African Economic Development: What Role Can in the G20 Compact Play?

Under the German Presidency of the G20 in 2017, the Compact with Africa (CWA) was launched with the goal of mobilising private capital and promoting the efficient use of public resources so as to increase private and infrastructure investment in Africa. In this discussion paper, we provide a critical assessment of the role that the CWA could play for African development. We argue that, despite some positive developments since the early 2000s, Africa’s future prospects for sustained and inclusive economic growth remain highly uncertain, and that the CWA has the potential to help address key remaining bottlenecks. Yet, it is far from clear whether the CWA will live up to expectations.