insert_link Africa India to Africa to the UK: Diasporas don’t influence politics in predictable ways Former UK home secretary Suella Braverman (left) with prime minister Rishi Sunak. Both are of Indian-African descent. WPA Pool/Pool Melissa Tandiwe Myambo, University of the Witwatersrand Leading politicians in the UK, including the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, are of African Indian descent. Other high profile examples include the country’s two most recent home secretaries – Priti Patel, who served from 2019 to 2022, and her successor Suella Braverman, whose tenure […] todayNovember 14, 2023 1
insert_link Africa Growing African vegetables on buildings can save space and feed cities – new study The Eco Green Wall is an example of a sustainable living wall system. Karen Botes Karen Botes, University of Pretoria As cities grow, more people need food. However, space for farming is limited in cities. Building facades can offer a solution for growing food. We asked landscape architect Karen Botes to tell us about her research – cultivating traditional African vegetables on walls. What are ‘living wall systems’ and why […] todayNovember 6, 2023 5
insert_link Africa Africa’s Fashion Sector Primed for Global Leadership By Bonface Orucho via BirdAfricaNoFilter Africa’s young, innovative, and growing population, a rising middle class, rapid urbanization, and increased government support are some of the factors fueling the African fashion sector, according to a new UNESCO report. The report, 'The Fashion Sector in Africa: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Growth,' unveiled on October 26 during the 13th edition of the Lagos Fashion Week, shows that “the continent holds all the cards […] todayNovember 2, 2023 12
insert_link Africa Guyana Deserves to Develop its Oil and Gas, and so does Africa At a time when both African and Caribbean nations are making great strides towards developing recently discovered oil and gas reserves, countries whose development was driven by hydrocarbons are accelerating efforts to transition to a renewable energy future. This transition has seen wealthy nations establish a ‘green agenda,’ one which does not take into consideration Africa’s economic needs. The African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org), therefore, strongly calls for an end to […] todayNovember 2, 2023 2
insert_link Africa Some African governments are spending millions to spy on their citizens – stifling debate and damaging democracy Tony Roberts, Institute of Development Studies Governments around the world use surveillance technology to monitor external threats to national security. Some African governments are also spending vast sums on mass surveillance of their own citizens. They are using mobile phone spyware, internet interception devices, social media monitoring and biometric identity systems. Artificial intelligence for facial recognition and car number plate recognition is another digital surveillance technology in their growing toolkit. […] todayNovember 2, 2023 8
insert_link Africa Namibia hosted Africa’s 1st community-led conservation congress. Where will it lead? By Victoria Scheneider Via Mongabay Hundreds of Indigenous and local community groups, conservation organizations, governments and policymakers gathered to strategize how communities can play a bigger role in African conservation efforts, which are typically dominated by big international NGOs. However, the outcomes of the congress were vague, and some participants concluded that the dependence on large NGOs and policymakers, through equitable partnerships, was needed. Organizers say this congress is a […] todayNovember 2, 2023 6
insert_link Africa Africa’s GDPs Exit the Pandemic Era Second to None By Matthew A. Winkler via BizNews For all of Covid-19’s disruptions, one trend during the global pandemic presses on unabated. And that would be five of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies continue to be based in Africa and at least several more on the continent over the next two years are poised to outperform the world. The coronavirus, if anything, accelerated the transition among Africa’s 54 countries to wireless, remotely engaged commerce […] todayNovember 1, 2023 4
insert_link Africa Call to improve jobs for youth in Africa Africa should improve the quality of basic education to ensure a skilled workforce that will create more and better jobs to drive economic transformation on the continent. Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) acting Director of the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy division (GPSPD), Sweta Saxena, said creating suitable jobs for its youth is one of the biggest challenges facing policymakers in Africa, highlighting that growing young and working-age population requires […] todayNovember 1, 2023 10
insert_link Africa “Do not overlook Africa’s multi-trillion food and agribusiness sector” African Development Bank chief tells investors at World Food Prize Dialogue Africa’s food and agribusiness will be worth an estimated US$11 trillion by 2030, African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina told participants of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday. The annual event in America’s agricultural heartland, revolved around this year’s theme of “harnessing change,” with delegates and panellists exploring innovative ideas to shore up innovation, adaptation, and diversification, and mechanisms for improving resilience, recovery from […] todayOctober 30, 2023 3
