Sustainable Development, Digitalization, and the Green Economy in Africa Post-COVID-19 (International Political Economy Series)

This book examines sustainable development in the broader framework of Africa post COVID-19. Specifically, the book studies governance and digitalization from the perspective of natural environment management, climate change, the green economy, as well as agriculture and education. Digitalization supports the deepening of natural resource governance by assessing extractive practices, sovereign wealth funds and the emerging discourse on global warming and green economic policies. This analytical exercise will better inform economic and socio-political policies and institutions for African development. The book, against the backdrop of the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063, offers unique insights on digitalization, governance, the green economy, and natural resource regime in Africa post COVID-19. Acknowledgments 6 Contents 8 Notes on Contributors 10 Acronyms 15 List of Figures 17 List of Boxes 18 Part I Sustainable Development, Digitalization, and the Green Economy in Africa Post-COVID-19 19 1 Sustainable Development, Digitalization, and the Green Economy in Post-COVID-19 Africa 20 Introduction and Problem 20 Overview of the Chapters 24 Concluding Remarks 28 References 28 2 Beyond the Rhetoric: Digitalization Policy for Resilience in Africa Post-COVID-19 30 Introduction 30 Digitalization, Innovation, Capacity Building, and COVID-19: A Theoretical Overview 33 Digitalization, Science, and Innovation in Africa: A Survey 37 Digitalization and Capacity Building in Africa Post-COVID-19 43 Policy Options and Conclusion 48 References 51 3 Politics Versus Reality: The African State and Governance Post-COVID-19 57 Introduction 57 Theorizing Good Governance: An Overview 59 Good Governance & Public Policy in Africa 62 Good Governance and COVID-19 in Africa: An Analysis 65 Policy Recommendations & the Way Forward 71 Conclusion 77 References 78 Part II Natural Resources Governance and Socio-Economic Systems 84 4 Reimagining Natural Resources Governance in Africa: Is Digitalization the Game Changer? 85 Introduction 85 Natural Resources: Theoretical Discussions and Literature Review 87 Transnational Initiatives & Digitalization of Natural Resources Governance and Management in Africa 90 Challenges & Obstacles in Natural Resource Production, Governance, and Management in Africa 96 Natural Resource Governance: Charting the Path Forward 100 Conclusion 106 References 107 5 Assessing Extractive Natural Resources and Digitalization of Governance Initiatives in Africa: Rethinking Questions of Decline and Resilience 115 Introduction 115 Theoretical Discussions & Literature Review 116 Digitalization of Africa’s Extractives Sector 122 Problems and Challenges with Digitalization Processes 125 Digitalization, Good Governance, and a Revised Extractives Landscape: The Way Forward 128 Conclusion 131 References 132 6 Natural Resources Management, Sovereign Wealth Fund, and the Green Economy: Digitalization, Policies, and Institutions for Sustainable Development in Africa 138 Introduction 138 Natural Resources Management and the SWF in Africa 141 Sustainable Development and Digitalization: The Green Economy and Rare Minerals 146 Natural Resources Management and the Green Economy in Africa 150 Policy Directions and Conclusion 155 References 157 Part III The Green Economy, Digitalization and The Race To 2030 164 7 Fostering Africa’s Digital Trade in Services and Green Economy Post-COVID-19 165 Introduction 165 Green Economy Approaches 168 Services Sector and Digital Trade in the Wake of Africa’s Transition to a Green Economy 171 Digitalization, Servicification, and the African Reality 176 Country-and Region-Specific Cases of the Value of Digitalization to Issues of Servicification 179 Conclusion 181 References 182 8 Green Economic Policies in Africa 187 Introduction 187 Green Policies in Africa 190 Green Energy Policies 190 Green Economy Policies 192 Transport and Agriculture 193 The Challenges of Pursuing Green Economic Policies in Africa 194 The Prospects of Green Economic Policies in Africa: The Case of Senegal 199 Oil Discovery in Senegal 201 Conclusion 203 References 204 9 Digitalization of What We Eat and How We Think in Africa Post-COVID-19 210 Introduction 210 Digitalization of Agriculture and Higher Education: A Theoretical Overview 213 Digitalization and African Universities: The Landscape of Tertiary Agricultural Institutions 217 Digitalization of What We Eat and How We Think in Africa: Analysis and Critique 221 Policy Options and Conclusion 227 References 230 10 The African State, Sustainable Development, Digitalization, Green Economy in Africa Post-COVID-19 238 Introduction 238 Political Leadership and Social Change 241 Future Challenges, Youth, and Civil Society 243 Conclusion 248 References 249 Index 253