Category Archives: PAPERS and REPORTS
Africa IMF Reports : Central African Republic 2011
IMF Reports for Central African Republic 2011
Press Release: Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission to the Central African Republic
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11278.htm
Press Release: Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission to the Central African Republic
http://www.imf.org/external/
All information collated from imf.org
Suggested Books
An overview of Central African Republic’s geography and history, along with an exploration of the political, economic, and cultural landscape of this landlocked country in central Africa.
The Central African Republic is one of the least-known African countries. This volume is the first to give a cultural overview of the key elements of this former French colony.
Africa IMF Reports : Burundi 2011
IMF reports for Burundi 2011
Burundi Country Report No. 11/53: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-Progress Report
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24659.0
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Completes Fifth Review Under ECF Arrangement with Burundi, Extends Arrangement, and Approves US$10.4 Million Disbursement
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr1181.htm
Burundi Country’s Policy Intentions Documents: Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding, February 28, 2011
http://www.imf.org/External/NP/LOI/2011/BDI/022811.pdf
Burundi Country Report No. 11/104: Fifth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility and Request for Extension of the Arrangement – Staff Report; Staff Supplement;Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24848.0
Press Release: Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission to Burundi
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11218.htm
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Completes Sixth Review Under the ECF arrangement for Burundi and Approves US$10.5 Million Disbursement
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11280.htm
Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Discusses the Ex Post Assessment of Longer-Term Program Engagement with Burundi
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2011/pn1192.htm
Burundi Country’s Policy Intentions Documents: Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic and Financial; Policies, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding, June 27, 2011
http://www.imf.org/External/NP/LOI/2011/BDI/062711.pdf
Burundi Country Report No. 11/199: Sixth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility and Requests for Extension of the Arrangement and Augmentation of Access – Staff Report; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Burundi.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=25076.0
Press Release: Burundi Begins Participation in the IMF’s General Data Dissemination System
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11305.htm
Burundi Country Report No. 11/315: Request for Modification of Nonconcessional External Debt Limit Under the Extended Credit Facility
http://www.imf.org/external/
Press Release: IMF Concludes Staff Visit to Burundi
http://www.imf.org/external/
All information has been collated from imf.org.
Suggested Books
- The Political Economy of Burundi: A History of Conflict and Peace
- Life After Violence: A People’s Story of Burundi (African Arguments)
Africa IMF Reports : Burkina Faso 2011
IMF reports for Burkina Faso 2011
Press Release: Statement by an IMF Staff Mission to Burkina Faso
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11121.htm
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Completes Second Review Under ECF for Burkina Faso and Approves US$10.3 Million Disbursement
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11283.htm
Country’s Policy Intentions Documents — Burkina Faso: Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding, June 28, 2011
http://www.imf.org/External/NP/LOI/2011/BFA/062811.pdf
Country Report No. 11/226: Burkina Faso: Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria – Staff Report; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Burkina Faso
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=25115.0
Country Report No. 11/245: Burkina Faso: Joint Staff Advisory Note on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=25138.0
Working Paper No. 11/202: Burkina Faso – Policies to Protect the Poor from the Impact of Food and Energy Price Increases Author/Editor: Arze del Granado, Javier ; Adenauer, Isabell Summary: This paper assesses the effectiveness of policies taken by the Burkinabè authorities to protect the poor from the adverse impact of a combined food and oil price shock in 2008. Estimates of the impact based on household survey data and a price pass-through model suggest that these policies were not well-targeted, benefiting the wealthier groups of the population rather than the poor. More effective policy measures, such as a conditional cash transfer system, which is already being implemented on a pilot basis in urban areas, are discussed as an alternative policy option.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=25182.0
Press Release: Statement by an IMF Staff Mission to Burkina Faso
http://www.imf.org/external/
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Completes Third Review Under ECF Arrangement for Burkina Faso and Approves US$9.95 Million Disbursement
http://www.imf.org/external/
Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with Burkina Faso
http://www.imf.org/external/
All information collated from imf.org
Suggested Books
This research is an evaluation of how fair trade processes are taking place in Morocco, in comparison to interesting experiences in other countries such as Nicaragua and Burkina Faso.
This new edition of the only English-language guidebook to Burkina Faso leads visitors on camel safaris from desert markets to dramatic waterfalls and spectacular sandstone rock formations, past the extraordinary architecture of 16th-century Mossi, Lobi stone ruins, and Koro’s hillside caves.
Africa IMF Reports : Benin 2011
IMF reports for Benin 2011
Press Release: Concluding Statement by an IMF Mission to Benin
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr1116.htm
Press Release: IMF Executive Board Completes First Review Under ECF Arrangement with Benin and Approves US$16.5 Million Disbursement
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr1149.htm
Country’s Policy Intentions Documents — Benin: Letter of Intent, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding, January 31, 2011
http://www.imf.org/External/NP/LOI/2011/BEN/013111.pdf
Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Discusses the Ex Post Assessment of Longer Program Engagement with Benin
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2011/pn1127.htm
Country Report No. 11/55: Benin: Ex Post Assessment of Longer-Term Program Engagement-An Update
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24671.0
Country Report No. 11/60: Benin – First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility, Request for Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criterion, Request for Program Extension and Rephasing of Performance Criteria — Staff Report; Press Release; and Statement by the Executive Director for Benin
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24680.0
Press Release: Concluding Statement by an IMF Mission to Benin
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11287.htm
Country Report No. 11/312: Benin: Joint Staff Advisory Note on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
http://www.imf.org/external/
Suggested Book and DVD
Filmed by a former Peace Corps worker this 5 episode DVD gives a good introduction to life in Benin.
Africa IMF Reports : Algeria 2011
IMF Reports for Algeria 2011
The following IMF reports for Algeria have been collated from IMF.org.
Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2010 Article IV Consultation with Algeria
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2011/pn1110.htm
IMF Survey: Algeria Should Reduce Reliance on Oil, Create More Jobs, Says IMF Algeria’s economy, dominated by its oil and natural gas industry, must diversify its exports and create jobs to help tackle its problem of high youth employment, the IMF says.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2011/int012611a.htm
Country Report No. 11/39: Algeria: 2010 Article IV Consultation-Staff Report; Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Algeria
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24620.0
Country Report No. 11/40: Algeria: Statistical Appendix
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24621.0
Country Report No. 11/41: Algeria: Selected Issues Paper
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24622.0
IMF Survey: Mideast Unrest Shows Need to Consider Bigger Picture Unrest in the Middle East has highlighted the need to look beyond traditional measures when evaluating the economies of member countries, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told reporters.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2011/car040811b.htm
Working Paper No. 11/143: Will Natural Gas Prices Decouple from Oil Prices across the Pond? Author/Editor: De Bock, Reinout ; Gijon, Jose G Summary: We show that US natural gas prices have decoupled from oil prices following substantial institutional and technological changes. We then examine how this interrelationship has evolved in Europe using data for Algeria, one of Europe’s key gas suppliers. Taking into account total gas exports and cyclical conditions in partner countries, we find that gas prices remain linked to oil prices, though the nexus has loosened. Both high oil prices and a modest industrial recovery in partner countries have kept gas exports at low levels in recent years, suggesting changing market forces. The paper then shows how such shifts can have important macroeconomic implications for a big gas exporter such as Algeria.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=24980.0
Press Release: Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Article IV Mission to Algeria
http://www.imf.org/external/
All info from http://www.imf.org
Suggested Books
Library of Congress profile of Algeria
Martin Evans and John Phillips explore Algeria’s recent and very bloody history, demonstrating how the high hopes of independence turned into anger as young Algerians grew increasingly alienated.
African Traditional Education
In response to a question about African traditional education I found a couple of papers that may be of interest.
Some Papers on African Traditional Education
The first one is ‘Some key issues in African traditional education‘ McGill Journal of Education, Â Spring 2002 by Michael B Adeyemi, Augustus A Adeyinka
Here is the abstract:
Against a background discussion of the concept and general purpose of education, this article examines some key issues in African traditional education, namely its philosophical foundations, content and methods, strengths and weaknesses. The philosophical foundations of African traditional education are the five principles of preparationism, functionalism, communalism, perennialism and holisticism. We have highlighted the physical, social and spiritual content of African traditional education and the practical method of teaching and learning. The strengths and weaknesses of African traditional education are discussed and the attention of readers directed to possible areas for further study.
The second on is ‘Virtues and challenges in Traditional African Education‘ by John K Marah (pdf direct link)
This paper examines the virtues and failures of traditional African educational systems, in the context of continental Pan-Africanism, and argues that traditional African educational systems must be complemented by a Pan-African educational system that transcends confocalisms and micro-nationalisms.
Suggested books
Democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Paper
Citizen participation in public affairs
DR Congo: democracy and political participation – an assessment of the first steps into the 3rd Republic by Ngoma-Binda,P.; Yahisule,J.; Mombo,L. Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (2010)
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the quest for greater citizen participation in public affairs is accompanied and influenced by debates about federal or unitary form of government, Congolese citizenship, the basic options of the Constitution, or the role of traditional authorities. This paper discuses the state of democracy and political participation in the DRC. It delves into the report on ‘DRC: Democracy and political participation’ and identifies the challenges facing the democratic project. It suggests possible solutions through concrete recommendations for legislative changes, constitutional amendments and greater respect for the procedures and mechanisms established by the letter and spirit of the new Constitution.
The paper argues that political consensus should involve the revision of the legal and institutional framework for elections by undertaking the following priority tasks:
- Enact the development of, and the enforcement of, a law on the financing of political parties to allow for fair competition among candidates and a rigorous management of expenses related to campaign activities
- Identify a simple, open, economical, representative and inclusive voting system to replace the complex electoral system by combining winner-takes-all systems for single candidate constituencies with proportional list systems for multiple candidate constituencies
- Ensure the electoral commission’s effective autonomy by revising the law to make it politically neutral and independent.
The paper reasons that the funding of elections should ensure a minimum balance between candidates by giving the electoral commission the ability to:
- Oversee public funding of political parties and the prohibition to use public property
- Compensate party witnesses to avoid inequalities between parties based on their financial ability to present witnesses in all polling stations and counting centers.
The document makes the following recommendations:
- Identify important legislation contributing to the building and democratization of the Congolese state
- Extend the deadline for the government to give its opinion on a legislative bill to allow sufficient internal consultation
- Switch to automatic enrolment and the effective review of legislative bills on the expiry of that period
- Ensure the obligatory presence of MPs in the committees and plenary proceedings through effective financial penalties and even suspension
- Recruit competent and experienced parliamentary assistants and steadily strengthen their capacities.
How to get a copy
Download a pdf of DR Congo: democracy and political participation
Suggested books
- The Failure of Democracy in the Republic of Congo
- Explaining the Failure of Democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Autocracy And Dissent in an Ambivalent World (African Studies)
Attitudes to democracy in Uganda, Paper
The process of democracy in Uganda
Understanding citizens attitudes to democracy in Uganda by Mattes,R.; Kibirige,F.; Sentamu,R. Afrobarometer (2010)
After nearly 30 years of autocratic rule and civil war, Uganda returned to elective national government in 1996. But while elections resumed, political parties were allowed to exist but legally prevented from directly fielding candidates for those elections. Where Uganda’s process of democratization goes from here depends not only on the wishes of the country’s leaders and ruling party, but also to some degree on how ordinary Ugandans view these changes and whether or not they are satisfied with the present level of democracy, as well as whether they are willing to demand the protection and expansion of democracy. This paper uses survey data in an attempt to shed some light on these issues. The goal is to provide a more nuanced understanding of trends in how Ugandans view their country’s process of political liberalization and democratization as well as the sources of these attitudes.
The paper provides the following findings:
- Just over half of Ugandans say the country is a democracy, just under half (48 percent) were “fairly†or “very satisfied†with the way democracy was working
- As of 2008, almost nine-in-ten say that they are “somewhat†or “completely free†“to join any political organization you want,†and three quarters say that people are similarly free to “say what you think.†Looking more closely, however, while most people feel that while they have the legal right to speak their mind, free speech in Uganda carries real risks
- While 86 percent of Ugandan citizens feel that people are free to “choose who to vote for without feeling pressured,†only 60 percent say “completely free.†Meanwhile, a significant proportion of the population worries about the consequences of their vote.
The paper provides the following recommendations:
- There is at least for now no need for governments or donors to attempt to do “hard things†such as transforming the economy, reducing poverty, or rapidly accelerating the delivery of services in order to save democracy
- Given that few donors would have the resources for a program substantial enough to achieve significant attitude change amongst the overall electorate, adult education programs need to be closely targeted to areas of greatest need
- While Ugandans clearly seem to understand the need to limit political power, civic education needs to promote the idea of the ordinary citizen as an agent with the duty to control government, rather than simply a subject or client.
How to get a copy
Download a pdf of Understanding citizens attitudes to democracy in Uganda from http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/?doc=57074&em=030211&sub=gov
Suggested books
- Electoral Democracy in Uganda: Understanding the Institutional Processes and Outcomes of the 2006 Multiparty Elections
- Localised or Localising Democracy. Gender and the Politics of Decentralisation in Contemporary Uganda
Africa IMF Reports : Swaziland 2010
Swaziand. Image via Wikipedia
IMF reports for Swaziland 2010
Press Release: Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission to the Kingdom of Swaziland
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2010/pr10424.htm
All information from http://www.imf.org
To view and print pdf files you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
Suggested Book (US)
Related articles
- Analysis: Swaziland mulls multi-million dollar bailout (IRINnews.org)
- Swaziland’s economy near collapse, says IMF (apperi.org)
Africa IMF Reports : Nigeria 2010
Abavo Market, Nigeria
[Photo credit: airpanther]
IMF reports for Nigeria 2010
Press Release
Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission to Nigeria
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2010/pr10459.htmTranscript of the Civil Society Organizations Townhall Meeting (includes Nigeria)
http://www.imf.org/external/np/tr/2010/tr100710cso.htm
All information from http://www.imf.org
To view and print pdf files you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
Suggested Books (US)
Africa IMF Reports : Somalia 2010
Links to IMF reports for Somalia 2010
IMF Policy Paper
Review of the Fund’s Strategy on Overdue Financial Obligations
Summary: This paper reviews progress under the Fund’s strengthened cooperative strategy on overdue financial obligations. Since the last review, total arrears to the Fund declined by SDR 17.5 million to SDR 1,309.5 million. Payments to the Fund by Sudan and Zimbabwe were in excess of new obligations falling due, and a decrease in Somalia’s arrears resulted from the full settlement of its overdue obligations to the SDR Department in the context of the general SDR allocation in August 2009.
All information from http://www.imf.org
To view and print pdf files you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
Suggested Books
- Somalia: Economy without State (African Issues)
- Modern History Of The Somali: Revised/Fourth Edition (Eastern African Studies)
Africa IMF Reports : Uganda 2010
Pic by Neil Palmer (CIAT). The rolling, cultivated hillsides of southwestern Uganda.
[Photo credit: CIAT - International Center for Tropical Agricultu]
IMF report for Uganda 2010
Country Report No. 10/272: South Africa
Report on Observance of Standards and Codes
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=24176.0IMF Survey: New Financing Sources for Africa’s Infrastructure Deficit
Four African countries aim to boost infrastructure budgets with new financing sources as they chase higher economic growth rates. Policy programs in Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda allow for less concessional financing from development banks, more public-private partnerships; and, potentially, external sovereign bond issues.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/car072110b.htm
All information from http://www.imf.org
To view and print pdf files you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
Suggested Books
- Crisis, Adjustment and Growth in Uganda: A Study of Adaptation in an African Economy (Studies in the African Economies)
- Uganda, 5th: The Bradt Travel Guide