The continent, home to over one — sixth of the world’s population, faces significant development challenges, including a heavy disease burden and limited access to essential services.
In this context, the use of cost — benefit analysis (CBA) is gaining traction as a tool to help African nations make smarter development choices.
In September 2025, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, highlighting the challenges faced by health clinics across the WHO African Region, pointed out the need for a more efficient allocation of resources.
He emphasized the importance of reimagining health in Africa, focusing on foundational priorities, anticipating future threats, and investing in homegrown talent.
The Copenhagen Consensus Center hosted a three — day seminar in Johannesburg from 15-17, aiming to improve how governments in Southern Africa allocate scarce public resources for development.
The event brought together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the role of CBA in making informed decisions.
The World Bank’s document ‘Doing More with Less’underscores the importance of extending access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services to 2. 2 billion and 4. 2 billion people, respectively.
This highlights the need for effective resource allocation to address pressing global challenges.
According to the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa in April 2026, structural reforms are crucial for lowering business costs, boosting competition, and strengthening network sectors to improve productivity and attract investment. CBA plays a vital role in this process by ensuring that investments yield the greatest impact.
Dr.
Baboloki Semele, discussing the importance of making smarter development choices in Southern Africa, noted that interventions should deliver the greatest impact for every dollar invested. This perspective underscores the need for CBA to inform decision-making processes.
Dr.
Bjorn Lomborg, President of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, emphasized that effective governance depends not merely on spending more but on spending wisely. This highlights the importance of CBA in ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.
The use of CBA in Africa is gaining momentum, as governments and organizations seek to optimize resource allocation and maximize the impact of their investments. By providing a framework for evaluating the costs and benefits of various interventions, CBA helps policymakers make informed decisions that align with the needs and priorities of their citizens.
As Africa continues to grapple with development challenges, the adoption of CBA can serve as a cornerstone for resource — efficient development.
By ensuring that resources are allocated to interventions with the highest impact, African nations can make more informed decisions and pave the way for a brighter future. What remains to be seen is how effectively African nations can implement CBA and integrate it into their decision-making processes.
With the right approach and commitment, CBA has the potential to be a game — changer for Africa’s development landscape.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Panafricanvisions
Source: Pan African Visions
