This fact-filled reference book brings the reader the latest available economic information for most of the economies of Africa.  Drawing on the expertise of both the African Development Bank and the OECD, it opens with an overview that examines the international environment, macroeconomic performance, progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals, and governance and political issues. This edition includes a special focus on technical and vocational skills development. The second part provides individual country reports for 35 countries.  Each country report provides an assessment of recent economic performance, projections for 2008 and 2009, an examination of structural issues, and a discussion of the political and social context.  The statistical annex presents 24 tables comparing economic and social variables across all the countries of Africa.