Center Forge-Afrique draws attention to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis

According to a study by professors Idrissa Ouédraogo, director of the doctoral school of the University Aube Nouvelle, and principal lecturer; Dr. Somlanaré Romuald Kinda, teacher-researcher at the University Ouaga 2, and Dr. Patrice Rélouendé Zidouemba, teacher-researcher at the University Nazi-Boni of Bobo-Dioulasso, COVID-19 is keeping the economy of Burkina Faso in suspense.

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The results of their study were presented to the press on April 24th, 2020

At the macroeconomic level, the Covid-19 crisis could lead to a loss of national wealth, ranging from $570 million to $1 billion (345 billion to 645 billion CFA francs). Indeed, this crisis could result in a significant drop in the growth rate of 1.38%, against a projected growth of 6.5%; and then an economic recession with a rate of -1.75%. The public deficit, for its part, could reach -4.53% to -6.12% of GDP, against a forecast deficit, due to the decline in economic activity.

At the sectoral level, the industrial and service sectors could be the most affected. The two are followed by the agricultural sector, which is also feeling the full impact of the crisis. Generally speaking, sectoral production could experience a significant drop of between -3% and -13%, depending on the sector.

Burkina Faso also risks seeing a large part of its export earnings collapse

Indeed, the professors said that sectoral exports could reach -10% for mining products and -16% for cash crop products, due to the fall in sectoral production and the contraction of global demand. Some enterprises will be forced to release a significant part of their employees to survive the crisis, particularly those in the informal sector. They thus note that the rise in unemployment could be between 1.93% and 5.92%. Household purchasing power will be sharply deteriorated for all socio-professional categories.

These results of Forge-Afrique’s research indicate significant impacts, both at the macroeconomic and sectoral levels, and on the well-being of agents. The speakers specified the following: “In conducting this research, the authors seek not to alarm, but to draw attention to the fact that the phenomenon that currently affects us is quite serious in its consequences. After the health consequences, a socio-economic disaster could follow, if the authorities do not adopt in time the adequate measures to recover the national economy.”

The measures taken so far by the Government are not enough

The measures already taken and the budget allocations suggest that this is a management of short-term effects. However, the long-term effects will be by far the most important. They propose to reflect on a global, structuring, and endogenous strategy for economic recovery, which will be based on the country’s internal capacities and on the actual and real needs of agents. Indeed, Burkina Faso will have to rely on its own strengths.

For Professor Idrissa Ouédraogo, the technical and financial partners the country could count on are concerned about managing their own fate. Indeed, he said, the partner on which Burkina Faso relies most, which is the European Union, has resolved to offer $3 billion. This shows the need to restructure the Burkinabe economy. To undertake stimulus measures on both the demand and supply sides; to support households, especially the most vulnerable, and to specifically support companies and sectors in difficulty.

“In addition to these specific actions, some of which are already being implemented, it is important to focus on restructuring the country’s productive apparatus to make it a production system dedicated to satisfying domestic demand and which is mainly based on local raw materials,” the researchers concluded.

The Training, Guidance, and Research Center for Economic Governance in Africa (Forge-Afrique) is a center dedicated to research and analytical and theoretical treatment of national and international economic problems and facts.

The objective is to stimulate contradictory debates on themes of proven interest and topicality. This makes it a center at the service of political decision-makers, local authorities, civil society organizations, businesses, and citizens.

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