The Southern Africa Cluster
Background
The Southern Africa/Indian Ocean/Southern African Development Community (SADC) region contains 16 countries and 261 million inhabitants.
It is one the wealthiest regions in Africa with an average GDP per capita of $5,019, primarily derived from a considerable stock of natural resources and minerals.
Southern Africa has the world’s largest reserves of platinum, gold, titanium, iron and diamonds.
Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) have long been the world’s largest producers of gem and industrial diamonds respectively. South Africa is the world’s second largest gold producer.
Other key minerals produced in the region include oil and gas, copper and coal. The region is also known for such cash crops as coffee, cotton, sugar, vanilla and tobacco.
With its vast wealth and higher than average GDP per capita (South Africa’s GDP per capita is $10,000 and Botswana’s is $13,300), Southern Africa is distinct from the rest of Africa. However, it contains some of the continent’s most politically unstable countries, namely Zimbabwe, Comoros and Madagascar.
About the B&M Southern Africa Cluster (SAC)
B&M’s Southern Africa Cluster (SAC) is a highly specialized research group of B&M analysts that provides clients with timely analysis on political, economic, security and social developments affecting Southern Africa, and forecasts the impact of these developments on a client’s bottom-line.
The Applications for Business and Investment
SAC analysts help clients incorporate political risk management into their plans for business in Southern Africa, especially at the point of entry and expansion.
Our flexible research model and pioneering AfriRisk Index©, the first comparative country risk index modeled to distinctively monitor, measure, and forecast political, economic, social, and security risks unique to Africa, can be adapted to track categories of risks prevalent in Southern Africa and pertinent to a client’s investment plans.
SAC analysts also advise NGOs, non-profits, foreign aid donors, multilateral organizations and foreign governments (municipal, provincial and national), and help them (and other clients) monitor and manage the political risks of engaging institutions operating at the sub-regional level, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
For more information, please contact the Southern Africa Cluster (SAC) directly at sac@bmconsultancy.net
Southern Africa Cluster Analysts
In addition to being experts on general African politics, history and business, SAC analysts are particularly well-versed on and well-traveled within Southern Africa, possessing the requisite language skills.
They monitor all developments affecting Southern Africa, including those occurring within and outside the region.
The SAC is supported by field research analysts and on-the-ground monitors based in several Southern African countries, strategically positioned to help our clients navigate and manage the day-to-day political, security and social risks of doing business on the ground.
The Space
SAC conducts its research on a sub-regional, national, state, provincial, municipal and industry level.
It covers all 16 Southern African countries individually and collectively as members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a sub-regional organization promoting economic integration, trade, foreign investments and conflict resolution.
SAC analysts work in close collaboration with other B&M industry and regional clusters to provide clients with insightful comparative analysis of the business environment across multiple cities, states, countries, and regions.
Coverage Area (16 Countries)
Angola
Botswana
Comoros*
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa)
Lesotho
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Common Research Topics
Mineral extraction in resource-rich countries like South Africa, Botswana and Angola.
Agribusiness with a focus on coffee, cotton, sugar, vanilla, tobacco and other key cash crops produced in the region.
Depleting natural resources in several countries.
The discovery of new reserves of natural resources (i.e. oil and gas reserves) in countries like Zambia and Madagascar.
Increasing integration and connectivity among SADC members.
For more information, please contact the Southern Africa Cluster (SAC) directly at sac@bmconsultancy.net |
