What do African policy leaders need from inequality research now? 

The African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research at the University of Cape Town, the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics, the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research and the World Bank invite you to join online for the public component of a high-level policy roundtable convened as part of the launch programme for the African Inequality Review (AIR).

AIR is a multi-country research initiative established to advance understanding of inequality in Africa and strengthen the evidence available to those shaping policy across the continent. Guided by a high-level Expert Panel, it draws on African leadership and wide institutional partnerships to advance a research agenda grounded in the questions policymakers most need answered.

The discussion will consider what African policy leaders need from inequality research now: where the most consequential evidence gaps lie, which inequality questions warrant greater attention, and how research can be more closely connected to policymaking across the continent. 

Programme contributors

  • Trevor Manuel, former Minister of Finance, South Africa
  • Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Chair of the African Inequality Review Expert Panel
  • Prof. Patricia Justino, Director, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
  • Dr Andrew Dabalen, Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank
  • Prof. Francisco H. G. Ferreira, Amartya Sen Professor of Inequality Studies and Director, International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Emeritus Prof. Murray Leibbrandt, University of Cape Town Research Chair in Poverty and Inequality.

Panel chair

Michael Sachs, Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of South Africa

Panellists

  • Dr Anda David, Senior Economist, Agence Française de Développement; Scientific Coordinator, EU–AFD Facility on Inequalities
  • Prof. Carlos Lopes, Honorary Professor, Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town and former Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Prof. François Bourguignon, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Paris School of Economics and former Chief Economist, World Bank
  • Dr Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme) and Chief Economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Prof. Patricia Justino, Director, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
     

Audience participation

Registered online participants will be invited to contribute questions and perspectives during the public component of the programme. The priorities emerging from the event will inform the AIR Expert Panel’s development of the initiative’s research agenda.