Rethinking regional integration in Africa for inclusive and sustainable development: introduction to the special issue

This article is an introduction to this Special Issue on Rethinking in Regional Integration in Africa which is based on a collaborative research project, implemented by African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the leading economic capacity building institution in Africa, and funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This project is very timely given the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which came into force on 01 January 2021. In this introduction, we first provide a brief background on regional integration in Africa. We next describe the AERC project and the process of selection of the papers and then provide a quick summary of the ten published papers and their contributions

Taxation, aid and democracy. An agenda for research in African countries

Taxation, aid and democracy are closely related in poor aid-dependent African countries. The way they tackle the issue of domestic revenue mobilisation significantly influences their potential for economic growth and democratic consolidation. This proposition is based on the reading of historical, political and economic literature, and it forms the general basis for a three-year research programme recently started. Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda are the case countries. The research aims to contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of tax systems in African countries. Furthermore, it aims to explore the constraints and options available for policy making on revenue mobilisation and democratisation. This paper presents the general outline of the research programme, and the major areas of research to be dealt with

At the Service of Community Development: The Professionalization of Volunteer Work in Kenya and Tanzania

This article explores the changing nature of the “volunteer” as an official role within health and development interventions in East Africa. Contemporary development interventions require the engagement of volunteers to act as links between project and community. This role is increasingly professionalized within development architectures with implications for the kinds of people who can engage in volunteering opportunities. Volunteers in development interventions are likely to be drawn from public sector staff and from educated youth seeking access to positions of paid employment. Volunteering as a formal status within the organization of development programs is recognized as a kind of professional work by those seeking to engage with development organizations. Volunteers perform important work in linking development programs with beneficiaries. At the same time, volunteering provides opportunities for personal transformation

Local Government Revenue Mobilisation in Anglophone Africa

This paper examines opportunities and constraints facing local revenue mobilisation in anglophone Africa, with an emphasis on urban settings. It discusses specific revenue instruments and their effects on economic efficiency, income distribution and accountability. In particular, it addresses political and administrative constraints facing various revenue instruments and factors affecting citizens’ compliance. The analysis is illustrated with examples from across anglophone Africa. A general conclusion emerging from the study is that local revenues mobilised in most local government authorities in Africa are necessary but not sufficient to develop and supply adequate services for the fast-growing population. On this basis, areas for further research on local government revenue mobilisation in Africa are identifiedDfI

Small is beautiful, but growth is inevitable: experiences of apex institutions in Senegal and Tanzania

This article examines the experiences of two national apex institutions in two sub-Saharan African countries, Senegal and Tanzania, which channel funds to retail microfinance institutions (MFIs). These two national apexes are the Dyna-Enterprises Project and the Small Entrepreneurs Loan Facility (SELF) project, which are functioning in Senegal and Tanzania respectively. Both Dyna and SELF initially started as small-scale apex MFIs and had been conceived with the same vision in mind - facilitation of access to financial services for the poor. The initial implementation focused on provision of credit through MFIs as well as capacity building. The targeted groups of clients are similar, i.e. the disadvantaged, and mostly are women groups in urban or peri-urban areas carrying out general petty trade activities. Like many apex institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, both SELF and Dyna have stimulated demand for more financial support to the poor and have shown potential to be transformed into viable commercial MFIs. This entails expansion in terms of increased number of staff, branches, cost-effective microfinance services, the number and quality of financial products, capacity building, outreach and information services. The current vision of these national apex institutions is to transform into effective, transparent and efficient corporate entities for addressing poverty issues through harnessing and targeting funds to needy areas, while incorporating microfinance best practices.