Africa
Sarb paper questions assumption that government debt is low risk
Banks may need to reduce exposure to sovereign debt instruments as fiscal risk rises
Malawi picks G+D for currency processing contract
German-based firm already provides processing services to the Federal Reserve
Governance Benchmarks 2021 report – the frameworks that rule central banks
Benchmarking data offers insights on appointments, legal structures, powers, independence and more
Ghana’s central bank cuts interest rates to 13.5%
Inflationary pressures have all but disappeared, central bank says
The Belt and Road Initiative 2021 Survey – The impact of Covid‑19 on the BRI
The fourth annual Belt and Road Initiative survey reveals that the Covid‑19 pandemic has disrupted many projects despite China remaining committed to financing the initiative, which is expected to support future economic growth and environmental…
Greening the central banks
What are members of the NGFS doing to ‘green’ their own operations? Officials from the central banks of Belgium, Canada and Morocco highlight some of their initiatives
Emerging-market central banks lead on women’s empowerment
EME central banks have more women at staff level and in senior positions, but there are deep disparities worldwide
Payment innovation is top fintech research priority for central banks
CBDC ranked second as central banks explore wider implications of fintech for payments
IMF adjusts growth forecasts upward
Fund warns of uneven and unequal recovery, but is more optimistic than it was in October
Large economy central banks more likely to employ CTO
Slight majority of central banks employ CTO, but differences are clearer when sorted by GDP
Bank of Ghana using data to close gender financial inclusion gap
New systems collect gender-disaggregated data on a number of financial products and services
‘Do bank supervisors wear too many hats?’ asks BIS paper
Many countries require array of mandates beyond “safety and soundness”, authors say
The untapped potential of transaction data
Covid-19 has highlighted the need for central banks to have more timely information, questioning whether high-frequency indicators are being used to their full potential.
IMF urges São Tomé and Príncipe central bank to support recovery
Lack of tourism and drop in remittances has caused recession, fund says
Ghana’s central bank launches fintech sandbox
Central bank says it will give preference to firms looking to bolster financial inclusion
Corporate Services Benchmarks 2021 report – trends in financial reporting and administration
Insights on staffing and salaries, technological automation, data security, rule compliance, gender equality and green office spaces in accounting, audit, HR and administration
Ugandan governor given fifth term following national election
Uncertainty surrounds timing of Mutebile’s return to office, as deputy steps in at latest MPC meeting
Kenya’s central bank transfers $45.6m to government
IMF approves pause in fiscal tightening as Kenyan authorities deal with impact of pandemic
Bank of Mozambique hikes policy rate by 300 basis points
MPC cites Covid-19, conflict and natural disasters as it orders increase
New macroeconomic framework needed for recovery – Ghana governor
Public debt levels have breached maximum thresholds and NPLs are likely to climb, Addison says
Nigeria’s central bank unveils sandbox and QR guidelines
Both initiatives should help foster innovation within the payment space
Rwanda’s central bank may need to bolster support – IMF
Lack of fiscal space means central bank may be last resort, says fund report
2020: The year in review
The past 12 months have been marked by crisis-fighting and losses, but also innovation
Vaccine would speed up recovery, Bank of Uganda reports
Higher levels of NPLs and high lending rates are hampering growth, report says, but vaccine could result in swift recovery