FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2016/en/

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22-04-2016
To fight climate change, invest in agriculture
In addition to reducing poverty and hunger, agriculture can play a crucial role in making the response to climate change responsible and more effective, Maria-Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General for Natural Resources said today.

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On Earth Day, FAO Director-General stresses need to protect ecosystems
Faced with rising levels of hunger in mountainous regions across the developing world, FAO today launched a special funding-and-planning mechanism to ensure sustainable development and food security in highland regions, home to some 329 million people at high risk for hunger.
22-04-2016

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New technologies boost efforts to cut down on environmentally harmful “ghost fishing”
Modern technologies that make it easier to recover lost fishing gear are giving a boost to efforts to reduce so-called “ghost fishing” and its harmful impacts on fish stocks and endangered species.
21-04-2016

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Pulses are praised for health, ecological and economic benefits
The event “Soils and pulses: Symbiosis for life” was sponsored by Italy’s permanent representation to FAO and led by Ambassador Pierfrancesco Sacco, along with Bioversity International and FAO, drawing a strong link between the International Year of Pulses and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
19-04-2016

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Agriculture is key to achieving lasting peace in Central African Republic
President Touadera, who took office last month, has made boosting agriculture and the rural economy one of his policy priorities. The President warmly thanked FAO for its continuous support during the crisis and acknowledged the current programmes and projects being implemented by the Organization in his country.
18-04-2016

ILO International Labour Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/lang–en/index.htm

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Paris Agreement on climate change
Accelerated action on climate change receives overwhelming global support
22 April 2016
The far-reaching Paris Agreement on climate change was signed at the United Nations by 175 countries ushering in an era of unprecedented action to protect the environment, slash greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

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Russian Federation Health and Safety Week
ILO calls for strengthened investment in workers’ safety and health
20 April 2016
The International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the need to scale up prevention to ensure a safe and healthy workplace and fight the HIV epidemic.

IMO International Maritime Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/Home.aspx

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22/04/2016
IMO takes further action on climate change
Organization agrees mandatory system for collecting ships’ fuel consumption data.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved mandatory requirements for ships to record and report their fuel consumption, in a move that sends a clear and positive signal about the Organization’s continuing commitment to climate change mitigation.

The mandatory data collection system is intended to be the first in a three-step process in which analysis of the data collected would provide the basis for an objective, transparent and inclusive policy debate in the MEPC. This would allow a decision to be made on whether any further measures are needed to enhance energy efficiency and address greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. If so, proposed policy options would then be considered…

WMO World Meteorological Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://public.wmo.int/en/search?sort_by=changed&f[0]=type%3Anews

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Publish Date: 21 April 2016
Climate Change Sets New Records
Press Release
Planet sends powerful message on Paris Agreement
A prolonged run of record global temperatures and extreme weather, the rapid melting of Arctic ice, and widespread bleaching of ocean coral reefs underline the urgent need to sign and implement the Paris Agreement on climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said that 2016 has so far overshadowed even the record-breaking year of 2015. “The magnitude of the changes has been a surprise even for veteran climate scientists…

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Development Partners Discuss Hydromet Service Investment
News
Publish Date: 19 April 2016
More investment in under-funded hydrometeorological services is urgently needed in the face of growing exposure to weather and water related hazards which are being compounded by climate change, urbanization and population increase. To address the widening service delivery gap, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) convened a development partners roundtable from 13 to 14 April.

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Sand and Dust Forecasts Shared with Africa
News
Publish Date: 18 April 2016
The Barcelona Dust Forecast Center has reached an agreement with the African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) to share the numerical output of its dust prediction models. The Barcelona Dust Forecast Center is WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for atmospheric sand and dust forecasts for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is hosted by Spain’s State Meteorological agency (AEMET) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. It issues daily forecasts which are freely available on its website.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.iso.org/iso/home/news_index.htm

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21 April 2016
Vape and vapour products make their debut in international standardization
by Sandrine Tranchard on 21 April 2016
Vape and vapour products represent a technical and economic novelty. The electronic cigarette devices and their consumables called e-liquids are recognized as a genuinely disruptive innovation, having reached mass markets in many countries in just a few years. The use of electronic cigarettes has rapidly become popular around the world, especially in North America and Europe.

The vaping industry is at the heart of a new economic sector that spans the manufacturing, production and retailing of both devices and e-liquids. A new field of technical activity dedicated to vape and vapour products aims to address the emerging standardization needs in that sector. To this end, a new ISO subcommittee, ISO/TC 126, Tobacco and tobacco products, SC 3, Vape and vapour products, has been created and will hold its first meeting in the week of 24 October 2016 in Osaka, Japan.

UNWTO World Tourism Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://media.unwto.org/news

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20 April 2016
African tourism ministers convene in Côte d’Ivoire
Over three days (19-21 April) high-level tourism representatives from African countries, including 18 tourism ministers1, are convening in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to discuss the challenges of the sector and the priorities for the programme of work of UNWTO in the African continent. The event is held in parallel with the Sustainable Tourism Conference of the 10 YFP, focused on ‘Accelerating the Shift towards Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns’.

WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/

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April 20 – 22, 2016 (Geneva, Switzerland)
Conference on the Global Digital Content Market Opens at WIPO
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry today opened the WIPO Conference on the Global Digital Content Market, outlining the rising stakes for creators and consumers as new technologies create mass audiences but disrupt business models.
Apr 21, 2016 PR/2016/790
Meeting documents

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.cbd.int/press-releases/

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2016-04-22
European Union implementation of Nagoya Protocol bolstered by recent ratification of Germany
Germany is the latest country to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, bringing the total number of ratifications to 74. This includes 73 countries and the European Union (EU), which ratified the Protocol in May 2014.

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2016-04-21
International biodiversity meeting to evaluate progress at the half-way point of the UN Decade on Biodiversity
One of the main bodies under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB) is set to meet next week to discuss issues that will accelerate progress in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and achieving its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

USAID [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases

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April 19, 2016
U.S. Government Responds to Ecuador Earthquake
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has deployed a team of disaster experts to respond to humanitarian needs in Ecuador stemming from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on April 16 in the northern part of the country, killing approximately 400 people and injuring more than 2,600 others. These numbers are expected to increase as new information becomes available.

ECHO [to 23 April 2016]
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en/news

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22/04/2016
EU helps channel more support to Ecuador following earthquake
More EU support is being provided to help Ecuador in the aftermath of the recent earthquake, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Several EU countries are offering various kinds of support..

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Syrian refugees in Turkey: €50 million released for humanitarian assistance
20/04/2016
The European Commission has announced new funding worth €50 million to support humanitarian projects addressing the immediate needs of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

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EU provides €83 million to improve conditions for refugees in Greece
19/04/2016
Today the European Commission announces €83 million under the new ‘Emergency Assistance Instrument’, proposed by the Commission on 2 March, to improve living conditions for refugees in Greece, with funding made available immediately to the UN…

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EU releases €1 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of earthquake in Ecuador
18/04/2016
Following the deadly earthquake on Saturday evening, which caused multiple casualties and left many injured in Ecuador, the Commission has taken immediate steps to provide coordinated European support to the relief efforts.

European Commission [to 23 April 2016]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete at the UN Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement New York
Date: 22/04/2016

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Managing the Refugee Crisis: Commission reports on implementation of EU-Turkey Statement
Date: 20/04/2016
[See Week in Review above for more detail]

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Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers
Date: 20/04/2016
European Commission – Fact Sheet Brussels, 20 April 2016 Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers On 18 March 2016, EU Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement…

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Facility for Refugees in Turkey: Commission delivers an additional €110 million under the implementation of EU-Turkey agreement
Date: 19/04/2016

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EU provides €83 million to improve conditions for refugees in Greece
Date: 19/04/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 19 April 2016 EU humanitarian partners receive new emergency support funding in Greece
Today the European Commission announces €83 million under the new Emergency Assistance Instrument, proposed by the Commission on 2 March, to improve living conditions for refugees…

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Questions and answers: First projects of EU support to refugees in Greece under the new emergency support instrument
Date: 19/04/2016

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EU supports Ecuador following deadly earthquake
Date: 18/04/2016

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New measures approved to improve stability and tackle the root causes of irregular migration
Date: 18/04/2016
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 18 April 2016 The European Commission today announced the introduction of 20 new measures in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin, worth over EUR 280 million in total. The European Commission today announced the adoption of 20 new measures to assist the Sahel…

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Description of the new measures adopted to tackle the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin
Date: 18/04/2016
European Commission – Fact Sheet Brussels, 18 April 2016 The European Commission today announced the introduction of 20 new measures in the Sahel region and the Lake Chad basin, worth more than EUR 280 million in total. Summary of measures to be adopted immediately At regional level Measures at regional…

OECD [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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18-April-2016
Global trade in fake goods worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year – OECD & EUIPO
Imports of counterfeit and pirated goods are worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, or around 2.5% of global imports, with US, Italian and French brands the hardest hit and many of the proceeds going to organised crime, according to a new report by the OECD and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office.

Organization of American States (OAS) [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_releases.asp

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April 22, 2016
Belize/Guatemala: OAS Repudiates Death of Guatemalan Minor and Will Investigate Incident
The OAS General Secretariat repudiates the death of a Guatemalan minor at the hands of a Belizean patrol, and urges both sides to redouble efforts to establish a lasting peace in the adjacency zone between the two countries.
The OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone of Belize and Guatemala will investigate the incident at the request of both governments. Once the investigation is concluded the report with its results will be delivered to both Foreign Ministries for the appropriate actions.
During the incident on April 20, in addition to the death of the minor, his father and brother were wounded by gunfire. The OAS expresses its most sincere condolences to the family…

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April 15, 2016
OAS Highlights Solidity of Democratic System of Costa Rica in February 2016 Municipal Elections

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April 15, 2016
FACT SHEET: Inter-American Program of Judicial Facilitators
:: 5.5 million citizens in the Americas have access to a judicial facilitator
:: There are more than 11,500 judicial facilitators in eight countries of the Americas: Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay.
:: The Inter-American Program of Judicial Facilitators of the OAS improves access to justice for millions of citizens of the Americas.
:: Facilitators are leaders chosen by their communities and trained by the Program that act as mediators and conciliators and ease the workload and the costs of the regular judicial process.
:: Facilitators resolve many cases quickly and at lesser cost than via the judicial path.
:: Judicial Facilitators collaborate without pay, in their free time…

Group of 77 [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.g77.org/

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(New York, 11 April 2016)
Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by H.E. General Surasak Karnjanarat, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the High-level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement (New York, 22 April 2016)

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Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by H.E. General Surasak Karnjanarat, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the Plenary of the High-level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (New York, 21 April 2016)

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Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the Special Event on Promoting South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Climate Change and launch of the southern climate partnership incubator to support the SDGs (New York, 21 April 2016)

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Intervention by H.E. Mr. Virachai Plasai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, after the adoption of intergovernmentally agreed conclusions and recommendations at the inaugural ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (New York, 20 April 2016)

UNCTAD [to 23 April 2016]
http://unctad.org/en/Pages/AllPressRelease.aspx

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22 Apr 2016 –
Luxembourg named best place to shop online
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21 Apr 2016 –
Report: cocoa industry reform needed to stop farmers from being left behind
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19 Apr 2016 –
Data protection frameworks must be compatible with international data flows for developing countries to benefit from the global digital economy
UNCTAD/PRESS/PR/2016/010
Geneva, Switzerland, (19 April 2016)
National and regional legal frameworks that protect data in the ever-expanding digital economy are often outdated, incompatible or missing, UNCTAD has found. This will store up problems for the future integration of developing countries into the global economy and threaten the amazing benefits they could derive from cross-border e-commerce.

In a new report, Data Protection Regulations and International Data Flows: Implications for Trade and Development, UNCTAD says that coherent and compatible data protection regimes will be ever-more important in the face of new technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and the Internet of Things. More dialogue between all stakeholders is needed to achieve adequate protection, the report urges…

World Trade Organisation [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Russian Federation ratifies Trade Facilitation Agreement
The Russian Federation has become the 77th WTO member to ratify the new Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The Russian Federation’s Minister of Economic Development, Alexey Ulyukaev, met with Director-General Roberto Azevêdo on 22 April and presented his country’s TFA instrument of acceptance.

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India ratifies Trade Facilitation Agreement
India has ratified the new Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). India’s WTO ambassador Anjali Prasad handed over her country’s instrument of acceptance to Director-General Roberto Azevêdo on 22 April.

IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

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19 APRIL 2016
SDGs roadmap agreed by MPs from Eastern and Central Europe
MPs from seven countries and the European Parliament have pledged at a meeting in Romania to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using an inclusive approach focusing on “People, Peace, Prosperity, Planet and Partnerships”. The Central and Eastern Europe regional seminar in Bucharest on 18 and 19 April was organised by the Romanian Parliament and IPU. In a closing statement, delegates stressed the role of good governance in implementing the SDGs and urged all parliaments to make use of the new toolkit being developed by IPU to help determine whether their working processes are capable of delivering the goals…

International Criminal Court (ICC) [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx

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19/04/2016
ICC Permanent Premises officially opened by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

World Bank [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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The World Bank and France Partner to Strengthen the Climate Resilience of West Africa’s Coasts
NEW YORK, April 21, 2016 — The World Bank and the French Ministry of Environment, Energy, and the Sea announced today a joint effort in support of West African countries to strengthen the resilience…
Date: April 21, 2016 Type: Press Release

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UN Secretary-General and World Bank Group President Appoint the Members of the High-level Panel on Water
WASHINGTON, DC, April 21, 2016 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced today the appointment of 10 Heads of State and Government, as well as…
Date: April 21, 2016 Type: Press Release

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Carbon Pricing Panel – Setting a Transformational Vision for 2020 and beyond
Vision Statement by the Carbon Pricing Panel: Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia Hailemariam Dessalegn, President…
Date: April 21, 2016 Type: Speeches and Transcripts

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Leaders Set Landmark Global Goals for Pricing Carbon Pollution
Call for faster action on carbon pricing to deliver on Paris climate change agreement
April 21, 2016 Type: Press Release
[see Week in Review above for more details]

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Vaccination Boost for Pakistan’s Children: World Bank and Partners Provide New Funding for Immunization
Washington DC, April 21, 2016—The World Bank approved today an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $50 million to increase the availability of vaccines for infectious diseases, including…
Date: April 21, 2016 Type: Press Release
[see Week in Review above for more details]

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Speech by World Bank Group Senior Vice President Mahmoud Mohieldin: Towards Transformative Economic Growth and Regional Integration in Africa
Date: April 20, 2016 Type: Speeches and Transcripts

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Boosting African Agriculture: New AGRA-World Bank Agreement to Support Farming-Led Transformation
Date: April 20, 2016 Type: Press Release

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Global Leaders Launch First-Ever Investment Framework for Nutrition and Call for Immediate Action
Additional nutrition investment of $2.2 billion/year over 10 years could save 2.2 million lives and reduce the number of stunted children by 50 million Washington, DC – Leading researchers and economists…
Date: April 18, 2016 Type: Press Release

IMF [to 23 April 2016]
http://www.imf.org/external/news/default.aspx
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Press Release: International Organizations Take Major Step to Boost Global Cooperation in Tax Matters
April 19, 2016
[see Week in Review above for more details]

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Press Release: African Consultative Group Meeting: Statement by the Chairman of the African Caucus and the Managing Director of the IMF
April 17, 2016
Mr. Abdoulaye Bio-Tchané, Chairman of the African Caucus, and Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), co-chaired the African Consultative Group meeting today at the IMF Headquarters. They issued the following statement after the conclusion of the Group’s meeting in Washington.1

“We had very productive discussions on Africa’s economic prospects, highlighting the near-term policy challenges as well as the continued opportunities. Reflecting the more difficult external economic environment and, in particular, the sharp drop in commodity prices, and tighter financial conditions, growth in Africa is projected to decline to about 3 percent in 2016, the lowest level in a long while. However, there is significant variation in growth performance across countries, with low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa continuing to grow by over 5 ½ percent.”

“We concurred that the decline in commodity prices is likely to be long lasting, as the causes seem structural rather than temporary—including the ongoing rebalancing of demand in China and, in the case of oil, technological innovation that has enhanced supply. We also recognized that non-economic shocks such as weather- and security-related challenges, are posing downside risks to Africa’s economic prospects.”

“Against this backdrop, we agreed that prompt fiscal adjustment is needed to safeguard macroeconomic stability and rebuild policy buffers across the region, especially in oil-exporting countries. We also concurred that, in pursuing these consolidation efforts, country authorities should aim at protecting priority expenditures, such as social expenditures and well-prioritized and efficient infrastructure spending, with a view to ensuring that longer term development goals remain achievable. Furthermore, we agreed that, where feasible, the exchange rate should be allowed to adjust as needed to absorb shocks and improve competitiveness, with central banks’ interventions limited to mitigating disorderly market movements…