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July 20, 2020
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  • Africa Integrity insights
  • Central Africa
  • East Africa
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What Next for Africa?

Notes from the Managing Director’s Desk

As for the rest of the world, 2020 has been a torrid year for Africa.  Africa Integrity has closely tracked the impact of Covid-19 in different parts of the continent and we have been deeply saddened by the pain and losses it has caused.  We have also been impressed by the responses of many cash-strapped governments, who have dug deep to lessen the public health, social and economic damage wrought by the virus.  As we have observed in previous newsletters, the response has been heavy-handed in some cases and the crisis may have afforded cover to certain regimes for actions designed to narrow the democratic space.  But, on the whole, Africa’s leaders have reacted sensibly, swiftly and effectively to the threat, in trying circumstances.

Recently, the success of measures imposed early on has been reflected in an easing of restrictions in many economies.  Put simply, Africa is getting back to work.  Key sectors, such as mining, are beginning to thrive once again.  And, as my colleague Michael Kearsey writes below, Africa’s ever vibrant political scene has continued to surprise, both on the upside and the downside, proving that the virus has not quelled the peoples’ spirits.  So, there is a quiet confidence emerging that Africa is entering a new phase, of economic, social and political recovery.

For our clients, the new phase represents opportunities and risks in equal measure.  We believe that, globally, the pandemic-induced pause has changed forever the way consumers think about the corporate world.  Now, more than ever, corporate behaviour will come under close scrutiny.  Recent events in the UK have illustrated a renewed interest in the integrity of companies’ supply chains, across sectors.  In Africa, it will be particularly important to ensure that resource inputs do not carry with them the risk of political exposure, use of child-labour, or infiltration of conflict minerals, to mention but a few concerns.

Against this backdrop, Africa Integrity is delighted to announce a focused strategic co-operation with Kleos Advisory (https://kleosadvisory.uk/), led by the highly distinguished Dr Tedd George, a polyglot Africanist and author of the seminal work “The Cuban Intervention in Angola, 1965-1991”.  With over a decade of experience in the continent’s banking system, Tedd has built a specialism in value-chains in Africa, with particular focus on fintech and agritech.

In the coming weeks, we shall be unveiling a joint Africa Integrity/Kleos Advisory Value-Chain Integrity Monitoring Service for Africa-focussed clients.  We believe it will provide significant added value for clients, by enhancing their Environment, Social and Governance agendas in the new, and very different, world that we are about to enter.

Watch this space…

Julian Fisher

This article originally featured in Africa Integrity’s July 2020 Newsletter. To join our newsletter mailing list, please contact us.

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AFRICA INTEGRITY INSIGHTS

Twitter

Major military operations planned in northern and south-eastern Burkina Faso, as the government orders the evacuation of civilians. This will be an important test for the new administration, which has struggled to reduce insecurity since taking power through a coup in January

Reuters Africa@ReutersAfrica

Burkina Faso tells civilians to evacuate vast zones ahead of military operations https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/burkina-faso-tells-civilians-evacuate-vast-zones-ahead-military-operations-2022-06-21/

Tunisia is braced for the first confrontation between President Kaïs Saïed and the country’s most powerful trade union, following its call for a general strike. This will add to growing tensions in the country, which may cause unrest ahead of the constitutional referendum in July

RFI Afrique@RFIAfrique

Tunisie: le syndicat UGTT a appelé à une grève générale dans le secteur public https://rfi.my/8VNX.t

The UNHCR warns that the food security crisis amplified by the #UkraineWar will lead to record levels of global displacement. In our recent Foresight paper, we examined the exposure of African countries to this crisis https://africa-integrity.com/africa-integrity-foresight-russia-ukraine-food-insecurity-feeds-instability #Africa #FoodSecurity

Reuters Africa@ReutersAfrica

A food security crisis stoked by the Ukraine war is set to push more people to flee their homes in poorer countries, driving record levels of global displacement even higher, the head of the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said. https://www.reuters.com/world/food-crisis-will-drive-record-displacement-levels-higher-un-refugee-chief-2022-06-16/

In March and May we produced Foresight papers on the impact of the #UkraineWar on Africa. We examined Russia-related reputational risk and the effect of the conflict on food insecurity and social stability. To receive these papers, please contact us https://africa-integrity.com/

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