The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, its report entitled ''Investment Trends Monitor''. The document indicates that global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) showed a strong rebound in 2021. In the sub-Saharan region, flows showed a rise of 200%.

New UNCTAD estimates show that FDI flows in sub-Saharan Africa increased by 200% in 2021. According to the Investment Trends Monitor, these flows reached around 88 billion dollars (50,908 billion CFA francs), against 29 billion of dollars (16,747 billion CFA francs) in 2020, exceeding their pre-COVID-19 level. Project financing transactions in the sub-region increased by 12%. At the continental level, African flows of foreign direct investment jumped by 147% reaching a total of 97 billion dollars, or 56,017 billion CFA francs.

Sub-Saharan Africa, the main engine of African growth attracted more FDI unlike North Africa which recorded only 8 billion dollars during the past year. The UNCTAD report details that flows to South Africa jumped to $41 billion (from $3 billion in 2020) due to the $46 billion share swap between the South African multinational Naspers and its Dutch-listed investment unit Prosus. “Most recipients across the continent have seen a moderate increase in FDI; the total for the region more than doubled, inflated by a single intra-company financial transaction in South Africa in the second half of 2021,” the report said.