“This paper has examined the channels through which the economic crisis could have an impact on human development in sub-Saharan Africa, and also the historical evidence for the size of these impacts. Using growth projections to 2014 for the countries in the region, and a range of observed trends, it has modeled possible impacts on the MDGs, and demonstrated how the crisis could lead to real slow-downs in the rate of progress. Based on these results the paper suggests that a series of active policy interventions are needed both to accelerate progress towards the MDGs and to
build resilience for the future. These include accelerating trends (rather than maintaining levels) in effective expenditure on the MDGs, maintaining both the quality and quantity of services in education, improving the quality and reach of real time monitoring and assessment mechanisms and
addressing systemic flaws related to food security and climate change.”
