Dec 04, 2007

Cheetahs, Free Trade, Growth and Subsidies: Is this African Boom Different?

There is plenty of good news coming from Africa these days—not least of which is that average economic growth on the continent exceeds the world average growth. Much of the growth in sub-Saharan Africa is being driven by a new generation of African entrepreneurs, powered by business reforms, access to credit and such programs as the U.S.‘ African Growth and Opportunity Act (which allows for free trade with U.S. for African manufactured goods). George Ayittey, a Ghanain economist, refers to these entrepreneurial leaders as “cheetahs”—fast, flexible, and aggressive in exploiting newfound opportunities.

Nov 13, 2007

The Pervasive Role of Markets in Malaria Treatment

Even when things such as bed nets or hydration salts or medications are given away for free, there are still market dynamics at work. This can be seen in how they are packaged, how they are priced, and even in how incentives are built in to ensure they are used properly.

Nov 12, 2007

Darfur Now

Jul 27, 2007

An Outbreak of Truth About AIDS in Africa

A new generation of intelligent, well-informed literature about the AIDS epidemic in Africa is trumpeting the need to better “know your epidemic.“

Jul 18, 2007

Celebrities, Influence, and Listening to Africans

The challenge for anyone looking to make a measurable difference is that the dynamics that help and harm in each country are so diverse. It is legitimately difficult to know who to listen to, because equally informed, stake-holding Africans have conflicting ideas about what will work in their respective countries or communities.

Jul 16, 2007

Simple Can Be Best

Much good can come from introducing new technologies into developing communities, but often the best of development comes when existing resources are put to mindful use.

Jun 27, 2007

The Challenges, and Opportunity, of Rapid Testing

In HIV/AIDS circles a false positive is a preferable evil to a false negative (which denies a patient treatment and creates the possibility that he or she will unknowingly spread the virus), but they still aren’t good, especially given the high stigma associated with the disease.

May 08, 2007

Overselling Results

Effective investment in development continues to be handicapped by overselling of results and false expectations. The greatest danger is that such overselling makes cynics of a whole generation of donors.

Apr 17, 2007

Malaria-Free Zones to Malaria-Free World

A Ghanian economist is setting up malaria-free zones in various countries in Africa in an attempt to stop the disease one town at a time.

Apr 14, 2007

Little More Than Warnings for Darfur

The conflict in Darfur between Darfurian rebel groups and the government-backed janjaweed militia has been raging since early 2003. Since that time Western governments have been almost universally reluctant to create clear consequences for Khartoum.