Afreximbank has outlined a six-pillar policy roadmap for African economies to strengthen resilience, diversify growth, and build long-term sustainability amid global macroeconomic uncertainty. The recommendations are included in the Bank’s July 2025 Monthly Developments in the African Macroeconomic Environment report.
The reform agenda comes as the continent continues to navigate the impacts of trade fragmentation, inflationary pressure, and currency volatility. While some economies show signs of recovery, Afreximbank emphasises the need for coordinated policy action to consolidate gains and address structural vulnerabilities.
Industrialisation and Food Security
The report recommends accelerating industrialisation and reducing overreliance on commodity exports by promoting value-added manufacturing, digital economies, and services. It also calls for enhanced agricultural productivity and agro-processing to improve food security, reduce import dependence, and generate employment.
Deepening Regional Integration
To unlock the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Afreximbank advises governments to boost intra-African trade, strengthen supply chain resilience, and improve market access for small and medium-sized enterprises. Investment in cross-border infrastructure, including transport, energy, and digital connectivity, is also highlighted as a priority.
Fiscal and Debt Management
The report urges African countries to enhance domestic resource mobilisation through more efficient tax systems and broader tax bases, while also tackling illicit financial flows. It calls for transparent debt management frameworks, adoption of medium-term debt strategies, and the exploration of debt-for-development swaps. Engagement with multilateral institutions for restructuring unsustainable debt is also recommended.
Monetary and Financial Stability
Afreximbank advises central banks to maintain vigilant monetary policy aimed at balancing inflation control with support for economic growth, particularly amid volatile global interest rates. It also calls for strengthened financial supervision to mitigate systemic risks and ensure credit access for productive sectors, with a focus on SMEs and green investments.
Human Capital and Climate Resilience
Increased investment in education, healthcare, and skills development is encouraged to align the workforce with the needs of emerging growth sectors. Climate adaptation and mitigation should be mainstreamed into national planning frameworks to address long-term vulnerabilities from climate-related shocks.
Institutional Reform and Governance
The final pillar focuses on promoting good governance, data transparency, and regulatory predictability to boost investor confidence. The report recommends building institutional capacity for evidence-based policymaking and rapid response to external shocks.
The six-pillar framework provides responses to the macroeconomic challenges outlined in the report. While growth prospects remain uneven across the continent, Afreximbank’s recommendations emphasise structural transformation and regional cooperation as central to long-term stability and prosperity.
