The Afdb Group in North Africa 2012
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The African Development Bank Group in North Africa 2012 A Year of Transitions African Development Bank The African Development Bank Group in North Africa - 2012 Table of contents 5 Foreword 7 Preface 9 Acronyms 15 CHAPTER 1 North Africa’s Economies in Transition 16 Introduction This report was led by Vincent Castel (Principal Program Coordinator, ORNA) and Paula Ximena Mejia (Consultant, ORNA) under the 18 The Economic Origins of the Arab Spring: Jobs and Justice guidance of Jacob Kolster (Director, ORNA) and Nono Matondo-Fundani (Director, ORNB). 21 The Macroeconomic Developments of 2011 28 North Africa’s 2012 Economic Outlook The authors of the report would like to thank for their inputs Catherine Baumont-Keita (Lead, ORNB), Alassane Diabate (Pricnipal 30 Key Challenges Ahead 35 Concluding Remarks Country Economist Mauritania, ORNB), Yasser Ahmad (CPO, ORNA), Kaouther Abderrahim (Consultant, ORNA), Emanuele Santi (Senior Country Economist, ORNA), Charles Muthuthi (Chief Country Economist, ORNA), Malek Bouzgarrou (Senior Country Economist, 37 CHAPTER 2 Youth Unemployment in North Africa ORNB), Assitan Diarra-Thioune (Resident Representative, DZFO), Kossi Robert Eguida (CPO, DZFO), Sibry Tapsoba (Resident 38 Introduction Representative, EGFO), Almaz Amine (Country Operations Expert, EGFO), Gehane El Sokkary (Socio-Economist, EGFO), Amani Abou- 39 The Emergence of a Youth Bulge: Curse or Dividend? Zeid (Resident Representative, MAFO), Samba Ba (Chief Country Economist, ORNB). Project Briefs were also reviewed by their respective 40 Quantity versus Quality of Education task managers in the sector departments. 44 Quantity Versus Quality of Employment 46 Economic Climate and Unemployment 48 Migration and “Brain Drain” Chapter 1 was drawn from the African Economic Outlook 2012 and the AfDB publication “Jobs, Justice and the Arab Spring: Restoring 49 Concluding Remarks Shared Growth in North Africa” authored” by John Page. Gilles Nancy is also thanked for drafting this chapter. Chapter 2 was derived from the AfDB North Africa Policy Series publication “Tackling Youth Unemployment in the Maghreb” authored by Gita Subrahmanyam. 53 CHAPTER 3 Moving North Africa Up the Value Chain 54 Introduction Finally Chapter 3 was based on the AfDB publication “Comparative Study on Export Policies in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and South 55 What You Export Matters: Assessing North Africa’s Export Composition Korea” authored by Ricardo Hausman, Sebastian Bustos, Jieun Choi, Kaouther Abderrahim and Jihong Kim. 57 How to Move North Africa Up The Value Chain? 63 Policy Recommendations The African Development Bank Group 71 Concluding Remarks 73 CHAPTER 4 Strengthened Partnerships in North Africa: Platform for Coordination This document has been prepared by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. Designations employed in this publication do not of International Financial Institutions imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the institution concerning the legal status of any country, or the limitation of its frontier. 74 Introduction While efforts have been made to present reliable information, the AfDB accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequences of its use. 79 CHAPTER 5 The African Developement Bank in Brief 81 The African Development Bank Group at a Glance Published by: 87 CHAPTER 6 Bank Group Activities in North Africa African Development Bank (AfDB) Group 89 Regional Overview Temporary Relocation Agency (TRA) 93 Algeria B.P. 323-1002 Tunis-Belvedere, Tunisia 107 Egypt Tel.: (216) 7110-2876 135 Libya 141 Mauritania Fax: (216) 7110-3779 163 Morocco 199 Tunisia Design and Layout African Development Bank 243 CHAPTER 7 Regional Activities External Relations and Communication Unit 245 Bank Group and Regional Economic Communities in North Africa Yattien-Amiguet L. 247 The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) Zaza creation: Hela Chaouachi 251 Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa States (COMESA) 257 The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) Copyright © 2012 African Development Bank Group Website: www.afdb.org 265 CHAPTER 8 Staff & Contact Details 3 The African Development Bank Group in North Africa - 2012 Foreword eographically situated at the northern rim of the macroeconomic developments. It also examines two G continent, North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, important long-term challenges for the region, namely Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia) constitutes a central the causes and consequences of youth unemployment part of Africa. It is also central to the the history and the and the importance of moving the region’s exports up daily operations of the African Development Bank (AfDB). the value chain. The countries of the region were instrumental in the The African Development Bank must learn from the creation of the AfDB more than 45 years ago and are momentous changes currently underway in the region, now contributing nearly 20 percent of the Bank’s understand their underlying causes and make adjustments subscribed capital. Since the beginning of its operations as appropriate to its interventions. This will be done in 1966, the Bank Group has committed nearly US$ through close consultation with our clients to ensure that 17 billion in loans and grants to North Africa, consistently we provide the best-possible support to improve the lives supporting the people of the region in their endeavors of the people in the region. In particular, as we finance to develop and modernize their economies, and improve infrastructure and other projects, we will ensure that their living conditions. Producing about one-third of rural and disenfranchised regions are developed and Africa’s total GDP and home to nearly 170 million people, integrated, and pay particular attention to the creation of North Africa is today the most prosperous region on the meaningful jobs. Ours is a long-term commitment and continent and occupies a geopolitical position that goes we remain engaged in this important region especially significantly beyond its economic weight. In 2011, North during these important times. It is in this spirit that we Africa also became the epicenter of social and political present this year’s Annual Report for North Africa. change as the Arab Spring began in Tunisia and spread across and beyond the region. In recognition of the region’s importance, I am pleased to present the AfDB’s third Annual Report on North Africa. Janvier K. Litse In addition to providing an overview of the Bank’s portfolio Ag Vice President of lending and non-lendingactivities in the six countries Country and Regional Programs and Policy of the region, the report provides an assessment of recent African Development Bank Group 5 The African Development Bank Group in North Africa - 2012 Preface he social and political changes that started in Tunisia but encourage the type of growth that will allow for the T in the early days of January 2011 and spread across creation of more and better quality jobs for its fast- the region have had a series of impacts on the economic growing young population. Finally, in chapter 4, the outlook of North Africa. This report examines the report details the Bank’s role in the so-called Deauville underlying challenges the region faced before the Arab Partnership and its current efforts at coordinating Spring occurred, and further explores how the political with other international financial institutions to support transitions underway will shape North Africa’s options the region. in responding to its economic challenges. The remainder of this Annual Report provides a brief North Africa is currently in a transitional phase as it introduction to the Bank Group (Chapter 5), an overview attempts to address the demands of its populations over Bank Group activities in North Africa (Chapter 6), while maintaining sound macroeconomic policies and a summary of the Bank’s regional activities and the key restoring political stability. In Chapter 1, the report will Regional Economic Communities of the North Africa explore the outlook of North Africa’s diverse economies (Chapter 7) and our contact details (Chapter 8). We while providing policy recommendations for confronting hope you may find this report useful and would welcome long-standing issues of youth unemployment, regional any feedback you may have. inequality and governance. Chapter 2 delves further into the sources of economic grievances which greatly contributed to the political changes witnessed in 2011, and explores the causes and consequences of youth unemployment in the region. The report highlights areas Jacob Kolster in which Governments in North Africa must focus so Director – Regional Department North for Egypt, Libya that its youth bulge can be turned into a growth and Tunisia dividend. Chapter 3 evaluates the current state of exports in the region and proposes that by adding more Nono Matondo-Fundani value to the products made in North Africa the region Director – Regional Department North for Algeria, has an opportunity to not only move up the value chain Mauritania and Morocco 7 The African Development Bank Group in North Africa - 2012 Acronyms ADB The African Development Bank ADF The African Development Fund AEO African Economic Outlook AFD French Development Agency AfDB The African Development Bank Group AFESD Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AMINA African Development Bank Initiative for Micro-Finance in Africa AMO Assurance Maladie Obligatoire AMU Arab Maghreb Union AVERROES-Paris Fund of Funds sponsored by CDC Enterprise