Global foreign direct investment collapsed in 2020, falling by 42% to an estimated $859 billion from $1.5 trillion in 2019. FDI finished 2020 more than 30% below the trough after the global financial crisis in 2009 and back at a level last seen in the 1990s.
The decline was concentrated in developed countries, where FDI flows fell by 69% to an estimated $229 billion. Flows to Europe dried up completely to -4 billion, including large negative flows in several countries. A sharp decrease was also recorded in the United States (-49%) to $134 billion.
The decline in developing economies was relatively measured at -12% to an estimated $616 billion. The share of developing economies in global FDI reached 72% – the highest share on record. China topped the ranking of the largest FDI recipients.
Global investment down 42% In 2020, further weakness expected in 2021
Development institutions launch capacity-building project for women entrepreneurs
FinDev Canada, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and its subsidiary, Proparco, have announced the launch of a capacity-building project for women entrepreneurs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This project follows the 2X Invest2Impact,business competition created in 2019 to identify and support the growth of roughly 100 high-potential, women-owned small or medium enterprises (SMEs) in five East African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
The project’s main objective is to offer a range of financial and non-financial capacity-building measures to 2X Invest2Impact partner SMEs to help them to address the key challenges they face, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This capacity-building project specifically aims to help participating entrepreneurs overcome the current crisis and support the development of effective business strategies and investment readiness so they can raise the necessary funds to ensure their growth and sustainability.
AstraZeneca launches PUMUA Initiative to redefine asthma care
The Initiative was designed in consultation and collaboration with government, healthcare societies and respiratory health experts to strengthen local health systems and centres to improve paediatric and adult asthma management across both the public and private sectors. The Africa PUMUA Initiative will support fundamental changes needed to advance clinical practice aligned to the Non Communicable Disease (NCD) service decentralisation programme roll-out by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health.
Globally, more than 339 million people are living with asthma, with an estimated over 40 million people with asthma in Africa.The World Health Organisation (WHO) cautions that over 80% of asthma-related deaths occur in low-and lower-middle income countries.
Guinea Worm cases fell 50% in 2020, Carter Center Reports
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of human Guinea worm cases was cut in half to just 27 in 2020, The Carter Center announced.
The 27 human cases of Guinea worm disease across six African countries mark a 50% decline from the number of cases reported in 2019. Guinea worm infections in animals fell 20% in the same period, the Center reported. When The Carter Center established itself as a pioneer in neglected tropical disease elimination by assuming leadership of the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program in 1986, about 3.5 million human cases occurred annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia.
“The numbers we are seeing are very encouraging,” said Jason Carter, chair of the Center Board of Trustees. “However, the target number is zero a complete, sustained absence of human cases and infections in animals and we will not stop pushing until we get there.”
During 2020, only 12 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported in Chad, a dramatic 75 percent reduction from 48 the previous year. Eleven cases were reported in Ethiopia, and one each in South Sudan, Angola, Mali, and Cameroon. As for Guinea worm infections in animals, Chad reported 1,570 (1,507 domestic dogs, 61 domestic cats, and two wild cats), Ethiopia reported 15 (eight domestic dogs, three domestic cats, four baboons), and Mali reported eight infected domestic dogs.
