The Economic Influence of Natural Disaster and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan African Economic Development

Abstract

This article looks at the links among natural disasters, economic development and climate change. It attempts to outline a framework for thinking about these links. The work summarizes the limited knowledge of the long term economic impact of natural disasters. It is essential to draw links among disasters, conflicts, resource management, and other transmission channels to develop an appropriate response to natural disasters. The paper argues that African governments, along with their development partners, need to develop a more robust adaptation and response capability to disasters as part of their overall development planning. The work makes the case for more market-based financing mechanisms than have been used hitherto and for an emphasis on forecasting research. It also argues for more work on the links between climate change and disasters and a novel way of observing the disaster resilience as a continuum to development plans.

Keywords: Climate change, Economic development, Natural disaster, Sub-Saharan Africa