Knowledge Products

'Agenda 2063 and SDGs Implementation in Africa' is the first report from the African Peer Review Mechanism focussing on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Though there are other reports on progress towards meeting the targets of both the SDGs and Agenda 2063 at continental [...]

The SDGs are a global pledge to end to poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet for future generations, by the year 2030. This calls for unprecedented investments and cooperation across all of society – including governments, communities, civil society and the private sector. This is already changing “business as usual,” by putting the SDGs [...]

By Dr. Nir Kshetri This paper examines how recent advances in computing and telecommunications technologies are promoting financial inclusion in the Global South by dramatically transforming the way the financial industry operates. The emergence of financial technology (FinTech) companies based in the Global South and their roles in pro- moting financial inclusion in their respective [...]

By Dr. George Kararach The purpose of this paper is to highlight the major capacity constraints and challenges facing Africa as it seeks to expand its trade opportunities as well as attract greater volumes of good quality investments (both local and foreign) within the context of South-South Cooperation (SSC) and related engagements. In addition, it [...]

By Professor Myriam Ramzy & Professor Chahir Zaki Digitalization refers to the transition from an industrial age characterized by analogue technologies to a new era in which commerce, innovation, knowledge acquisition, communication and many other aspects of modern life are driven by digital technologies. Digitalization is transforming economies and societies in multiple areas, even influencing [...]

By Bineswaree Bolaky The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a development priority in the global South, where most of the scope for reducing poverty and inequality and creating decent jobs lie. The SDGs have been mainstreamed in the national development strategies of many developing countries from the global South. For the goals [...]

This report from the World Trade Organization (WTO) explores how African countries can leverage the multilateral trading system to take greater advantage of international markets and promote economic transformation, and highlights the WTO's deep involvement in the region, with 16.0 per cent of all technical assistance activities focused on African countries, the highest of any [...]

Business environment has been recognized as containing critical elements that affect the performance of firms and entrepreneurs and one of the pre-requisites for economic growth and poverty reduction in developing and transitioning economies. Improving the business environment has been an important part of China’s 40-year reform and opening up. Since 2013, China has taken business [...]

Covid-19 has dealt a devastating economic blow around the world. From individuals who can no longer afford to pay for food, to SMEs unable to cover their rent, to national governments struggling with their balance of payments and skyrocketing health expenditures, the economic impacts of Covid-19 have been sweeping in scope and depth. Although little [...]

The ASEAN Gender Outlook is the first regional flagship publication jointly produced by ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW), the ASEAN Secretariat and UN Women. It is dedicated to track progress towards gender equality and SDGs in the ASEAN region. It calls for increased investment in gender data and evidence, which is important to inform policy [...]