The President of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association – EMEA, Prof. Rym Ayadi, participated at the high-level discussion regarding the options, approaches, and concrete opportunities for a green and resilient COVID-19 recovery in Africa, as outlined in the Pan-African post-COVID-19 recovery report. The event was organized by Power Shift Africa, Positive Agenda Advisory and Society for Planet on 16 September 2021.
At her intervention Prof. Ayadi highlighted that “Key issues such as COVID and climate change go beyond sectoral boundaries. They are interrelated, especially on the African continent. There is a perception in some quarters that green recovery interventions come at a cost, but this is not the case – especially now after the pandemic when financial and social constraints are so much tighter. Every dollar invested generates up to $6 in return. Investments in rebuilding are essential components of any recovery and we now can harness added environmental and climate value too.”
H.E. Fathallah Sijilmassi, Founder and CEO of Positive Agenda Advisory, Former SG of the UfM and member of the EMEA Advisory Board underlined that “We need increased investment in local adaptation projects, this will have an impact at a global scale while creating jobs at a grassroot level. Immediate Climate Action and finance are key parameters for a green resilient and inclusive recovery in Africa in the run up to COP26. Action is needed now and there is a golden opportunity to make it a turning point for Africa’s accelerated growth and development.”
The panel included Saliem Fakir, Executive Director at The African Climate Foundation, Mohamed Adow, Director, Power Shift Africa, and Dr. Innocent Onah, Climate and Green Growth Expert, African Development Bank Group. The discussion was moderated by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, President of the Society for Planet Prosperity.
The report was co-authored by Positive Agenda Advisory a distinguished partner of EMEA. Positive Agenda Advisory’s main activities is to provide support and advice to public and private institutions in their development strategies, their international activities as well as knowledge based and solution-oriented assessment on the main challenges and opportunities of their environment.
The Pan-African Post-Covid 19 Recovery Report makes the case that African countries should integrate climate change action as a central objective in the planning and implementation of their post-Covid-19 economic recovery plans. It also provides concrete recommendations for how this objective might be achieved. It is available at https://powershiftafrica.org/driving-a-green-and-sustainable-post-covid-19-recovery-in-africa-recommendations-for-policy-actors/
