Africa can build forward better in COVID-19 aftermath

Buoyed by growing economic opportunities and investment interest, the African continent is poised for transformation. At the same time, Africa has to overcome political, economic, social and infrastructural challenges that remain a barrier to its development. As Africa seeks to accelerate its economic transformation and human development, the continent has not escaped the impacts of fresh challenges such climate change, which has compromised food and nutritional security. Climate change is projected by the African Climate Policy Centre of the ECA to cost African countries between 2 and 5 per cent of GDP by 2030. Furthermore, the current COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse a number of development gains in Africa as it has influenced food security, trade, health, education and peace.