More about the Economic Governance Programme

Development requires economic growth that is balanced and equitably shared. To achieve this kind of growth, an economic environment that promotes private sector investment and employment is needed. Equally important is an institutional setting - both at the domestic and international level - that explicitly fosters social equity, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Taken together, these enabling conditions form the basis for improved economic governance. Many countries in Africa still face major development challenges, but most are working putting in place economic policy reforms to strengthen their economies and institutions. Reforms that can unlock progress encompass improvements in public finance and taxation systems, or measures to promote the business climate. They allow for shared growth and employment creation. To ensure effective economic policy design and implementation, decision makers need to understand both the underlying reality and impact of reforms. ECDPM’s Economic Governance Programme analyses what drives and hinders economic reforms at the national, regional, continental and international levels in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Key areas of our work Business and development Business facilitation is a prerequisite for economic growth and job creation. We work on improving policies conducive to private sector development in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries by fostering the interaction between the state and small and medium sized enterprises, particularly those in the agriculture sector. Emerging players in Africa ECDPM fosters constructive triangular exchange on how Africa’s growing ties with “emerging” powers, such as China, India and Brazil, impact relations with its “traditional” partners like the EU. Our work focuses on extractive sectors, infrastructure development, regional integration, food security and governance. Extractive sectors How can African countries manage their rich endowment of coveted raw materials in a way that delivers sustainable and equitable development? This is a question of effective economic governance and regulation. We stimulate dialogue amongst a wide range of key stakeholders, including the private sector, to support greater transparency, and improved state-business relations and cooperation. Taxation and development finance ECDPM’s work focuses on improving revenue collection and public spending for development. We analyse how Southern countries can best mobilise resources domestically, and examine what drives and hinders reform of tax policy design and implementation. ECDPM’s Economic Governance Programme is led by San Bilal For more detailed information, consult our workplan 2013-2014

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