Policymakers at the local/city government level are crucial to continental integration projects like the African free trade agreement and the free movement protocol. However, they are not represented in the African Union (AU) and other international bodies where such projects are negotiated and designed. City-to-city cooperation between Africa’s two major economic hubs, Lagos and Johannesburg, would not only unleash strategic synergies and drive continental integration, but would also leverage private-sector involvement and influence other cities to enter into similar cross-border partnerships.
Turning a blind eye to the complexity of insecurities in Africa, peacebuilding discourses and practices on the continent have been too much focused on military interventions in regions like the Sahel, notably Mali. This paper critiques prevalent conceptualizations and practices, highlighting their shortcomings in effectively addressing the specific regional realities of the continent. It argues for a more nuanced understanding of African contexts, emphasizing the need to incorporate local perspectives and traditional governance structures into peacebuilding efforts. Additionally, it critiques the dominance of Western methods and perspectives in peacebuilding policies and advocates for greater recognition of African agency in defining and addressing security challenges. Overall, the paper recommends a hybrid and inclusive approach to peacebuilding that integrates indigenous knowledge and local capacities alongside international frameworks.
We examine the perceived business risks and impacts on performance associated with the Russian aggression in Ukraine in February 2022 among 450 Egyptian small and medium-sized agrifood enterprises. Our analysis identifies six distinct clusters of enterprises based on their perceived risks and three clusters based on the observed impacts of the war. We find a strong association between perceived business risks and observed impacts, suggesting that the risks identified by agrifood SMEs significantly influence their actual business performance. This underscores the importance of understanding and effectively managing perceived risks to mitigate the negative impacts of external shocks, enhance operational resilience, and improve overall performance. Moreover, the results indicate that the consequences of the war extend beyond direct effects on agrifood enterprises, affecting various stages of the agrifood chain. This implies that, in times of crisis, the absence of a well-functioning agrifood SME sector may threaten the sustainability of the entire agrifood value chain. These insights contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of agrifood SMEs during the early stages of the war, helping policymakers and enterprises prioritize risk management strategies and allocate resources effectively to enhance performance and competitiveness in times of crisis.
A study of the perspectives of young indigenous men and women in rural communities in Kenya shows that strong institutions for local governance, inclusive decision-making and collective action are key for social equity and climate adaptation. To achieve this, we need to: (1) invest in the capacities of stakeholders to promote locally-led climate and equity initiatives; (2) promote young women’s and men’s leadership and networks, together with inter-generational exchange of experiences; and (3) build strategies and partnerships that are responsive to locally-identified youth needs.
Nearly half of Africa’s economies are on the brink of debt distress. Unlike previous debt crises, the current one is characterised by a shift from multilateral to commercial and bilateral creditors, notably China, and the proliferation of Eurobonds. Pressured by heavy debt burdens, there is a risk that African governments divert funds from essential sectors such as education, health care and agriculture, causing a vicious cycle of stalled development, food insecurity and an elevated risk of socio-political instability.
The current global green mineral boom is driving increased mining exploration in Africa. The African Union has outlined shared visions to leverage the continent’s mineral reserves and youth boom in pursuit of sustainable development and socio-economic transformation. Achieving these goals requires mineral-rich African economies to transition from commodity export to manufacture of higher value-added products. To do so, they need to invest in their youthful population, and in research and innovation.
In this opinion piece we address how to ensure that agricultural research for development is fit for purpose for the Twentyfirst Century. We focus on two themes: (i) the urgent need to engage social (together with natural) scientists in transdisciplinary research processes; (ii) the importance of the co-creation of knowledge via more democratic partnerships that genuinely address power asymmetries, as well as different stakeholders' roles (and responsibilities). We highlight discrepancies in the mix of social and natural science agricultural research, and also what may come across as a tepid commitment to partnerships despite the best intentions of many researchers.
The decision by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to leave Ecowas reflects the bloc’s failure to address security and humanitarian issues in the subregion. It is also a result of people losing faith in Ecowas’ leadership after years of complacency and inconsistency in championing its democratic principles. Pragmatic dialogue with the member states currently run by military regimes will be crucial if regional collaboration is to be revived. And defending democratic values will be crucial if civilian rule and popular trust are to be restored.