Building Resilience in the Post-COVID African Economy: An Intersectional Perspective Based on Socio-Economic Modelling and the Indigenous Knowledge Base

This chapter presents the case for following the strategies outlined in this book by examining pandemic relief and development policies through a case study of South Africa during COVID-19. The argument also can be used to create a broader understanding about problems facing other African and developing countries during such crises. Specifically, it evaluates the strengths and limits of the government’s development policy approach applied to a programme of recovery and future development. Furthermore, it proposes a more socially relevant quantitatively derived package through a model-based counterfactual policy experiment that can connect immediate relief with long-run development policies from a socially embedded capabilities perspective. The chapter uses an intersectional approach and utilizes an updated 2015 South African Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) to identify the production sectors that are not only the most impacted and are the most vulnerable, but also have room for maximal future development. It also makes a preliminary attempt to posit possible improvements in people’s well-being based on indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge systems can be integrated with modified existing public health models. Our multisectoral analysis highlights the importance of the indigenous knowledge base in evaluations of people’s well-being. Our study finds specific production activities such as agriculture, construction, land transport, mining and real estate sectors to be labour-intensive and vital to the economy. With proper modifications, the methodology and framework used for South Africa will be applicable for other developing countries. This will help direct immediate resources strategically and efficiently to key areas of the developing economies for optimal development from a capabilities perspective.