Economy & Society

We seek to understand things as they currently are – before looking at how to improve them. We want to understand how African bureaucracies work and why policymakers make the choices they make; we want to understand the constraints governments and private sector actors face; and we want to understand how our partners can support them without unnecessarily constraining their policy space.

Areas of programmatic focus include:

We actively seek to understand the developments surrounding the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its consequential effects on Africa's trade engagements with global partners. This involves examining the political economy of regional integration and industrial development, particularly in the context of Africa's trade policies.

Studying Africa's position in the current geopolitical landscape is important for understanding its influence on an evolving global order. Additionally, analysing Africa's economies, trade relationships, and investment trends through a geoeconomic perspective helps identify opportunities for cooperation, regional integration, and sustainable development. This research stream also examines Africa’s changing position, role, interest and agency as it engages with its multilateral partners.

We focus on the pivotal topic of elections and political transitions across diverse African nations. Elections profoundly impact countries' economic development, influencing investor confidence, trade relations, and fiscal policies. They also shape social dynamics, as election outcomes can affect social cohesion, equality, and access to basic services.

Reimagining African economies and building a sustainable future is key to addressing social and economic challenges, fostering inclusive growth, and reducing inequality. By embracing sustainable practices, African nations can also contribute to both local and global environmental efforts, enhance resilience, and promote long-term development and prosperity.