Info Allgemein
A Unit of the forthcoming issue 16 of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook with the theme "Macroeconomic Policy Formation in Africa" is now finalized and will consider the economic causes, the recent developments and the perspectives of the "Arab Spring" countries like Egypt and Tunisia. While the international discussion centers on political and international relations issues, the economics of the background factors to these revolutions in Arab countries is largely neglected.
IWIM joined forces with institutions in the region, like UNESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) in Beirut, UNDP's Regional Center in Cairo and the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait to make this Unit possible. Research Director Magda Kandil from ECES (Egyptian Center for Economic Studies) and Professor Karl Wohlmuth, University of Bremen will introduce into the Unit. Background studies and country case studies are presented in the Unit. An analysis of the socioeconomic causes of revolutions in "Arab Spring" countries, an overview of recent developments in "Arab Spring" countries, and a strategic framework for new economic policies in "Arab Spring" countries are presented.
Other Units of this forthcoming volume of the Yearbook cover new macroeconomic policy approaches and frameworks for African countries, macroeconomic policies of low income and post-conflict countries in Africa, and macroeconomic policies in WAMZ (West African Monetary Zone) countries with special emphasis on Nigeria. Also a Book Reviews/Book Notes Unit is included.
The Yearbook Project will continue with the theme "Africa's Progress in Regional and Global Economic Integration" as Volume 17 for 2014 (Link to the Project Website: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/africa/about.htm and link to the website with the description of the past volumes: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/africa/africanyearbook.htm).
Die sozioökonomischen Grundlagen und die Folgen des "Arabischen Frühlings":
Unter diesem Thema wurden für die Unit 2 (Teil 2) des neuen Afrika-Jahrbuchs mit dem Titel "Macroeconomic Policy Formation in Africa" einige Studien verfasst, sowohl Grundlagenstudien als auch Länderstudien für Ägypten und Tunesien. Während politologische und soziologische Studien sich dem Thema der Ursachen und der Folgen des "Arabischen Frühlings" intensiv widmen, sind ökonomische Studien dazu eher rar. Diese Lücke soll mit den Studien im neuen Afrika-Jahrbuch nun geschlossen werden.
Das IWIM hat bei der Erstellung dieser Studien mit wichtigen Institutionen in der Region kooperiert, um diese Unit möglich zu machen, so mit UNESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) in Beirut, dem UNDP Regional Center in Cairo und dem Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait. Research Director Magda Kandil vom ECES (Egyptian Center for Economic Studies) und Professor Karl Wohlmuth, Universität Bremen führen in einem Beitrag in diese Unit ein.
Andere Units des neuen Jahrbuchs behandeln neue makroökonomische Rahmenbedingungen und Politiken für afrikanische Länder, makroökonomische Politiken in Niedrigeinkommensländern und Post-Konflikt-Ländern, und makroökonomische Politiken in WAMZ (West African Monetary Zone)-Ländern, insbesondere für Nigeria. Auch eine Book Reviews/Book Notes-Unit ist vorgesehen.
Das Jahrbuch-Projekt wird mit dem Thema "Africa's Progress in Regional and Global Economic Integration" für den Band 17 (2014) fortgesetzt (vgl. den Link zur Website des Jahrbuch-Programms: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/forschung/forsch-adpy.htm und den Link zur Seite mit einer Beschreibung der bisher erschienenen Bände: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/africa/africanyearbook.htm).
This was the title of the plenary lecture given by Professor Karl Wohlmuth at the Sudan/South Sudan conference in Hermannsburg which took place from October 31-November 2, 2012 (Link Final Conference Programme). Professor Wohlmuth presented in his lecture five criteria for sound economies and sustainable economic policies in Sudan and South Sudan:
First, macroeconomic stability has to be provided. Because of the stop of oil production in January 2012 by the government of South Sudan the macroeconomic instability problems were even aggravated in both countries and they are still severe.
Second, a medium term public finance framework is needed for both countries, especially so because of the volatility of oil revenues and the low importance of non-oil exports. Such medium-term public finance frameworks are not in place, and there is no Permanent Fund/Permanent Income approach at work to smooth the expenditures from the oil revenues towards stabilization and long-term development objectives.
Third, a redirection of exports towards non-oil products is needed in both countries. However, the time since January 9, 2005 (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) was not used in the two countries for generating non-oil exports. Despite of the huge agricultural resources and the agro-industrial opportunities, both countries are large-scale food importers.
Fourth, effective social safety nets are needed to protect the poor and the poorest, but also the middle class which became impoverished in recent years, as the available rudimentary social safety systems have rather deteriorated. Public interventions in health and education sectors as well as towards the functioning of the labour market were highly inefficient and ineffective, and macroeconomic policies were not pro-poor.
Fifth, effective reductions of horizontal and vertical inequalities are requested but the reality in both states is that the regional imbalances and the income inequalities have rather increased. This has repercussions on political stability in both countries and on the perspectives of cooperation in the border-belt.
Professor Karl Wohlmuth at the opening of the Plenary Session on Economic Issues in Sudan and South Sudan
Professor Wohlmuth also commented on the Nine Agreements between the two countries from September 27, 2012 at Addis Ababa and on the future tasks to promote a strategic economic cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan. Five core programmes for a strategic economic cooperation were presented (see PDF Sudan-South Sudan-Conference Presentation). Other contributions to the Conference were made by the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Juba, South Sudan on the fight against corruption in South Sudan, by the General Secretary of SPLM/N on the situation in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Khartoum by highlighting the perspectives for peaceful solutions. The former head of UNMIS in Juba spoke on national and regional challenges for the two states and the role of outsiders. The current situation of Abyei area was considered by a Member of the South Sudan Parliament representing Abyei in Juba.
Professor Karl Wohlmuth, University of Bremen, Justice John Gatwech Lul, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Juba, South Sudan, and Marina Peter, Sudan Focal Point Europe and Conference Chair in a Plenary Discussion on Corruption in Sudan and South Sudan
The conference was attended by around 120 participants, among others by representatives of the civil society of Sudan and South Sudan, by regional and international church organizations and NGOs, by government organizations and ambassadors of Sudan and South Sudan, by media people and researchers on Sudan, by members of the German parliament, by the donor community, and by representatives from the SPLM/N speaking for ethnic and disadvantaged groups in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. The Conference Communique (see Communique Hermannsburg Conference) presents a call for peace, reconciliation and good neighbourliness. The communique emphasizes also: "To avoid new conflicts and ensure sustainable peace, natural resource management and equitable sharing of resources should be a top priority at all levels in society starting from the bottom-up. Oil is a key element, but a sound economy needs to be built on diversified sources of income. A strategic approach for economic relations between Sudan and South Sudan, with a special focus on the border areas, could help to safeguard peace and good neigbourliness. However, a prerequisite is to immediately address the needs of the people, and the end of armed conflicts."
This Sudan/South Sudan Conference was the 25th in Hermannsburg which was directed by Marina Peter and Hermann Hartmann (see the leaflet informing about these 25 conferences: Leaflet Hermannsburg Conferences).
Evaluierung von wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Studiengängen in Gießen: Der Bremer Professor Karl Wohlmuth nahm als Mitglied einer Gutachtergruppe an der Evaluierung/Re-Akkreditierung von Wirtschaftsstudiengängen an der Technischen Hochschule Mittelhessen in Gießen teil. Die Wirtschaftsstudiengänge an der Technischen Hochschule Mittelhessen sind in den letzten Jahren konsequent international ausgerichtet worden.
“Agribusiness for Africa’s Prosperity”: All UNIDO Project Books are now available as E-Books
Also the book with the African Country Case Studies on Agro-industry Development which is related to the main document “Agribusiness for Africa’s Prosperity” is now available as an E-Book. The Country Case Studies were conceived as background materials to the main document. The main document was published in English and in French. The three E-Books can be fully downloaded at:
http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=1001692
At this website also other information about the project can be found, especially the Seven Development Pillars.
The books are presented particularly to the benefit of the members of the 3ADI (Accelerated Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative) and of policy advisers to African governments, especially the ministries of industry and trade being responsible for new industrialization steps. The website of 3ADI contains further information about the Project:
http://www.3adi.org/Agribusiness_for_Africa_Prosperity
In a Video about the book “Agribusiness for Africa’s Prosperity” UNIDO Director General Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella discusses the importance of the study for Africa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C23tW_MjnFE.
Further information about the book is provided also in UNIDO’s quarterly magazine Making It: http://www.3adi.org/agribusiness_making_it
Professor Karl Wohlmuth has contributed to the Project since February 2008 as a Consultant, Author and Editor. In the African Development Perspectives Yearbook these issues were given attention quite regularly. See details on the various issues of the Yearbook: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/africa/africanyearbook.htm
25 Years of Sudan Conferences in Hermannsburg, Lower Saxony:
The 25th Sudan /South Sudan Conference will be held October 31 - November 2, 2012. Leading personalities from Sudan and South Sudan will attend the conference to exchange views on the current situation and to discuss strategies to create conditions of lasting peace and to provide preconditions for economic development and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Since 1987 every year an international Sudan Conference was held in Hermannsburg, organized by the Sudan Forum e. V. and the Sudan Focal Point Europa. The open exchange of views in Hermannsburg between Sudan Government representatives and SPLM representatives has since 1987 contributed to the process that ultimately led to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of January 9, 2005. Now the new problems between Sudan and South Sudan have to be addressed – the still open separation issues and the unsolved CPA issues. Although nine agreements between the two countries were signed on September 27, 2012 in Addis Ababa, major issues are still open. Also the implementation of the nine agreements has to get started.
This year the conference is sponsored by Brot für die Welt and by Misereor. Main topics of the Sudan/South Sudan Conference 2012 are the preconditions of lasting peace and the recognition of the rights of the people, the moves towards sound economic policies in the two countries and a strategic economic cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan, and the ways to overcome the conflicts in Abyei, Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and in other areas of the two countries (Link to Programme).
Various agreements were signed in Addis Ababa on September 27, 2012 concerning unsolved CPA/Comprehensive Peace Agreement Issues and Post-Secession Issues. Nine documents with Agreements emerged from the Sudan and South Sudan Addis Ababa Summit. Two further documents are of great relevance as they are on the unsolved Abyei Issue, one from the African Union (an AU Proposal on the status of Abyei submitted to the two parties in the conflict on 24 September 2012) and the other to the African Union (the Rejection Letter by President Bashir on 26 September 2012 to the AU). These documents are available as full texts (http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?rubrique13). Also other relevant documents can be looked at and downloaded at this website.
Implementation of these nine agreements can be better watched when the texts are looked at in full details and in the context of prior documents and the AU/UNSC Resolutions.
The Cooperation Agreement is particularly weak and vague and does not cover the main issues for a sustainable long-term economic and political cooperation of the two countries (see on these issues the Strategic Framework for Economic Cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan with five core cooperation programmes and five supplementary cooperation programmes as outlined by Professor Karl Wohlmuth (http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/files/dateien/1411_short_wohlmuth_bonn_6_2012.pdf).
Research Cooperation with Nigeria 2012 - 2013:
Professor Dr. Alabi is soon ending his research visit to IWIM, University of Bremen after a stay of three months financed by a Senior Research Fellowship by the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation. Further researches are planned for the year 2013 in cooperation with Professor Karl Wohlmuth (see the Report by Professor Alabi and some of his already published studies to be accessed in the Blue Series Discussion Papers of IWIM).
Professor Dr. R. A. Alabi, Ekpoma, Nigeria
A study on An Analysis of the Impact of Foreign Aid on Nigeria: A Dynamic Specification is under Review and will then also be published in the Blue Series Discussion Papers of IWIM.
Informationsveranstaltung zur Exzellenzinitiative – Kick-off-Veranstaltung:
Der neue Rektor der Universität Bremen, Professor Dr. Bernd Scholz-Reiter, informiert am 1. November 2012 über die am gleichen Tag beginnende Förderung durch die DFG (vgl. Link zum Brief des Rektors).
Die zweite Auflage der UNIDO-Studie Agribusiness for Africa's Prosperity - Country Case Studies ist eben erschienen. In acht Länderfallstudien (Äthiopien, Mali, Sambia, Kamerun, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenia und Südafrika), die meist von afrikanischen Wissenschaftlern und Wissenschaftlerinnen dieser Länder erstellt wurden, werden die Entwicklungen von Agroindustrie und Agribusiness untersucht. Es werden auch Vorschläge für eine umfassende Politikreform mit dem Ziel der Stimulierung des Sektors gemacht. In zwei zusammenfassenden Kapiteln werden von Professor Karl Wohlmuth, IWIM, Universität Bremen und Dr. Patrick Kormawa, Direktor für die Region Westafrika der UNIDO die wesentlichen Ergebnisse der Länderfallstudien zusammengefasst. Die Determinanten der Entwicklung des Sektors und die Perspektiven einer Politikreform zur Förderung des Sektors stehen dabei im Vordergrund. In einem Index der Transformation des Sektors werden die Erfolge bzw. Hemmnisse bei der Entwicklung des Sektors dargestellt.
Der Bremer Wirtschaftsprofessor Karl Wohlmuth arbeitet seit Februar 2008 an dem Projekt der UNIDO "Value Addition to Africa's Industry" mit.
Der gesamte Bericht mit den Länderfallstudien kann eingesehen werden über den Link:
http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Services/Agro-Industries/Agribusiness/AAP_CCS_v4.pdf
Diese Studie mit den Länderanalysen ist ein Hintergrundbericht zu der umfassenden Grundlagenstudie Agribusiness for Africa's Prosperity, die vom Generaldirektor der UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella initiiert wurde. Auch diese Studie kann als E-Book in englischer und in französischer Sprache komplett eingesehen werden (vgl. Links unten).
Die Studie ist verfügbar als E-Book in englischer Sprache via:
und als E-Book in französischer Sprache via:
Diese drei Bücher sind gedacht als Inputs für die Politikreform in diesem Bereich in den afrikanischen Ländern und als Materialien für die Initiative 3ADI/Accelerated Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative (vgl. die relevanten Links zu dieser Initiative: http://www.3adi.org/ und http://www.3adi.org/tl_files/3ADIDocuments/Other%203ADI%20docs/briefing%20note%203adi%201103.pdf).