Madagascar’s Untouched Island Of Nosy Be
By Tsoku Maela Lines of coconut palms move to the rhythms of paradise and restrain the forest from the powdery-white sand and inviting waters. Nosy Be (which means ‘large island’ in Malagasy) is the hub of this archipelago of islands off the north-western coast of Madagascar and is Madagascar’s best beach destination. While lemurs and otherworldly […]
How The Lessons Of COVID-19 Ensured A Rapid Response To The Mpox Outbreak
On September 18, 2024, just over 30 days since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the latest mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, Gavi, the organization I lead, concluded a transaction with the vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic to procure 500,000 doses of mpox vaccines. This advance purchase agreement, which will see doses delivered by […]
British Fugitive Sent to Answer Corruption Case in South African Court
Michael Lomas was extradited to South Africa and landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning. Lomas is a former Kusile contractor wanted in connection with the R745-million Eskom paid to Tubular Construction Project that exposed Eskom to R1.4-billion in costs as per the escalation of the contract at the Kusile power station. At […]
Nigerian Authorities have Failed to Pay Coupons on Two Savings Bonds on Time
They have blamed the delay — the second in two months — on system and processing issues. The nation was due to pay the first coupon on two- and three-year debt it sold in June on Sept. 12, according to investors. Nigeria raised $2.56 million from the sales. Subscribers to other savings bonds said there […]
Surge in Youth Protests across Africa Highlights the Critical Need to Address Youth Unemployment
While Africa’s economies are generally on an upward trajectory, traditional sectors like agriculture and manufacturing are grappling with numerous challenges. Conversely, technology, which is at the heart of the digital economy, is emerging as a powerful catalyst for job creation. African leaders must seize this moment to prevent economic stagnation and fully leverage the potential […]
Air Conditioning in Africa is More about Preserving Food and Medicine than People
Cameroon and Sierra Leone use solar-powered fridges to keep vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medicines stable. Combined with battery storage, they stay cool even when there is no sun or alternative power supply. Some freeze water into an ice lining, meaning they do not even need batteries. Supplied to the Democratic Republic of Congo during the […]
Gabon’s Nature Bond Weathers the Political Storm
While the Bongo dynasty may be gone, the debt-for-nature swap, so far at least, has remained. Indeed, one of the principal jobs of White & Case, the lawyers representing the Gabonese government in the transaction, had been to fashion a structure robust enough to survive just these sorts of political ruptures. The law firm, which […]
Can Africa’s Football Body become Financially Self-sustainable?
When one of Africa’s Richest Men, Patrice Motsepe, took charge in 2021 Caf had debts of $40-50m. Now that deficit is under $10m. This is thanks to an increase in Nations Cup sponsors and television rights, as well as the financial input from Saudi Arabia. “The benefits of what we are doing will really be seen […]
Case for Insurance for African Farmers
Extreme weather events can devastate farmer families for a long time because agriculture is their main source of income. But research shows that up to 82.7% of Nigeria’s farmers are not insured for this damage. Research has also pointed out some obstacles to traditional insurance for small farmers in African countries. Premiums may be too […]
The Baobab Economy
Native to the African continent, the baobab is known as the “tree of life” and is found from South Africa to Kenya to Senegal. Zimbabwe has about 5 million of the trees, according to Zimtrade, a government export agency. The United States legalised the import of baobab powder as a food and beverage ingredient in […]
