insert_link Africa Congo and Togo record Africa’s highest increase in happiness levels By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency The Republic of Congo and Togo are amongst the countries that have seen happiness levels amongst their citizens increase the most over the past 12 years. The two African countries are listed among seventeen countries globally that recorded increases in average life evaluations of a full point or more. The World Happiness Report 2024 ranks the Republic of Congo in […] todayMarch 26, 2024 38
insert_link Africa Kenya’s greylisting for weak action on money laundering and terrorism financing: what that means and what must happen next By Louis de Koker, La Trobe University Kenya and Namibia are the latest African countries to be placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list over their weak measures against money laundering and terrorism financing. Being on the grey list is typically seen as an indictment of a country’s ability to identify and effectively redress financial crimes. It warns investors to be cautious in dealings with […] todayMarch 26, 2024 5
insert_link Africa My parents are from two different African countries: study shows how this shapes identity More than a third of migration in sub-Saharan Africa happens within the continent. This mixing of people means that some children have parents of different national origins. Yet not enough is known about the lives of these children: how they form their identity and what impact migration has on them. The majority of research on second generation African immigrants focuses on understanding their experiences in the global north. Our research […] todayMarch 3, 2024 16
insert_link Health / Medical HIV among older South Africans in rural areas: big study shows there’s a problem that’s being neglected By Jen Manne-Goehler, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Francesc Xavier Gomez-Olive Casas, University of the Witwatersrand; Julia Rohr, Harvard University; Kathleen Kahn, University of the Witwatersrand; Nomsa Mahlalela, University of the Witwatersrand, and Till Bärnighausen, University of Heidelberg South Africa continues to have a high prevalence of HIV among all age groups. About 8.2 million people or 13.7% of the population live with HIV, one […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 20
insert_link Africa The growing role of telco operators in driving financial inclusion through accessible mobile-first financial services. By Robert van Breukelen, COO at Itemate Solutions Africa remains a hotbed of mobile innovation. Telco operators across the continent are stepping in to fill gaps left by lower levels of development in key areas, including banking and financial services. A 2022 report estimated that just over half of Africa's population remained unbanked. The same report found that banks across the continent are investing in digital transformation […] todayFebruary 8, 2024 25
insert_link Africa Are African leaders holding on to power? Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling, and oldest heads of state, including Namibia. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2022 Democracy Index linked entrenched leadership in the region to developmental and security challenges, including conflict or instability, stagnant or declining economies, and democratic backsliding. Here’s SA-based political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast. todayFebruary 7, 2024 36
insert_link Africa Davos: Global economists see bright spots in Africa growth prospects By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Top economists agree that Africa's economic prospects for 2024 are positive, as small countries sparkle in the face of sluggish global growth projections. Chief economists from the World Economic Forum, World Bank and United Nations project Africa’s economy will defy the impacts of weak investments, debt crises, inflation, tight financial conditions and extreme weather patterns to record an improvement over 2023. A strong majority […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 30
insert_link Africa From trash to power: how to harness energy from Africa’s garbage dumps – and save billions in future damage By Nkweauseh Reginald Longfor, Sophia University New research on garbage dumps in 44 sub-Saharan African countries shows that 95% are unregulated. The landfill sites still take in new garbage even when they are filled to capacity. As the waste decomposes, these sites release harmful greenhouse gases. However, using the methane gas to generate energy instead could save the continent billions of dollars. We talk to sustainability scientist and author of […] todayDecember 12, 2023 22
insert_link Africa Climate change and farming: economists warn more needs to be done to adapt in sub-Saharan Africa Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso, North-West University and Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, North-West University Sub-Saharan African countries strongly rely on the agricultural and forestry sectors. Agriculture contributes up to 60% of some countries’ gross domestic product. But the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change because it relies heavily on climatic factors. This vulnerability is particularly marked in the region because of its slow rate of technological advancement. As agricultural economists we carried […] todayNovember 17, 2023 23