The International Monetary Fund has released its report Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa Navigating Headwinds.

The report indicates that sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is set to register another year of solid growth, although the expansion will be at the lower end of the range registered in recent years, mainly reflecting the severe impact of the sharp decline in oil prices on the region’s oil exporters. In a context of tightening global financial conditions, the large fiscal and current account deficits that prevail in some countries could leave them vulnerable to a potential reduction in external financing. An uneven global recovery and domestic security-related challenges are also risks to the outlook. Against this backdrop, and beyond the immediate effects of the current shock, further progress toward diversification and structural transformation remains crucial to sustain high and inclusive growth, generate jobs for the rapidly growing young population, and foster integration into global value chains.