AERC used this conference as the primary dissemination vehicle for the outputs of the growth in fragile and post conflict states in Africa research project. The goal was to support informed policy dialogue, and thus policy making, in relation to fragility of economic growth in African economies. Appropriately characterizing and addressing the drivers of fragility is central to reducing fragility of growth in African economies. This is fundamental to African countries realizing robust, resilient and inclusive growth. Although Africa weathered the 2008 global financial crisis fairly well, growth has not recovered appreciably. The first paper by Prof. Andrew McKay, University of Sussex, United Kingdom titled Anatomy of Fragility and the Fragility of Growth in Africa focused on measuring fragility, causes of fragility including natural resource management, and why fragility matters. The paper explored the micro-foundations of fragility, including the differential exposure to fragility at the individual, household, sub-national/sectoral, and national levels. The second synthesis paper on Fragility and Macroeconomic Management presented by Prof. Alemayehu Geda, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia had two broad objectives. First, the paper demonstrated how state fragility affects macroeconomic outcomes in sub-Saharan African economies and identified the transmission mechanisms. Secondly,
the paper considered macroeconomic policy and macroeconomic management questions in relation to state fragility. The third paper by Prof. Make Hoeffler, University of Konstanz, Germany and Dr. Janvier Nkurunziza, United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Switzerland
with the title From Fragility to Economic Recovery and Development: Rebuilding the Economy for Inclusive Growth and Development explored broad, overarching issues relating to post-conflict recovery and stabilization programmes as well as post-conflict capital accumulation. The fourth and last synthesis paper on Reversing Fragility in African Economies through Inclusive Growth by Prof. Nicholas Ngepa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, addressed the question of how to promote resilient households, societies and economies in Africa through inclusive growth and equitable access to employment, basic services and shared benefits from natural resource endowments. The paper also addressed the implications of fragility for poverty and inequality, as well as firm production and export dynamics in the face of state fragility.
