Africa, Climate Change, and China's Belt and Road Initiative

 Africa Portal posted on 11 January 2021 a commentary titled "Cascading Climate Impacts and Africa's Engagement with China's Belt and Road Initiative" by Michael Addaney.  

The article argues that China's Belt and Road Initiative and its focus in Africa on infrastructure projects may enhance the continent's ability to cope with the devastating impacts of climate change.  

China's Humanitarian Aid

The London-based Humanitarian Policy Group, an independent research organization, published in January 2018 a study titled "Exploring the Links Between Chinese Foreign Policy and Humanitarian Action: Multiple Interests, Processes and Actors" by Miwa Hirono, Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan.

The paper tracks the evolution of China's humanitarian assistance, current funding levels and flows, and the decision-making and implementation structures. China's humanitarian spending, including flows to Africa, is ad hoc rather than systematic, without regard to any overarching criteria setting out where and when it should provide assistance. This is a rare and carefully researched study on China's humanitarian aid for natural disasters and complex emergencies.

Mitigating Natural Disasters in Somaliland

The University of Hargeisa Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies published in November 2017 a study titled "Mitigating Natural Disasters in Somaliland: Policy Options and Strategies" by Nasir M. Ali and Kedir Jemal.

The objective of the study is to explore existing gaps and weaknesses in climate-related policies and institutional frameworks, with a specific focus on drought-related issues. It also critically examines possible strategies and approaches to help mitigate the impacts of future droughts with a special emphasis on early warning systems.

IMF Report on Sub-Saharan Africa Economic Outlook

The International Monetary Fund published on 16 October 2016 its regional economic outlook titled "Sub-Saharan Africa Multispeed Growth."

Lower commodity prices and a less supportive global economic environment are expected to reduce average economic growth in 2016 for Sub-Saharan Africa to one and one-half percent, well below the population growth rate and sharply below the high growth rates of the past 15 years. The IMF projects a modest recovery in 2017 of nearly 3 percent GDP growth.

Most of the non-resource-intensive countries continue to perform well as they benefit from lower oil import prices, an improved business environment, and strong infrastructure investment. In contrast, commodity exporters such as Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, DRC, Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are under severe economic strain.

Cyclone Hits Puntland Region of Somalia

While the international media have been inundated with stories of the cyclone in the Philippines, there has hardly been a mention of another one, albeit much less damaging, that hit the Puntland region of Somalia early in November.  An estimated 100,000 people have been affected and hundreds of people died.  African Development Solutions (Adeso) issued a press release on the situation on 21 November 2013.