Table 4 Fiscal measures implemented by selected African countries [39]

Côte d’Ivoire

The government adopted an emergency response plan of CFAF96billion (178 million USD or 0.3% of GDP). The government announced a package of CFAF 820 billion (USD 1.43 billion or 2.3% GDP) of economic measures to prop the income of the most vulnerable segments of the population through agricultural input support and expanded cash transfers, provide relief to hard-hit sectors and firms, and support public entities in the transport and port sectors to ensure continuity in supply chains.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia initially announced a Br 300million (USD 8.76 million) package to bolster healthcare spending in early March. On 3 April, the Prime Minister’s office announced a COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Preparedness and Response Plan, with prospective costing of interventions. The plan is to be implemented over the following months and will require USD 1.64 billion in funding (about 1.6% GDP).

Nigeria

A fiscal stimulus package in the form of a COVID-19 intervention fund of N500 billion (USD 1.4 billion), has been approved by the President to support healthcare facilities, provide relief for taxpayers, and incentivize employers to retain and recruit staff during the downturn. A presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 was constituted and saddled with the responsibility of meeting and briefing the nation on the day-to-day steps and efforts geared towards containing and curtailing the virus. PTF also make recommendations to the President on the modalities on how to further curtail the spread of the disease which is now in the community transmission phase.

Senegal

The government has set up an emergency fund of up to CFAF 1000billion (USD 1.74 billion, 7% of GDP), financed by a mix of donor contributions, voluntary donations from the private sector, and the budget. The Fund will be used to support vulnerable households and firms.

South Africa

The government is assisting companies and workers facing distress through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and special programmes from the Industrial Development Corporation. Additional funds are being made available for the health response to COVID-19, workers with an income below a certain threshold will receive a small tax subsidy during the next four months, and the most vulnerable families will receive temporarily higher social grant amounts for the next six months. A new 6-month COVID-19 grant was also created to cover unemployed workers that do not receive grants or UIF benefits and the number of food parcels for distribution was increased. Funds are available to assist Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) under stress

Uganda

The authorities have used part of their Contingency Fund in the FY2019/20 budget to finance approximately 1/5 of the Ministry of Health Preparedness and Response Plan from January to June 2020 (about USD 1.3million from a total of USD 7million). The government has passed a supplementary budget of about USD 80 million to support critical sectors such as health and security at the frontline of this pandemic. The government is working closely with the private sector and other stakeholders on measures to stimulate the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.