Good Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa

I welcome this publication from the International Monetary Fund, which highlights the critical importance of governance and integrity in combating corruption. We urgently need to find innovative approaches to addressing corruption in all its manifestations. The focus of this text on identifying how reform pathways can be effective in fragile states is particularly welcome. Every corrupt deal that is struck reduces the resources available in the world's poorest nations to meet the aspirations of their citizens for sustainable development."Right Honorable Helen Clark Chair, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Board

"Governance is decisive in development. In Botswana it harnessed diamonds to become the fastest-growing economy in the world and escape mass poverty, while in Sierra Leone it turned diamonds into a disaster that crashed the society into deeper poverty and civil war. The staff of the African Department of the IMF has accumulated the region's most comprehensive experience of how governance affects society, and this book distills its wisdom. The IMF cannot substitute for bad governance: each country is different, and the struggle for a state that works effectively for the goals of a society can only be won by the society itself. But this book will be valuable for the courageous people who will spread successes like Botswana's around Africa."Paul Collier Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Oxford University

"Breaking from its narrower technocratic and financial focus of the past, six years ago the IMF recognized that weak governance and corruption are 'macro-critical' and paid more attention to these challenges. After the recent COVID-19 emergency financing period, it is welcome to see a serious IMF volume on governance coming to light, signaling that good governance matters for financial stability and development. The book rigorously draws from the knowledge of multiple staff authors, with a focus on Africa. We hope also to see major governance initiatives in the future addressing macro-critical aspects in other regions, since they afflict all corners of the globe."Daniel Kaufmann President Emeritus, Natural Resource Governance Institute, and former Director at the World Bank