A discussion paper about disrupting backlash by reclaiming LGBTI voices in the African church landscape
- Author:
- Hanzline Davids, Abongile Matyila, Charlene van der Walt, and Sindi Sithole
- Publication Date:
- 06-2019
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Other Foundation
- Abstract:
- The title of the convening that gave rise to this collaborative reflection Breaking though the Backlash: Transformative encounters between LGBTI people and Churches in Africa, implies a level of visible and tangible progress in pursuing justice for LGBTI people within the African faith landscape and a coordinated push-back against progressive gains and constructive progress. Consequently this contribution starts by critically engaging the African contextual faith landscape and reflecting on examples of both progress and emerging backlash when it comes to the full inclusion of LGBTI people within African faith communities. Following from this, we explore the contours of a possible theology of liberation for LGBTI people in the African context. We agree with Makau Matua who argues that to engage with backlash we require “…thoughtful analysis, courageous advocacy and fundamental reform.”
- Topic:
- Religion, Christianity, LGBT+, Advocacy, Inclusion, and Activism
- Political Geography:
- Africa
120. The SDG 16 and PVE Agendas: Different Currencies or Two Sides of the Same Coin?
- Author:
- Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini and Eric Rosand
- Publication Date:
- 09-2019
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
- Abstract:
- With preventing violent extremism (PVE) and promoting inclusion, access to justice, and good governance (SDG 16) on the agenda of the opening of the 74th UNGA, this policy brief highlights key challenges impeding progress on the global PVE and SDG 16 agendas, underscoring how they are two sides of the same coin. The brief highlights practical ways policy and programming conversations around these two agendas at the global and national levels can strengthen and further empower, rather than, as is sometimes the case, impede progress on locally-led action to achieve these inter-related objectives.
- Topic:
- United Nations, Governance, Justice, Inclusion, and Countering Violent Extremism
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus