Can Special Economic Zones deliver on their promise of structural transformation for Africa? A new study shows that while they have not always lived up to expectations, they are evolving — and could become powerful tools for inclusive growth on the continent. Continue reading A new start for Africa’s Special Economic Zones?
Frontier economies are hard to invest in but hold big potential. With the right approach, DFIs can unlock both growth and profits in these markets. Here are six lessons for policy makers. Continue reading Investing in frontier markets: What DFIs need to know
Around the world, young people are turning to protest as electoral politics fails to address their grievances. So what do today’s young people want- and are policy makers prepared to respond? Continue reading From Kenya’s ‘Gen Z protests’ to the world: Youth as a global constituency
Digital trade offers major benefits for Africa. But a lack of comprehensive frameworks is preventing Africa from reaching its e-commerce potential. Here’s what Africa’s policy makers should prioritise. Continue reading What’s holding back Africa’s digital trade revolution?
By Daniel Cash, Associate Professor at Aston University and Senior Fellow at the UN University Centre for Policy Research
Africa is in a debt crisis. On the continent, interest payments on debt have risen by 132% over the past decade. Thirty-two African countries now commit more to servicing debt than they do investing in healthcare, and 25 spend more on debt than education. In September, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned about the potential of social unrest across Africa due to lack of access to effective debt relief. Past debt crises in Africa have been met with internationally co-ordinated responses, but this time, similar efforts have failed.
Continue reading “To fix Africa’s debt crisis, reform credit ratings “By Cleo Rose-Innes, Independent Advisor and Analyst
Reaching net-zero fossil fuel emissions by 2050 appears increasingly achievable. Investments in clean energy continue to grow, and the International Energy Agency and others predict that fossil fuel consumption will be in permanent decline within the next five years.
While this is good news for the planet and all those coping with climate change, it will reshape many economies, especially large African countries dependent on fossil fuels for fiscal and export revenue.
By Efe Ukala, Founder of ImpactHER
As Africa stands on the cusp of a digital revolution, a stark reality emerges: women and girls are being left behind. As the sun rises over Mbiri, Nigeria, Nkem is already awake in her family’s modest home on the outskirts of town. Nkem, 22, is preparing for her weekly ritual – a 90-minute walk to the city centre where she can access the Internet at a local café because she lacks a laptop, and her phone is not Internet-enabled. This journey, costing her nearly a day’s wages for just two hours online, exemplifies the digital divide facing millions of African women.
Continue reading “Is Africa’s digital revolution leaving women behind? “
By Anzetse Were, Senior Economist and Green Finance Advisor at FSD Kenya
Recently headlines in Africa have been filled with African tech companies announcing that they are closing, filing for bankruptcy, entering into administration, implementing massive lay-offs and/or substantially cutting back their operations. Most of these companies were once regarded as a new dawn of entrepreneurship from the continent and examples of African companies that would not only become leaders in Africa, but also global leaders providing innovation solutions to global challenges.
Continue reading “What’s Ailing Start-up Tech Firms in Africa?”
By Anzetse Were, Development Economist and Senior Economist, FSD Kenya
Discussions on green and climate finance in Africa often dwell on two issues. The first is why it’s so difficult to scale-up this type of financing on the continent. The second is the issue of layered risk: some are not keen to layer ‘ESG’ risk on top of ‘Africa’ risk in investments.
Continue reading “What does Climate Risk really mean for African economies?”
Par Will Mbiakop, Président exécutif, African Sports and Creative Institute et Federico Bonaglia, Directeur adjoint, Centre de développement de l’OCDE
Le marché du sport représente aujourd’hui environ 5 % du PIB mondial, avec une croissance annuelle de 4 % à l’échelle mondiale entre 2015 et 2020. L’écrasante majorité de cette richesse est cependant concentrée en Amérique du Nord et en Europe, et certaines régions du globe restent sur la touche. Pour réaliser le potentiel inexploité de l’industrie du sport comme levier de développement en Afrique, il faut faire connaitre les opportunités économiques qu’elle recèle, tout en améliorant le cadre général de l’investissement, le sujet au cœur du rapport Dynamiques du développement en Afrique 2023 : Investir dans le développement durable.
Continue reading “Investir dans l’industrie du sport en Afrique : un levier de développement inexploité”