Cultural Catalysts: Unlocking the Potential of East Africa’s Creative Sector
The artistic landscape in East Africa is marked by cultural flavour in industries such as music, fashion, film, art, and digital content creation, all of which play a crucial role in social development and shaping national identities. Nairobi, Kenya has emerged as a focal point for digital content and the arts with startup culture fostering collaboration and entrepreneurship.
Build or Buy? Implementing AI Solutions for East African Organisations
The approach to implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions can vary significantly with specific use-cases. One of the critical decisions for organisations to consider is whether to develop bespoke AI solutions or integrate off-the-shelf products into their IT estate. This decision is key for large-scale digital transformation projects requiring substantial investment, as the limited resources within the East African region leave little room for failure.
Unlocking East Africa's Potential: The Transformative Role of Vocational Training
In Kenya’s bustling Gikomba Market, thousands of artisans hammer, stitch, and weld daily - yet 83% of them are locked out of formal employment. Across East Africa, the informal sector dominates, employing millions while offering limited paths to economic stability. This disparity reveals a critical challenge: how do we close the gap between mere survival and prosperity?
Hackers, Heists and High Stakes: Safeguarding East Africa’s Financial Future
In the span of a weeks in 2024, East Africa’s financial sector was struck by a series of incidents, exposing critical vulnerabilities. In Uganda, a billion Ugandan shillings (UGX) were stolen by G4S guards from a bullion van enroute to Kampala. At the Bank of Uganda, hackers siphoned UGX 60 billion in merely 60 seconds - a sobering reminder of the high stakes in digital finance.
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.
Chalk & Change: Comparing the Efficacy of Uganda & Kenya's National Curriculums
Education is a powerful force for change - a key tool for social mobility and an experience shared by many. While exam stress and institutional discipline resonate with most learners, it is worth examining the underlying structures that shape educational systems. We must stop to wonder why schooling is structured as it is. Do existing institutional frameworks truly foster equity?
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.
From Backlog to Brain Drain: The Key Issues Behind East Africa’s Medical Intern Absorption Problem
In March 2024, hopeful medical interns in Kenya took to the streets in a 56-day-long strike. The issues under contention? A directive from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission had proposed to reduce intern stipends from Ksh 206,000 to between Ksh 47,000 and Ksh 70,000 – a reduction of nearly 80%.
Beyond Seasonal Stockpiles: Assessing East Africa’s Readiness to Combat Food Insecurity and Nutritional Decline
East Africa is among the most arable regions globally, with the potential to overcome regional food insecurity and become a significant food crop exporter. Yet East Africa remains one of the world’s most food insecure areas due to extreme weather patterns, ongoing conflicts, inadequate funding for food security, and mismanagement of resources.
