Participation in Regional and Global Value Chains As a Driver of Structural Change in Africa

The objective of this report is to invigorate and deepen the discussion about structural change in Africa and the appropriate trade and industrial policies that will allow countries in Africa to drive employment growth in higher value-added activities. This is based around (i) analytical work that clearly identifies the links from participation in RVCs and GVCs with structural change and development outcomes; (ii) an analysis of implications of current approaches to trade and industrial policies and how these could be reformed to allow African countries to better capitalize on the opportunities to drive structural change through participation in RVCs and GVCs. The analysis looks at national policies, the importance of regional cooperation, and coordination through regional economic communities and the implications for the Continental Free Trade Area in Africa and agreements with third countries, such as the EU and the US.

The World Bank came into formal existence in 1945 following the international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements. It is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. The organization’s activities are focused on education, health, agriculture and rural development, environmental protection, establishing and enforcing regulations, infrastructure development, governance and legal institutions development. The World Bank is made up of two unique development institutions owned by its 185 Member Countries. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) focuses on middle income and creditworthy poor countries and the International Development Association (IDA), which focuses on the poorest countries in the world.