WORK PROGRAMME ON POLICY AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION

The document proposes a comprehensive framework to analyze and overcome the stagnation of growth and development in Africa. It identifies key constraints—including climate, geography, weak governance, and conflict—and organizes a work programme around three linked areas: growth and resources, empowerment and culture, and governance and institutions. The framework emphasizes the need for a "big push" of mutually supporting actions, focusing on private sector-led growth, agricultural improvement, trade diversification, human development, and enhanced transparency in economic governance. It specifically highlights the vulnerability of African economic growth to climate change and the necessity of increasing concessional resources and aid effectiveness to support these goals.

• Growth and development in Africa have stagnated over the last three decades due to a combination of factors: climate and geography (especially for landlocked, non-resource economies), limited economic diversification, negative investor perceptions, high indebtedness, weak governance, and conflict.
• Future economic growth in Africa is vulnerable to environment-related shocks, specifically climate change, which is expected to increase climatic extremes and variability. Because Africa is primarily a recipient rather than a driver of climate change, the Commission aims to help developed countries strengthen Africa's capacity to cope and increase Africa's voice in international climate negotiations.
• The domestic private sector is identified as the primary driver of growth, but its potential is hindered by poor investment climates, capital flight, and overestimated risk perceptions by external investors who often view Africa as a single entity.
• Agriculture is considered key to reducing rural poverty and accelerating growth, requiring a focus beyond just increasing yields to include land rights, financial sector changes, and the mitigation of risks for the chronically poor.
• To address trade barriers, the programme focuses on expanding agricultural trade through diversification and value addition, shifting toward manufacturing exports, and reducing vulnerability to primary commodity price volatility.
• Effective economic governance and transparency are essential for attracting investment and ensuring the efficient use of resources, with a specific emphasis on transparency in the extractive industries and the recovery of stolen assets.
• The proposed action programme requires increased concessional resources and grants, exploring options such as the International Finance Facility for front-loading and increasing the ODA/GNI ratio.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). WORK PROGRAMME ON POLICY AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UKCOMMPROG.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. WORK PROGRAMME ON POLICY AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UKCOMMPROG.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=WORK PROGRAMME ON POLICY AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UKCOMMPROG.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndwork, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{WORK PROGRAMME ON POLICY AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/UKCOMMPROG.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }