Worst-case scenario planning says economic growth in Southern Africa will fall to -6.6% in 2020 before recovering to 2.2% in 2021. The negative growth, projected at -4.9% in the baseline case, is mainly driven by the deep recession in South Africa. The Southern African Regional Economic Outlook 2020 identified poverty and inequality as twin challenges affecting the region and called for policies aimed at making growth inclusive, broad-based and pro-poor if economic growth is ever to address these issues. Read more:North Africa: Economic growth negatively impacted by COVID-19East Africa’s economic growth projection for 2020 down to 1.2% from 5.1%Compared to other regions in Africa, the region has the highest unemployment levels, averaging 12.5% between 2011 and 2019 (North Africa averages 11.8% over the same time period). The Southern African Economic Outlook – Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic is available online.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 28, 2020 08:02 UTC