2023 - Macroeconomic Policy for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

12th Annual JRCPPF Conference

As many have noted, Africa’s story will drive world history in the coming century. With 46 countries and close to 1.4 billion people, the continent is huge and diverse. It contains some of the world’s most fragile states and is home to some of humanity's most dynamic entrepreneurs. The continent’s population growth rate of 2.7% is more than double that of South Asia, and much of the population boom will happen in the sub-Saharan region. Meeting development goals for both present needs and future investment requires smart policy and coordinated action.

Held on February 23-24, 2023, the twelfth annual JRCPPF conference explored the macroeconomic policies sub-Saharan African countries should pursue to support development, growth, and long-term economic resilience. The conference brought together policymakers, academics, and industry experts to explore four areas that will be critical for catalyzing macroeconomic development: industrial policy, monetary and fiscal policies, macroprudential regulations, and regional integration.

The first day of the conference featured a workshop with young scholars and new research. The following two days featured talks by industry experts and policymakers highlighting innovative new policies in several countries in the region.

2023 Conference Program (slides, presentations)

Keynote Speakers

Abhijit Banerjee

Nobel Laureate, co-recipient of the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel; Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, MIT

Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, MIT

Vera Songwe

Chair of the Board of Directors of the Liquidity & Sustainability Facility (LSF); Co-Chair of the High-Level Panel on Climate Finance

Vera Songwe, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Liquidity & Sustainability Facility (LSF); co-Chair, High-Level Expert Panel on Climate Finance

Vera Songwe, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Liquidity & Sustainability Facility (LSF); co-Chair, High-Level Expert Panel on Climate Finance

Conference Videos

2023 Speakers

Chris Canavan

Chris Canavan, Managing Partner, Lions Head Global Capital
Jill Dauchy

Jill Dauchy, Founder and CEO, Potomac Group
3. Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist and Director of Research, Africa Export-Import Bank

Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist and Director of Research, Africa Export-Import Bank
4. Adnan Khan, Chief Economist and Director of Economics and Evaluation Directorate, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Adnan Khan, Chief Economist and Director of Economics and Evaluation Directorate, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
5. Aart Kraay, Director of Development Policy in the Development Economics Vice Presidency and Deputy Chief Economist, World Bank Group

Aart Kraay, Director of Development Policy in the Development Economics Vice Presidency and Deputy Chief Economist, World Bank Group
6. Cina Lawson, Minister for Digital Economy and Digital Transformation, Govt. of Togo

Cina Lawson, Minister for Digital Economy and Digital Transformation, Govt. of Togo
7. Ibrahim Mayaki, Former CEO, New Economic Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD)

Ibrahim Mayaki, African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems; Former CEO, New Economic Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD)
Jacob Moscona

Jacob Moscona, Prize Fellow in Economics, History, and Politics, Harvard University
9. Victor Murinde, Professor of International Finance, School of Oriental and African Studies; Founding Director and Professor, The African Development Institute at the African Development Bank

Victor Murinde, Professor of International Finance, SOAS; Founding Director, The African Development Institute, AfDB
Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Assistant Professor of Economics, NYU

Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Assistant Professor of Economics, NYU
11. Catherine Pattillo, Deputy Director for the Africa Region, IMF

Catherine Pattillo, Deputy Director for the Africa Region, IMF
Nina Pavcnik
Nina Pavcnik, Niehaus Family Professor in International Studies, Dartmouth College
Richard Rogerson,

Richard Rogerson, Charles and Marie Robertson Professor of Public and International Affairs
13. Zainab Usman, Senior Fellow and Director of the Africa Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Zainab Usman, Senior Fellow and Director of the Africa Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Ethan Kapstein, Visiting Professor of International Affairs, Princeton University

Ethan Kapstein, Visiting Professor and Associate Director of the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project, Princeton University
● Layna Mosley, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University

Layna Mosley, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
Atif Mian

Atif Mian, John H. Laporte, Jr. Class of 1967 Professor of Economics, Public Policy and Finance; Director, Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance, Princeton University
Leonard Wantchekon, James Madison Professor of Political Economy, Princeton University; Founder, African School of Economics

Leonard Wantchekon, James Madison Professor of Political Economy, Princeton University; Founder, African School of Economics

Sponsors

Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance
Empirical Studies of Conflict Project
Program in African Studies
Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies
Princeton School of Public & International Affairs
African School of Economics
African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for African Development
Central Bank of West African States – West African Center for Banking Studies and Training (BCEAO-COFEB)