Cote d'Ivoire
This paper responds to the need to examine with empirical data the way in which women and children have been affected by recession and structural adjustment. A careful analysis of the impact on women (as compared to men) in developing countries has not been undertaken before with this kind of data. To facilitate our understanding of the Ivorian household survey data, we also used existing sociological and anthropological studies. These studies formed the basis of our interpretation of socio-cultural structures, economic exchanges between men and women within the household, the sexual division of labour for certain tasks and types of employment (and on different crops: export/food production for the rural areas) and the way in which different sources of income are allocated to given expenditures and by whom. The essential point is that adjustment and other programmes can provide realistic opportunities and incentives for productive activities for men and women which are based on ...
Côte d'Ivoire: Stock of Total External Debt (percentage of GDP) and Debt Service (percentage of exports of goods and services) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
Côte d'Ivoire: Real GDP Growth and Per Capita GDP (USD/PPP at current prices) appears in African Economic Outlook 2009.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE HAS BEEN IN A STATE of socio-political crisis since 1990, marked by: i) a coup d’état in 1999; ii) contested elections in 2000, which brought President Laurent Gbagbo to power; and iii) an armed internal conflict since 2002. The situation has caused a slowdown in economic growth. Following a long reconciliation process and the signature, on 4 March 2007, of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement (APO) by all key players in the crisis, the country’s political situation is gradually returning to normal. The holding of the presidential election scheduled for late 2009 is nonetheless crucial to the improvement of the political and economic landscape.
DEPUIS LA FIN DES ANNÉES, la Côte d’Ivoire est confrontée à une crise sociopolitique marquée par : i) le coup d’État survenu en 1999 ; ii) les élections contestées de 2000 qui ont porté au pouvoir Laurent Gbagbo, actuel président de la République ; et iii) le conflit armé interne de 2002. Cette situation a entraîné un ralentissement de la croissance économique. Après un long processus de réconciliation et suite à la signature de l’accord politique de Ouagadougou (APO) par tous les protagonistes de la crise, le 4 mars 2007, la situation politique du pays se normalise progressivement. La tenue de l’élection présidentielle, prévue avant la fin de l’année 2009, reste toutefois indispensable à l’amélioration de la situation politique et économique du pays.
The Constitution of Côte d’Ivoire prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and government policy encourages full participation by women in social and economic life. Nevertheless, Ivorian women remain confined to traditional roles, especially in rural areas.
Le redressement entamé par l’économie ivoirienne s’est poursuivi en 2009, malgré le contexte de crise internationale. La croissance s’est élevée à 3.6 % en 2009 et l’inflation a reculé, grâce à un bon approvisionnement du marché local et un dégel des prix internationaux. La réunification du pays, entre anciennes zones rebelles du Centre Nord Ouest (CNO) et régions contrôlées par l’armée régulière, a permis d’amortir le choc de la crise. Le pays a en effet renoué avec les bailleurs de fonds et engagé une politique budgétaire prudente. D’autres facteurs positifs ont joué en 2009, tels que la bonne pluviométrie et l’évolution favorable des cours du café, du cacao et du pétrole. La reprise devrait se consolider en 2010, si les élections présidentielle et législatives, plusieurs fois reportées, se déroulent dans un climat de paix. Dans cette hypothèse, la croissance devrait s’élever à 3.9 % en 2010 et 4.5 % en 2011.
The recovery of the Ivorian economy continued in 2009, despite the context of international crisis. Growth reached 3.6% in 2009 and inflation fell, thanks to good supply conditions on the local market and a thaw in international prices. The reunification of the country, uniting former rebel areas in the Centre-Northwest zone with the regions controlled by the regular army, helped to soften the shock of the economic crisis. The country has restored relations with its donors and has adopted a prudent budgetary stance. Other positive factors had an effect in 2009, such as ample rainfall and the favourable trend in coffee, cocoa and oil prices. The recovery should continue in 2010 if the often-postponed presidential and legislative elections take place peacefully. If this is the case, growth should continue to rise to 3.9% in 2010 and 4.5% in 2011.
The political impasse in Côte d'Ivoire following the second round of the presidential elections on 28 November 2010 turned into an armed conflict between the defence and security forces led by the outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo and the republican forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the elected president recognised by the international community. After several days of heavy fighting, the pro-Ouattara forces arrested Gbagbo and several of his aides while they were in the bunker of the presidential palace. The escalation of the violence and the use of heavy weaponry have increased the civilian death toll to more than 900 according to the UN, with thousands more injured and massive numbers of Ivorian refugees, especially in neighbouring Liberia and Ghana.