Europe’s hydrogen rush targets Tunisia, other sunny African countries

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency TE H2, a joint venture that includes involves TotalEnergies (as the major partner), EREN Groupe, and Austria’s leading electricity company, VERBUND, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Tunisia to explore the viability of this project, according to a press statement. The move is just the latest in a flurry of announcements involving […]

May 31, 2024 22

2

Opinion Pieces

Economic and Business Advice for the next President

Opinion Piece by Josef Kefas Sheehama There are a number of important business and economic issues that the incoming President should take care of as we anticipate the upcoming presidential and national assembly elections. As an independent researcher in economic and business matters, I advise the incoming president to prioritize trade and industrial policies and foster positive relationships with international trade in order to attract investors […]

May 28, 2024 22 2

World

He won Indonesia’s election in a landslide. Now, backroom meetings and horse-trading will determine whether Prabowo can govern

By Stephen Sherlock, Australian National University Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, won February’s presidential election in a landslide victory of nearly 59% of the nationwide vote, more than double his nearest challenger. But his party, Gerindra, fell far short of a majority in the parliamentary elections that took place at the same time. Gerindra was founded by Prabowo and its political fortunes are inseparable from […]

May 23, 2024 6

Africa

Kenya floods: as the costs add up pressure mounts on a country in economic crisis

By Timothy Njagi Njeru, Egerton University There were early warnings that Kenya’s long rain season – between March and May – was going to bring above-normal rainfall. The extreme intensity of the rain has resulted in devastating floods in many parts of the country. Forty of the country’s 47 counties have been affected. More than 230 people have died and about 40,000 households, so far, have been […]

May 10, 2024 35

Namibia

Cyclists promote Trans Kalahari Corridor for development and safety

In a bid to promote the Trans Kalahari Corridor, advocate for spatial development initiatives, and promote safety and security along the Trans Kalahari Corridor, 30 cyclists from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa cycled the Trans Kalahari Corridor. The 1900 km cycle challenge started in Rustenburg, through Botswana, and ended in Walvis Bay. Here is one of the cyclists, Vaino Kali. The TKC Executive Director, representatives of the Erongo Regional Council, […]

May 7, 2024 42

Africa

Kenya’s devastating floods expose decades of poor urban planning and bad land management

By Sean Avery, King's College London Floods in Kenya killed at least 169 people between March and April 2024. The most catastrophic of these deaths occurred after a flash flood swept through a rural village killing 42 people. Death and destruction have also occurred in the capital, Nairobi, a stark reminder of the persistent failure to keep abreast of the city’s rapid urbanisation needs. Sean Avery, who […]

May 2, 2024 32

World

Development finance: how it works, where it goes, why it’s needed

By Abdul Latif Alhassan, University of Cape Town and Bomikazi Zeka, University of Canberra Development finance is the invisible glue that connects public and private financing for projects that have social, economic and environmental outcomes. These include improved infrastructure, better waste management and sanitation, financial inclusion, clean energy and sustainable agriculture. The goal of development finance is to create positive social, economic or environmental outcomes through […]

April 17, 2024 46

World

Rebuilding Gaza was seen as a ‘Herculean’ task before Oct. 7; six months of bombing has led to crises that will long outlive the war

Palestinians look for survivors after a Israeli strike in Gaza on Oct. 31, 2023. AP Photo/Doaa AlBaz Dima Nazzal, Georgia Institute of Technology Over a decade ago, a United Nations report described the Gaza Strip as virtually unlivable, adding that it would require “Herculean efforts” to change that. Today, after six months of bombardment, mass displacement and siege by Israel, the task of rebuilding Gaza seems practically unimaginable. I’m a […]

April 9, 2024 25

Africa

South Africa’s crucial water supplies from Lesotho: what the six-month shutdown means for industry, farming and residents

By Ifedotun Aina, University of Cape Town The main water supply to South Africa’s economic hub, greater Johannesburg in the Gauteng province, and to the country’s breadbasket in the Free State, is scheduled to be cut off for six months. Maintenance work on the 37 kilometre Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel is due to begin in October 2024. Ifedotun Victor Aina, a senior researcher at the Water […]

April 8, 2024 27

infrastructure