Opinions

As a THINC fellow, I had the privilege to be invited to an inspiring event organized by Viva La Vida and Tencent last week. The topic of discussion was “Equitable digital future: Technology and social welfare,” and it left me with much to reflect on.  In Rwanda: Parents and a…

Despite growing awareness of the need for diverse perspectives, research on economic development in the Global South is produced almost exclusively by Western academics. By elevating and empowering scholars from the Global South, funders can promote higher-quality research and more effective development policies. WASHINGTON, DC/NAIROBI – “Localization” has become a…

The problem with the new chatbots is not just that they are often stupid and naive; it is that they are not “stupid” or “naive” enough to pick up on the nuances, ironies, and revealing contradictions that constitute human culture and communication. Worse, by relying on them, we risk succumbing…

sexual orientation, gender identity (SOGIE) has become an increasingly important issue in Africa in recent years as more and more people come forward to express their gender identity and gender identity.  However, there is still a significant lack of understanding and tolerance towards the LGBTIQ community in many African countries. …

As we mark Women’s History Month, let us not forget the ongoing violence against women in Eastern DRC. The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been mired in conflict and violence for decades, with women bearing the brunt of the brutality. The conflict, which started in…

On December 7, the 15th Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will bring together the world’s governments to agree on a new set of goals for the next decade and beyond. African leaders must overcome divisions and seize this opportunity to defend the continent’s common…

While COVID-19 has disrupted the lives and learning of hundreds of millions of children around the world, it has hit Africa’s underfunded public education systems the hardest. High data prices and the lack of adequate digital infrastructure are exacerbating existing inequities and reversing decades of progress. MASERU – The COVID-19…

Increasingly shut out of capital markets, African countries face huge budget pressures that impede large-scale investment in economic development. To limit global warming and avert an environmental catastrophe, the international community must help developing countries overcome investors’ biased risk perceptions. CAIRO – This month’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27)…

Education is the most effective tool for dismantling the cycles of intergenerational poverty that have impeded Africa’s economic development. To ensure that children acquire basic numeracy and literacy skills, educators and policymakers must provide all learners with an equitable, high-quality learning environment – and food. FREETOWN – Education is on the…

The main multilateral lender to low- and middle-income countries is in dire need of reform. To become the extraordinarily powerful vehicle for sustainable development and disaster response that it can be, it must leverage its considerable financial firepower more efficiently and speed up its loan-disbursement process. LONDON – The World…

As technology adoption witnesses an upward trajectory, the web is constantly evolving, and with each new iteration comes new opportunities for businesses. Web 3.0 represents the latest stage in this evolution, and it offers a number of advantages for companies that are able to harness its power. Business owners are…

Elon Musk’s defense of “free-speech absolutism” is fundamentally bogus. If the billionaire culture warrior’s now-reluctant purchase of Twitter goes through, the platform will be overrun by toxic disinformation, including deep fakes, insipid propaganda, calls for violence, doxing, and other forms of illiberal anti-speech acts. NEW YORK – In 1897, the…

Many are calling the upcoming UN climate change conference in Egypt “Africa’s COP.” But Africans prefer to see it instead as “the implementation COP” – a meeting that will move beyond lofty aspirations and ambitious pledges to translate the achievements of past summits into global cooperation on comprehensive climate action. ADDIS…

Recent demonstrations of algorithmically generated journalism, art, and academic writing have underscored the extent to which creative work has become vulnerable to automation. For those concerned about the future of the liberal arts, the situation demands that we reconnect with the “human” in the humanities. HAMILTON – There has been…

Africa’s vast economic potential is no secret. But tapping it will be possible only if major developed countries and emerging economies work together to design a more inclusive and effective global financial system that meets the continent’s liquidity and debt-sustainability needs. ADDIS ABABA – For African economies that have yet…

Germany and Italy are telling Africans that we should saddle ourselves with fossil-fuel infrastructure that will soon become a drag on our economies and propel us toward climate disaster. We must respond with a firm no, and instead demand that European countries support us in the development of renewable-energy systems.…

Many Africans are convinced that the conflict in Ukraine is not their problem. But failure to restore peace and end the disruption to food and energy supplies will likely result in mounting political instability and social tension on the continent. BAKU – Up until the fourth quarter of 2020, Africa’s…

Carbon markets have gained significant traction in recent years, with roughly 23% of global emissions now covered by some form of carbon pricing. But the global carbon market remains chaotic and volatile, and it largely leaves out Africa, without which global climate goals cannot be achieved. NEW YORK – World…

The Global North’s disaster narrative regarding climate change has failed to motivate Africans to tackle the problem. It would be far better to reframe climate change as an opportunity to create new industries that can create jobs, build businesses, and stimulate the continent’s economies while saving the planet. JOHANNESBURG –…

The world’s two-year struggle against COVID-19 has shown how critical the knowledge and participation of local communities can be in addressing global threats. In Africa and elsewhere, we need to capitalize on this resource if we are to have a fighting chance of mitigating and adapting to the effects of…

Without international support, including investment at scale, African countries will not be able to expand energy access to all and still reach their climate goals. The alternative – an increased reliance on coal – would have devastating consequences. NEW YORK – Growing economies and growing populations mean growing energy needs.…

Although South Africans’ increasing frustration with their government is borne out in public polling, critics who describe the country as a failed state completely miss the mark. Considering where South Africa started in 1994, its progress has been nothing short of remarkable. BOSTON – At a time when many democracies…

Leading central banks are now deploying tools that should help to contain growing price pressures. But these measures will impose a high economic cost, and could push the most vulnerable economies into recession. CAIRO – On May 4, the United States Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by half a…

Rich countries have shown impressive unity in helping Ukraine counter the Russian invasion. They now need to demonstrate the same level of resolve to prevent the global economic fallout from the conflict from destroying the lives or livelihoods of many of the world’s most vulnerable people. CAMBRIDGE – Big shocks…

Clinging to the assumption that only dictatorships start military conflicts, proponents of democratization believed that the global success of their project would usher in a world without war. But this theory lacks a sound foundation and has produced one disaster after another when put into practice. LONDON – Through persuasion,…

The world’s richest person will be free to emasculate Twitter’s content restrictions in the name of free speech if that is what he wishes to do. But he may reconsider once he realizes the great responsibility that digital freedom now implies. LONDON – With Elon Musk set to buy Twitter for $44…

South Africa’s $8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership addresses vital questions about how African countries can best use international climate finance. In doing so, it provides a framework for negotiating support for other economies in the region through flexible fora like the G7. BERLIN/WASHINGTON, DC – One of the more…

The democratization push in Africa’s poorest countries has failed to produce legitimate governments capable of delivering security and development, and the increasing frequency of military coups should trigger a rethink. Where institutions are weak, elections alone will not make leaders accountable. John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images At the end of…

While Africa shared in last year’s global economic upswing, a growing array of risks threatens to derail the region’s progress in 2022. The crucial question is whether the world’s leading central banks can pursue price stability without choking off the incipient global recovery. SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images Cairo –…

A recent report highlights the urgent need for South Africa to implement reforms to combat state capture, reverse institutional decay, and restore confidence in the constitution. The biggest obstacle is the ruling African National Congress, which is beset by factional infighting. JOHANNESBURG – On January 2, South Africans woke up…