This cross-country project will trace the evolution of such local firms and analyse their impact on growth in their respective sectors. It will attempt to isolate proactive policy from their experiences to help reduce the need for collusion along with providing the correct incentives for local firms that want to invest.

Analysis suggests systemic reform will be difficult to achieve in extractives in Nigeria given the distribution of power. Our approach will be to collect data and map the interdependent network of policies and rents in force in the sector. This will help us gain a much clearer idea of where the capture takes place and the extent of the damage.

This project will examine centralised and technology-enhanced distribution modalities that have recently been introduced into fertiliser subsidy programmes in Nigeria and Tanzania - two of the largest in Africa. While the new distribution modalities are intended to reduce leakage of vouchers via local government administrations through bypassing intermediations, they present their own challenges.