Historically, people associate the sound of Africa with the roar of the lion; but in reality, it’s the roar of the diesel generator. Herds of these archaic beasts are on the prowl. Their habitat includes cities, towns, factories, mines, businesses and big farms – anywhere where power is required and isn’t available or reliable. When… more

At the World Economic Forum on Africa last week, I was part of a small group of people working to connect science and technology with the larger business agenda. Moderated by Lanre Akinola, Editor of This Is Africa, the panel included Gunilla Carlsson (Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister), Claver Gatete (Rwandese Finance and Economic Planning Minister) and Frans van Houten (Royal Phillips Electronics… more

Africa is changing, and changing quickly. What was once seen as a continent lacking in hope has recently been re-branded as the “rising” continent. South Africa’s entry into the elite BRICS club is perhaps one of the most notable symbols of Africa’s rising. But so too are the statistics that emerge almost every day from… more

Compared with other regions, African countries have a low stock of infrastructure, particularly in energy and transportation; the potential for information and communication technologies (ICT) has not been fully harnessed. This pronounced infrastructure deficit, coupled with burdensome trade regulations, has raised the cost of doing business and constrained domestic productivity. It also presents a critical… more

Mama Sara is a farmer in Mbola in the Tabora region of western Tanzania. I visited Mama Sara in late March of this year. Like other smallholder farmers in the area, her farm plots were covered with a patchwork of stunted, sad-looking maize. She told me that the rains have become so unpredictable in recent years… more

Although a number of African countries have experienced rapid economic growth over the past decade, substantial developmental challenges remain. According to the World Bank’s latest World Development Indicators, Africa has recorded almost 20 years of continuous decline in extreme poverty, from 60% in 1993 to 48% in 2010, yet the region is still home to… more

At the World Economic Forum on Africa this week, I’ll be discussing some of the lessons I’ve learned over the past year in a session entitled “New Solutions: Scaling Up Social Innovation”. Here are a few of my thoughts to get the discussion ball rolling: 1. Not all the people at the “base of the… more

“The rise of state capitalism – the spread of a new sort of business in the emerging world will cause increasing problems” argued a January 2012 special issue of The Economist. State-owned enterprises have always been an important element of most economies, including the most advanced ones. However, the state sector has traditionally been characterised by orientation… more

People often think of Intellectual Property as a tool that leaves out those at the bottom of the economic pyramid. But the reality is quite different: IP systems can benefit everyone, including the poor and marginalized. IP can harness innovative ideas more broadly by fostering a more inclusive IP regime and creating new markets. Yet,… more

The expansion of multi-national businesses, demand for commodities and foreign direct investment are driving economic growth in Latin America. As a result, real estate investment opportunities are growing throughout many of the largest markets and cities in Latin American countries, and sustainability initiatives are playing a role in improving economic stability. Recent industry research analysing… more

The developing world is vulnerable to disasters of every kind, from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones to landslides, floods, droughts and crop failures. Rapid and chaotic urbanization exacerbates the effect of these hazards, with poor quality land-use policies and cramped populations ill-equipped to respond. It’s worth remembering that in Latin America, over 79% of the population… more

Despite the compelling body of evidence suggesting that investing in women’s economic empowerment is a sound business strategy, we have not yet reached the point at which the private sector embraces this concept fully; not globally and certainly not in my region, Latin America. Every day hundreds of women across the Americas have used their… more