Africa
Academics miss out on central bank background briefings
After journalists, private sector analysts are offered briefings most often
Fintech communication is most challenging for central banks
Central banks view fintech as greatest challenge, but rate monetary policy communication highly
Bank of Ghana launches local gold-buying programme
Central bank aims to double gold reserves over the next five years and support local mining industry
Uganda’s central bank cuts rates to historic lows
Uncertainty around the future path of Covid-19 weighs on growth prospects, governor says
Monetary policy must be climate-friendly, Bank of Ghana official says
It is ‘paramount’ for central banks to incorporate climate risks into monetary policy, official says
The winners of the 2021 FinTech RegTech Global Awards
Fourth annual tech awards recognise excellence among central banks and the firms they work with
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
How are central banks governed? Benchmarking data offers insights on appointments, legal structures, powers, decision-making bodies, independence and more
Ghana’s central bank cuts interest rates to 13.5%
Inflationary pressures have all but disappeared, central bank says, but uncertainty around new variants could undermine recovery
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, with childcare availability appearing to be a major cause
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