Yemisi Izuora
The World Bank Group has advised African nations to adopt proactive measures to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic rather than copying Western practices and policies to curb its spread.
The Bank also commended Tanzania’s unique approaches to curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Africa’s Pulse Report titled as “assessing the economic impact of COVID-19 and Policy Responses in Sub-Saharan Africa” applauds Tanzania as one of the best examples for its strategic approaches that considers the best of its political economy and well-being of the society.
With 32 COVID- 19 confirmed cases, 3 deaths and 5 recoveries, Tanzania unlike other African countries has not locked down businesses and its citizens. The country has not also closed its borders but initiated strict testings and 14 days quarantine to all arrivals.
The report says South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya have reacted quickly and decisively to curb the potential influx and spread of the COVID-19 virus harmoniously with emerging international experience but that there are more questions about suitability and likely effectiveness of some of these policies such as strict confinement.
It advised African governments to use a series of emergency measures and structural features of African economies that shape the policy responses that are designed and implemented to fend-off COVID-19.
It says informal employment is the main source of employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 89.2 per cent of all employment (ILO 2018).
Excluding agriculture, informal employment accounts for 76.8 per cent of total employment respectively.
Furthermore, small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) is an important driver of growth in economies across the region, account for up to 90 per cent of all businesses and represent 38 per cent of the region’s GDP.
Also, concerns about the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak prompted interest rate cuts in several African countries in line with monetary policy actions around the world.
With all these, Africa needs to think global and act local, employing well-tailored policies and practices that would work well on the continent.