The economic, social and political governance challenges for sub-Saharan Africa remain immense. In 2018 40% of the population were living below the US$1.90-a-day poverty line, a situation which will have only become worse due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the area is expecting to experience a youth bulge, in the face of growing economic uncertainties.
Despite progress in some health and education indicators, Africa needs more inclusive growth, jobs for its fast-growing population, and better social services and infrastructure. The essential questions now are; how is development in sub-Saharan Africa shaped in the global context, what are the barriers to economic transformation and what are the pathways to better delivery of quality social services and infrastructure?
From May 2022, the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, in conjunction with the Oxford Martin Programme on African Governance will host a series of online and hybrid events bringing together senior academics, experts and practitioners to discuss corruption, development, capital flight, regulation and more.
Confirmed speakers in the series African Governance: economic, social and political governance challenges include:
Professor Léonce Ndikumana, Director, African Development Policy Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Melinda Bohannon, Strategy Director, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
David Pilling, Africa Editor, Financial Times
Professor James K. Boyce, Emeritus Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Senior Fellow at its Political Economy Research Institute
Nicholas Shaxson, writer, journalist and investigator
Professor Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy, Blavatnik School of Government & Department of Economics
Professor Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, Director, Oxford Martin Programme on African Governance
The first two events in this series will be available both online and in-person at the Oxford Martin School. Some of the speakers will be linking virtually from other parts of the world and will not be present in-person. Anyone is welcome to attend the events in-person however seating is limited and (free) registration is required.