Thought Leader

Hidden economy: Why women are already Africa’s most powerful industrialists

Every Women’s Month, we talk about empowerment. We talk about inclusion. We talk about closing gaps. But perhaps the real question is: what if women had never been absent from the economy in the first place? What if we have simply been measuring economic power incorrectly? Traditional economic metrics tell us that women are underrepresented. […]

I finally took a tour of Ponte

I finally took a tour of Ponte

The city landmark is not just a story about urban decay. It is also about what happens when a city loses control and what it takes to get that back

World war of economics

World war of economics

An interconnected world has rendered us interdependent but also vulnerable to shock across economic geographies, forcing distinct national responses

IFC’s new gas projects will destroy Africa

IFC’s new gas projects will destroy Africa

This is a familiar pattern. International financial institutions socialise risk and privatise profit, while invoking development rhetoric to justify fossil fuel expansion in the Global South. Similar projects would be politically untenable in the Global North

A glance beyond the 6 July presser

A glance beyond the 6 July presser

The public confrontation between senior officials, the establishment of inquiries and the intense public debate surrounding the allegations all indicate that accountability mechanisms, although imperfect, are still functioning

The second scramble for Africa

The second scramble for Africa

It is urgent that Africa invests in adding value to its minerals. If it fails to seize this moment, it will be difficult to shake off its historical status as an exporter of cheap raw materials and importer of expensive finished products