This new report offers a critical analysis of the food security challenges confronting Eastern Africa and champions enhanced intra-African trade as a pathway towards greater resilience. It begins by discussing the impact of climate change on Eastern Africa agriculture, noting that rising temperatures and erratic rainfall have led to declining productivity and increased food shortages. Despite the region's agricultural potential, one in five people remain chronically undernourished. It emphasizes the importance of climate-smart agricultural practices and investments in irrigation and soil conservation to mitigate these impacts.

Due to various global crises and their subsequent socio-economic implications, governments across Africa face unprecedented challenges to mobilize the resources required to support economic recovery across all sectors of the economy, including the mining sector. While mineral resources represent a significant opportunity for domestic resource mobilization, most African countries have failed to fully realize the expected revenues from the sector due to several external and internal factors, including poorly designed and overly generous tax incentives.

This paper analyzes tax incentives in the mining sector in Africa, establishes their ineffectiveness in contributing to a more inclusive and transformative use of mineral resources, and highlights the need for rethinking them altogether.

The report provides an overview of the macroeconomic and social developments in Eastern Africa, highlighting the region's resilience amidst global economic challenges. It discusses the impact of high debt levels, inflation, and currency fluctuations on the region's economies. The report also examines trade performance, firm growth, and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key sectors such as agriculture, services, and manufacturing are analyzed, along with the role of large firms in driving economic growth. The document emphasizes the need for fiscal consolidation, debt management, and enhanced regional integration through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Africa stands at a critical juncture in its development, with immense potential driven by a youthful population, rich natural resources, and expanding consumer markets. However, while economic growth has rebounded post-pandemic, it remains below pre-pandemic levels, limiting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2021, presents a transformative opportunity to accelerate trade-led integration and drive inclusive, sustainable development.

This research report investigates the relationship between cybersecurity and development in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by the Internet of Things and technological innovations. Analyzing data from 40 African countries, the study reveals a strong correlation between cybersecurity maturity and economic growth, with a 10% increase in cybersecurity leading to significant GDP per capita gains. The findings underscore the critical role of cybersecurity in fostering trust, enhancing internet penetration, and driving sustainable development across various regions, including Africa, Latin America, and Asia.