The Covid-19 pandemic is not only a global health risk, but also an economic and social shock. It is covariate in nature as it affects large parts of societies at the same time. Societal resilience and effective state policies have become the main ingredients of current prescriptions to withstand, cure and mitigate effects of the Covid-19 pandemic since its outbreak in the beginning of 2020. African societies have fared relatively well compared with other world regions, but indirect effects of the pandemic have been unfolding severe and long-term consequences for sustainable development on the continent. Over the last six months, AERC has embarked on several collaborative research projects on the impact of COVID-19 global pandemic on African economies.

AERC and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) are currently undertaking a set of reinforcing activities in seven (7) sub-Saharan African countries (Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Madagascar) that will help build greater policy support for human capital at the country level, influence human capital policies, and strengthen African policy research institutions.

Sub-Saharan Africa, perhaps to a greater extent than any other region in the world, still faces a grim scenario with respect to the health of its people. Poor population health status is mirrored by crises in health financing and human resources for health. In recognition of the numerous health financing challenges facing countries in SSA, the AERC commissioned research to provide rigorous evaluative frameworks to assess different aspects of health financing on the continent.

Climate change has emerged as one of the key socio-economic and developmental challenges confronting policy makers in Africa, with the potential of reversing the significant gains made in poverty reduction, economic growth, and development on the continent. According to experts (see e.g., IPCC, 2007), Africa will bear the brunt of the effects of climate change even though it contributes less than 4% of the total greenhouse gas emissions.

Capital flight represents a higher burden in Africa than in other regions, given the low state of development. Capital flight siphons resources that could otherwise have been invested in the domestic economy to support growth and poverty reduction. Capital flight undermines African countries even more now, given the shrinking development resources from the traditional partners. The issue of capital outflow from Africa and the absorption into Western economies, therefore, deserves attention and requires concerted efforts. As they say, ‘it takes two to tango’. Thus, measures to mitigate capital flight must be at the centre of policy agenda, both in Africa and outside Africa, particularly those advanced countries on the receiving end.

The financial sector reforms and development project framework papers were commissioned in April 2014, with Prof. Isaac Otchere, Carleton University, Canada, as the Project Coordinator. AERC held a framework paper review workshop from 31 January – 1 February 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, where draft interim research reports were presented.