Deliverance or Damnation? The Fortunes and Fairytales Found Through Foreign Direct Investment for East Africa’s Economic Development
Given the economic potential of developing economies, foreign direct investment (FDI) is regarded as the private capital inflow of choice, as free capital flows seek the highest return on investment. East Africa is an attractive location for foreign capital inflows as international investors seek new opportunities and markets.
Fight or Flight: Seeking Remedies in Retaining East Africa’s Infrastructure Sovereignty
East Africa’s infrastructure financing is taking a dramatic turn. Once heavily reliant on foreign debt, the region is now drawing interest from Indian conglomerates and Dubai-based firms, signaling a pivot toward diversified strategies. Yet, as the players change, the risks remain the same.
Raise and Return: The Increasing Role of Venture Studios in East Africa’s Startup Ecosystem
East Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape is at a crossroads. Despite a growing youth population, abundant resources, and rapid technological advancements, many promising startups still struggle to scale. East Africa’s startup field has established itself as a leading hub for innovation, with fintech, agritech, and healthcare sectors leading the charge and attracting one-third of Africa’s total startup funding in 2024.
Tanzania’s Gender Bond: A New Era for Impact Financing in East Africa
The African Development Bank’s article on affirmative finance action in Africa placed the disparity in the financing gap facing women in Africa at $41 billion – a damning figure. While the female entrepreneurship rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is 25.9%, three-fourths of women on the continent remain financially excluded. In a bid to contest this trend, enters Tanzania’s Jasiri Bond – the first gender bond issued in sub-Saharan Africa.
Permission to Pollute? The Emerging Role of Carbon Credits in East Africa
In the global attempt to mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change, carbon allowances have aroused both hope and controversy. Critics argue that they serve as ‘pollution permission slips’, enabling wealthy nations and corporations to sidestep meaningful emissions reductions, while proponents champion them as a lifeline in developing regions with carbon capture potential.
Healthcare Financing in East Africa: Lessons from Kenya’s Social Healthcare Insurance Fund Bottleneck
The financing of healthcare in East Africa stands at a critical crossroads, with only 34% of the population able to access essential health services as of 2024. Despite the region’s growing demand for equitable healthcare, governments allocate a mere 5% of their GDP to the sector – far short of the 15% target set by the Abuja Declaration.
Unlocking Regional Liquidity: Emerging Opportunities in East Africa’s Public and Private Capital Markets
This report examines the current state and prospects of public and private capital markets in East Africa. It highlights the historical development of the markets in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, analyses their performance and identifies key trends hampering their continued growth.
Crude Ambitions: The Financing Hurdles Facing East Africa’s Crude Oil Pipeline
In 2006, Uganda found significant natural reserves near the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the form of expansive crude oil deposits. In a bid to achieve the government’s aim of first oil output in 2025, TotalEnergies, CNOOC, along with the Ugandan and Tanzanian governments, are collaborating on a significant infrastructure project - the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
East Africa’s Growth & Investment Landscape: A Look at 2024’s Third Quarter for the Region’s Biggest Players
With the projected growth acceleration of 1.6% points in 2024 from 3.5% in 2023, East African countries have positive forecasts for their economic growth. In particular, four economies – Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – already account for around 84% of the region’s output.
