Date Published: May 22, 2025. Africa Reimagined Showcases Cross-Cultural Dialogue and the Power of Sustainable Fashion. From March 25 to 29, as part of the official AW25 Shanghai Fashion Week curatorial program, Africa Reimagined, a pivotal work stream of Development
Date Published: May 21, 2025. The 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF), set to take place in November 2025, comes at a critical juncture marked by increasing development needs and a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. Although the Fund
Date Published: April 25, 2025. On April 22, 2025, on the sidelines of the World Bank/ IMF Spring Meetings, Development Reimagined together with the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) convened a high-level panel discussion titled “Maximizing the Impact
Date Published: April 25, 2025. On April 22nd, 2025, AUDA-NEPAD and Development Reimagined co-hosted an event in Washington, D.C., titled “Enhancing Development Finance Institutions for Cross-Border Regional Infrastructure in Africa.” The event brought together senior representatives from across the continent’s
Date Published: April 23, 2025. Hangzhou, China – April 18, 2025 Development Reimagined, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) ITPO Beijing, successfully convened the China-Africa Energy Dialogue: Africa’s Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in Hangzhou on
Date Published: April 14, 2025. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently announced that the global offices of UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women will be relocated—either in part or in full—to Nairobi by 2026. Guterres emphasized that Africa is a priority and
Date Published: March 19, 2025. Climate finance is undoubtably one of Africa’s most challenging and pressing areas of development. African countries require substantial financing to meet their climate needs. Between 2020 to 2030, based on African government’s Nationally Determined Contributions
Date Published: March 17, 2025. Under President Trump’s second term, U.S. foreign policy has undergone significant shifts, with direct implications for U.S.-Africa relations. To explore these changes, Development Reimagined (DR) hosted an expert roundtable on March 11, 2025, bringing together
Date Published: March 14, 2025. Development Reimagined proudly launches its latest discussion paper, “How to Implement China’s Support for Africa’s Green Industrialisation.” This paper explores strategies for advancing sustainable industrial growth across Africa through strengthened China-Africa collaboration. It highlights key
Date Published: February 17, 2025. A new joint report by Development Reimagined, the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), and AfriCatalyst, explores how African countries can enhance their agency in the global financial system through better borrower coordination. For decades,
Date Published: February 15, 2025. The African Union Commission has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Development Reimagined, reinforcing the continent’s drive to reshape global financial systems, unlock new development finance, and advance Africa’s position with global partners. The
Date Published: February 11, 2025. Over the last two decades, more African nations have joined the sovereign debt system. While in the 1990s only South Africa had a sovereign credit rating, today, 32 out of 55 African countries are rated
Date Published: January 27, 2025. “It should not and must never be misinterpreted as an argument that Africa is not ready for permanent membership in the Council…such arguments have historically been deployed to deny Africa its rightful place in global
Date Published: January 6, 2025. Happy 2025! As we enter a new year, at DR we’ve been asking the question – what lies ahead for the continent, particularly in terms of economic growth? Released in October 2024, the IMFs World
Date Published: December 9, 2024. Development Reimagined (DR) and the International Center on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) successfully hosted the “Investing in Zambia’s Green Growth: Renewable Energy and Environmental Manufacturing Matchmaking Forum” in Hangzhou, China. The event brought together key
Date Published: December 4, 2024. In October 2024, a Financial Times article highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa, focusing on its positive impact across the continent. In Ghana, for instance, a 22-year-old with a cleft palate,
Date Published: November 26, 2024. The 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Beijing from September 4-6, 2024, resulted in many new plans to enhance China-Africa cooperation, especially on trade. At the Summit, the most attention-grabbing trade-related announcement was
Date Published: November 20, 2024. [20 November 2024] – On African Industrialization Day, Development Reimagined proudly launches its latest report, “Centering Africa’s Development in a Global Race: Africa-China Cooperation on Critical Minerals.” This groundbreaking report explores Africa’s strategic role in
Date Published: November 13, 2024. Almost 30 years ago, South Africa became the first African country to issue a Eurobond – a bond issued in a currency different from the currency of the country it was issued. As of August
Date Published: November 4, 2024. October 24, Qingdao, China – Development Reimagined (DR) was invited to participate in a side forum of the Third Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference, themed “South-South Cooperation & Development in Renewable Energy.” Held in
Date Published: October 28, 2024. 24 October 2024: On the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, Development Reimagined and Falémé Conseil hosted a distinguished panel to explore the different methodologies of credit rating agencies (CRAs) and how
Date Published: October 27, 2024. On October 23rd, Development Reimagined (DR) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), co-hosted a panel discussion titled “Strategies for Reducing Private Sector Costs in Africa: Unlocking Economic Growth.” The event brought together
Date Published: September 28, 2024. On the eve of the United Nations (UN) Summit of the Future in New York, a group of leading African organisations – the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission
Date Published: September 25, 2024. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is the lending arm of the World Bank Group for middle-income and “credit-worthy” low-income countries – meaning that not all countries can access it. It provides loans
Date Published: September 20, 2024. On August 29th, Development Reimagined together with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) hosted a webinar on Reimagining the Current Global Governance System to Work for Africa and Prospects for China-Africa Cooperation at CCG
Date Published: September 19, 2024. On September 7th, the Alliance for African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) and the African Union (AU), with the support of Development Reimagined, organized a high-level forum on “Building Bridges: Collaboration for Growth Between African Multilateral
Date Published: September 19, 2024. In an evolving global economy, it is critical to reimagine the global financial architecture (GFA) that can constrain the future of low- and low-middle-income countries. The African continent, with its immense potential and growing economic
Date Published: September 17, 2024. The International Development Association (IDA) is the concessional lending arm of the World Bank Group. IDA has the potential to be a key financing instrument for many African countries, as it provides concessional finance and
Date Published: September 3, 2024. Counting down to the 9th FOCAC and the 3rd year since China and Africa’s Declarations on Combating Climate Change were agreed upon, actions to further unlock the clean energy potentials are expected. China’s renewable energy
Date Published: August 29, 2024. Remarks as delivered by Development Reimagined CEO Hannah Ryder during the FOCAC Dialogue on Environment & Climate Change – “Sino-African Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development: New Initiatives and EVs” Good afternoon, dear Ministers, excellencies, distinguished
Date Published: August 28, 2024. The past two decades have seen significant progress in Africa-China cooperation with the creation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). From an early emphasis on political cooperation, Africa-China cooperation under FOCAC has evolved to
Date Published: August 24, 2024. Keynote Speech delivered by Development Reimagined CEO Hannah Ryder during the 2024 Chinese Investment in Africa report launch with China-Africa Business Council Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Congratulations on the launch of the 2024
Date Published: August 15, 2024. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has been a significant cooperative mechanism between China and African states since its creation in 2000. The mechanism is designed to bring together African states and Chinese counterparts to
Date Published: August 9, 2024. Two years after its own accession into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), China initiated a scheme to allow 190 products from 30 African Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to enter China duty free. The announcement for
Date Published: August 8, 2024. The 19th of August marks World Humanitarian Day. So, does humanitarianism go hand in hand with peacekeeping? Yes! When addressing the media at this year’s UN Security Council debate on Women, Peace, and Security, Ambassador
Date Published: August 7, 2024. Beijing, China – Development Reimagined is proud to announce the release of a pivotal discussion paper, “Transforming Africa into a Photovoltaic Manufacturing Hub with China’s Support.” This comprehensive report outlines the requirements for developing Africa’s
Date Published: July 24, 2024. The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was held from Monday, 8 July, to Wednesday, 17 July 2024, at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It’s easy to dismiss the HLPF as just
Date Published: July 22, 2024. The UN Country Team in China, in collaboration with the Embassy of Senegal (FOCAC Co-Chair), the Permanent Mission of the African Union in China, organized an event titled “Symposium on the Priorities of China-Africa Cooperation
Date Published: June 25, 2024. The African Union Permanent Mission to China and Development Reimagined (DR) organised a roundtable discussion on the theme “Fostering Prosperity: Boosting & Diversifying Africa’s Exports to China” on June 25, 2024, at the African Union’s
Date Published: June 17, 2024. On Thursday, 13th June, Development Reimagined hosted an event titled “Reimagining the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) for Africa – Going Beyond the Replenishment.” During the recent Spring Meetings, World Bank President Ajay Banga
Date Published: June 17, 2024. Development Reimagined’s China Africa Climate Action Tracker is an interactive database tracing China’s climate footprint in African countries since the announcement of the China-Africa Climate Declarations during the 8th FOCAC in Nov 2021, with regular
Date Published: June 17, 2024. Development Reimagined’s China Africa Climate Action Tracker is an interactive database tracing China’s climate footprint in African countries since the announcement of the China-Africa Climate Declarations during the 8th FOCAC in Nov 2021, with regular
Date Published: May 31, 2024. Back in December 2023, World Bank President, Mr Ajay Banga, called for the replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA) to be the “largest of all time”. The aim of this is to address the
Date Published: May 31, 2024. On Tuesday May 24, 2024, Development Reimagined hosted an event “How Should Africa Reimagine Debt and Development Finance?” This event, held as an Official Side Event during the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings, gathered
Date Published: May 28, 2024. As of August 2023, 19 African countries had 91 active, US$-denominated Eurobonds. With a final debt repayment date of September 2061, the values of annual debt repayment vary across countries and are largely dependent on
Date Published: May 9, 2024. On Tuesday 16th April, on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, Development Reimagined (DR) and the Center for Global Development (CGD) co-hosted a US-Africa experts roundtable to discuss the future of US-Africa relations,
Date Published: May 6, 2024. Africa Reimagined (AR) is excited to announce its participation in the forthcoming 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Nairobi, Kenya at the Edge Convention Centre from 9th to 11th May 2024. AR is
Date Published: May 3, 2024. By Development Reimagined and the African Union. On 17th April, on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, Development Reimagined and the African Union, came together to host a timely event that explored concrete
Date Published: April 25, 2024. The 4th African Ambassadors in China Retreat, jointly organized by Development Reimagined and the African Union Representative Office in China, took place on April 23-24, 2024, at DeYun Wedding Hall in Beijing, China. The retreat
Date Published: April 19, 2024. During the 2024 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, the Development Reimagined team hosted a panel discussion with Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center (GDPC) on “Reimagining the IMF Quota System for Africa”, on
Date Published: April 18, 2024. Although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is known as a “lender of last resort”, according to its own statements it is much more. It works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity by supporting economic policies
Date Published: April 17, 2024. Released in January 2024, the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects (GEP) echoes sentiment from the tail-end of 2023 – that global economic growth remains fragile and constrained by coordinated price stability policies put in
Date Published: March 29, 2024. Remarks as prepared to deliver by Development Reimagined CEO Hannah Ryder during a forum of representatives from G7 governments in Nairobi, Kenya, March 2024. FULL SPEECH BELOW Thank you very much for inviting me to
Date Published: March 21, 2024. It might sound a little boring, but the word “procurement” is actually a very important one in development. It is so important that since 2022, there has been an annual “World Sustainable Procurement Day” –
Date Published: March 11, 2024. In November 2023, news of a company operating “power” ships that send electricity to African and other countries hit the headlines – as the firm had cut lines to Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau due
Date Published: February 29, 2024. If you are looking to understand or invest in large scale renewable energy on the African continent, look no further! Today, Development Reimagined has launched our new Renewable Energy Briefings. The briefings are designed to
Date Published: February 5, 2024. Since the announcement of the China-Africa Climate Declaration during the 8th FOCAC in November 2021, there has been a surge in efforts to comprehensively document Chinese climate-related projects in Africa. While existing information primarily focuses
Date Published: February 1, 2024. In 2023, the African Union was officially included as a full, permanent member of the Group of 20 (G20) to form the G21. At Development Reimagined, we have been at the center of campaigning for
Date Published: December 18, 2023. Speech delivered by Development Reimagined Analyst Huiyi Chen during a thematic session hosted by the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC) in Beijing in December 2023. FULL SPEECH BELOW Thank you very
Date Published: December 14, 2023. COP28 brought the world together to take joint actions to address the risk of global climate change, promote the global energy transition, and ensure energy security. For the past two weeks, energy issues such as
Date Published: December 12, 2023. Speech Delivered By Development Reimagined CEO Hannah Wanjie Ryder at The Seminar on Deepening High-Quality Health Development Cooperation to Build a Global Community of Health for All, December 12th 2023 Your Excellency Mr. Zhongdong Tang
Date Published: December 12, 2023. As the world converges at COP28 to address the pressing challenges of climate change, it is imperative to underscore the untapped renewable energy potential within the African continent. According to a study in 2020 for
Date Published: December 5, 2023. On 5th December 2023, Development Reimagined launched a new dialogue series entitled Fast-tracking Decolonisation. The series will explore ways for development organisations to enhance their commitment to decolonisation, identifying crucial areas that can expedite transformation
Date Published: December 4, 2023. This article was first published on Ventures Africa in December 2023 – by Ovigwe Eguegu On 9th June 2023, the US, with Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom issued a statement that began
Date Published: December 3, 2023. On November 29th in Addis Ababa, after two days of deliberations with Ministers of Finance, the Organization of Southern Cooperation (OSC) formally announced the establishment of the Common Leveraging Union of Borrowers (CLUB), a novel
Date Published: December 1, 2023. The 2023 theme of World AIDS Day, celebrated annually on 1st December, is “Let the Communities Lead”. This is a great theme, however, at Development Reimagined we have an additional theme “Africa’s Ascent.” Why? Usually,
Date Published: November 19, 2023. On Africa Industrialisation Day, celebrated on November 20th every year, Development Reimagined is proud to release its latest report, “Unleash Africa’s Untapped Potential on Environmental Goods Manufacturing.” This comprehensive analysis shines a spotlight on Africa’s
Date Published: November 15, 2023. Development Reimagined (DR) supported UNAIDS (China), the African Union, and the Embassy of Senegal in a strategic consultative meeting titled: “Towards a China-AU-UN Tripartite Framework for Action on Local Production of Medicines and Health Commodities
Date Published: November 14, 2023. As the world accelerates actions against climate change, embedding environmental and climate perspectives in industrialisation is becoming increasingly crucial – and this extends to Africa. The promotion of the Environmental Goods (EGs) value chain plays
Date Published: November 10, 2023. On the sidelines of the 2023 World Bank – IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Friday 13th October 2023, Development Reimagined (DR) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) hosted an event
Date Published: November 6, 2023. The latest IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO) was released in October 2023, during the IMF and World Bank’s Annual Meetings – which were held on the African continent in Marrakesh for the first time in
Date Published: November 2, 2023. Speech delivered by Development Reimagined CEO Hannah Ryder during the launch of the 2023 Chinese Investment in Africa report and the Senior Officials meeting on FOCAC, 24th October 2023. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Date Published: November 1, 2023. On Friday 27th October 2023, the UN General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza. The 193-member global body adopted the resolution by a vote of 120-14 with 45 abstentions.
Date Published: October 31, 2023. On Thursday 7th September 2023, Development Reimagined held an event on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. The event, aptly named Breaking the Bias: Rethinking Debt Sustainability for Africa’s Future, focused on
Date Published: October 25, 2023. On 18th October 2023 Development Reimagined (DR) conducted a China market entry training session as part of a series hosted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in the build-up to the China International Import Expo
Date Published: October 12, 2023. A new report by The Advocacy Team and Development Reimagined reveals some of the financing options for reparations and makes recommendations on the most ideal financing mechanisms. Reparations are meant to acknowledge and repair the
Date Published: October 10, 2023. Development Reimagined, in collaboration with the African Climate Foundation (ACF), recently co-hosted a pivotal webinar titled ‘Manufacturing of Environmental Goods – A Key Strategy for African Countries to Achieve Net-Zero by 2050?’. This event brought
Date Published: September 23, 2023. Amidst a backdrop of global challenges, almost 60% of African member states gathered for the 2023 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, USA. The global challenges they and others have raised included
Date Published: September 11, 2023. On the sidelines of the African Climate Summit, Development Reimagined hosted an event aimed at challenging the status quo embedded within the international debt system. African countries operate in a creditor-centric international financial system where
Date Published: September 9, 2023. At the recent BRICS summit held in South Africa, two important trade deals were agreed between the presidents of South Africa and China. Firstly, an agreement to allow South African avocados to enter the Chinese
Date Published: September 7, 2023. Development Reimagined’s new report reveals that five selected African countries – which have either been classed as “in debt distress” or as “high risk” – will need to spend between 9% – 58% of GDP
Date Published: September 7, 2023. On August 30th, during this year’s African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD III), Development Reimagined co-organized a panel discussion with the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) on the topic of
Date Published: September 5, 2023. Development Reimagined in partnership with the African Union Permanent Mission in Beijing convened an evening with Professor Deborah Brautigam, the Director of the China-Africa Research Initiative, and Bernard L. Schwartz Professor of Political Economy Emerita
Date Published: August 29, 2023. On May 30, 2023, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), supported by Development Reimagined (DR) hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Joining Hands to Realize an Africa-Led Biodiversity and Development Agenda.” This inclusive event drew the participation
Date Published: August 29, 2023. On the 21st of August 2023, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Development Reimagined and the South African Institute of International Affairs hosted a panel discussion on the engagement of the African Union in
Date Published: August 24, 2023. Over the past year, Development Reimagined has been leading the call for the African Union (AU) to join the G20 as a permanent member to form the “G21”. The continent’s inclusion into the G20 will
Date Published: August 22, 2023. The BRICS Summit has kicked off this week in South Africa, including a new announcement by President Cyril Ramphosa that South Africa will export beef to China. But what is the context for this announcement?
Date Published: August 9, 2023. In continuation of its strategy to assist African businesses in increasing their presence in the international arena, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and international consultants Development Reimagined (DR) have entered into a partnership to promote
Date Published: August 9, 2023. In a significant step towards enhancing collaboration, the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Beijing and Development Reimagined have successfully signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing ceremony took place on the
Date Published: July 31, 2023. In May 2023, the WHO announced that COVID-19 was no longer a global health emergency. But does this ring true for the African continent, especially given that the WHO’s announcement seemed to be premised on
Date Published: July 12, 2023. Development Reimagined and the African Climate Foundation (ACF) co-hosted a panel discussion on the side lines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris. The session explored the possibility of having the
Date Published: June 14, 2023. A few months ago, the Paris Summit for a “New Global Financial Pact” was announced to be held in June 2023. So far, the Summit has been met with mixed reviews, with the aim to
Date Published: May 25, 2023. A new Policy Brief by Development Reimagined gives reasons for the African Union (AU) to join the G20 as a permanent member, offering compelling reasons for this crucial step. The G20, consisting of the European
Date Published: May 18, 2023. IMF released a new Africa-focused report In a recent address to the 3rd Pan-African Parliament Summit, the President of Kenya William Ruto remarked: “The discursive profile of the continent has too often been focused on
Download Our Policy Brief Date Published: May 9, 2023. The international financial system values creditors’ interests, needs, and priorities more than borrowers. If we take the case of Zambia, for instance, which between 2012 and 2015 acquired approximately USD 3
Date Published: May 3, 2023. At a recent conference the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat’s Secretary General Wamkele Mene remarked “I see milk from New Zealand in an African country when we have milk in Uganda”. His comment highlighted
Date Published: May 3, 2023. In August 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued its largest allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) worth 650 billion USD to boost global liquidity and support member countries in their post-COVID-19 recovery. In this
Date Published: April 27, 2023. In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the aim of ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Just before the
Date Published: April 22, 2023. A new report by Development Reimagined is the first ever attempt at providing an in-depth analysis of Chinese investment into overseas climate funds and to what extent justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) is a
Date Published: March 31, 2023. As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, alongside the continued Russia-Ukraine crisis, international cooperation is increasingly important to ensure sustainable and inclusive recovery. This month, the UK government
Date Published: March 24, 2023. Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen, Director General Wu Peng, Your Excellency Sylla Deputy Director Zhang Jianhua Resident Coordinator Chatterjee I want to express my sincere appreciation, on behalf of Development Reimagined, to the Ministry
Date Published: March 24, 2023. It has been almost a year and half since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced its largest global allocation of SDRs, US $650 billion (or SDR 456.5 billion), to member countries to boost global liquidity
Date Published: March 22, 2023. New report reveals that four selected African countries who have sought G20 debt restructuring will need to spend between 9.7 – 49% of GDP annually on infrastructure spending to meet the SDGs. New report by
Date Published: March 21, 2023. The 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was recently held in Dakar, Senegal, bringing together high-level officials from China and African countries to discuss cooperation in various areas, including trade facilitation. A new report by
Date Published: March 2, 2023. In the past year, cholera has returned to the fore as a public health disease of concern, with current outbreaks being battled in 22 countries across three continents, more than half of which are African
Date Published: February 14, 2023. Following on from a turbulent half a decade – with the China-US trade war, the COVID-19 pandemic itself plus supply chain disruptions accompanied by inequitable vaccine access, the Russia-Ukraine War and, now, subsequent inflation crisis
Date Published: February 8, 2023. Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at The Forum on China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation. Recommendations by the Development Reimagined team for future cooperation regarding Africa-China private sector cooperation are provided below. Full Speech Below
Date Published: February 8, 2023. There have been four key instances in the United Nations where African countries have had the opportunity to express their views on the Russia-Ukraine war and how it relates to international law. This post provides
Date Published: January 11, 2023. 1. The removal of the Covid-19 policy and measures to boost consumption means more market opportunities for African business The Chinese government officially announced that it would downgrade its controversial “Zero-Covid Policy” on December
Date Published: January 4, 2023. October 2023- Does the IMF expect Economic Growth in African Countries in 2023? Over the past 4 years, the world has endured the economic fallout from the China-US trade war, the COVID-19 pandemic itself plus
Date Published: January 2, 2023. As 2022 has drawn to a close, there has been much coverage about China’s challenges with COVID-19 vaccinations as the country eased social distancing restrictions. But completely missing from front pages is the fact
December 2022 The wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 crisis lay bare the fault lines in global health. Reflecting on the uncoordinated global response to the pandemic and the exacerbation of inequalities in treatment and supply
Nearly ten years after the Sudan Ebola virus (SUDV) was first discovered in Uganda in 2012, the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, has resurfaced in a new outbreak. Following the confirmation of the first
From US-Africa engagement to Africa-US engagement. In the run-up to the 2nd US-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022, Development Reimagined experts created a US-Africa Policy Brief featuring innovative strategies to shift the “US-Africa” process to an “Africa-US” process. This policy
In October, the world’s attention was firmly placed on China, as the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) commenced. Not only is the CPC among the most important events in China’s political system (it decides the
Almost two years from the first reported cases of COVID-19 in December 2019, the world continues to vaccinate against the virus as a key prevention measure. With multiple variants in circulation, and different vaccines now in use, vaccination and booster
Panellists: Co-hosts: During Africa Climate Week 2022 in Libreville, Gabon – Development Reimagined co-hosted a side event with African Climate Foundation (ACF) and Environmental Defence Fund Europe (EDF). Our joint event convened key stakeholders in Africa’s climate finance and banking
Who We Are? What is JD? Founded in 2004, JD is now one China’s biggest and most trusted e-commerce platforms. It was originally founded as a website but is now accessed through its mobile app, as Chinese consumers almost solely
Who We Are? Three (3) emerging consumer trends in China and Japan that are boosting demand for African products Last month, we shared our interview with Hara Yukari, which promotes and sells African brands and their products in Japan. Based
Africa Reimagined is partnering with the Kiliselect e-commerce store in China to open an “Africa Reimagined” section for high-end African brands on the e-commerce store. The partnership between Africa Reimagined and Kiliselect and the onboarding of the high-end African brands
This event was co-hosted by CGD and Development Reimagined. October 2022
Overview Our Development Reimagined team joined more than 1,200 delegates at the recent UN Africa Climate Week (ACW) in Libreville, Gabon. Over the course of several days we listened to expert panels, engaged with key stakeholders, and gained a deeper
REIMAGINING THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE SYSTEM FOR AFRICA- IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings Policy Brief In the run-up to the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington D.C in October 2022 Development Reimagined has put together a comprehensive Policy
INTRODUCTION: New Report says that Africa’s pharmaceutical sector can become self-sufficient – using evidence from China and India Making Africa’s Pharmaceutical Ambitions A Reality: Lessons from China and India In a follow-up to our August 2022 report on the African
Who We Are? Created by Internet giant Tencent, Wechat is the most popular instant messaging software in China, with 1,200 million users around the world and more than 1,000 million are in China, which means this app exists in almost
Who We Are? “I think of myself as a “Kuroko” – the stagehands who dress in black and support the dolls in Japanese puppet kabuki theatre. My passion is to assist African and Japanese entrepreneurs in achieving their goals and
Who We Are? Despite reports on Covid-19-induced economic slowdowns in China, China’s middle-class and their purchasing power is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. Today, China is home to more than 40 percent of the global wealth middle class. Furthermore,
It’s an often-cited fact that the African continent is particularly vulnerable to the direct and indirect effects of climate change – a vulnerability that has been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic – while being responsible for just a tiny
Prior to and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, civil society, governments and media outlets have issued constant warnings of a ‘African debt crisis’. While our infographics to date have shown that these concerns are overblown for various reasons, and have been proved
On the 30th of August 2022, Development Reimagined in partnership with the African Union Permanent Mission to China organized a hybrid closed-door roundtable discussion “Sub-Regional Discussion for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and China on Regional Infrastructure Projects Under
In the run-up to the 77th United Nations General Assembly, Development Reimagined has put together a comprehensive Policy Brief “Making Multilateralism Work for Africa”. The brief intends to support African leaders and policymakers, as well as development practitioners, to deliver clear positions
Named for its first detection in 1958 in lab primates, monkeypox had previously been considered as a pathogen of high priority by the WHO. Perhaps due to its low fatality rate and/or its typical detection in a few West African
Who We Are? China is the world’s second-largest market. Therefore, any country looking to increase its export footprint is an important market to enter and gain significant market share. In the last decade, China has seen a rapid increase in
Who We Are? It is no secret that coffee has exploded in popularity in China, despite being a traditionally tea drinking country. Although most coffee consumed in China comes from Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as China itself, African coffee
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced drug and vaccine supply issues, attention has started to shift towards the idea of “local manufacturing” in Africa. This is necessary. A new report “MAKING AFRICA’S PHARMACEUTICAL AMBITIONS A REALITY: Part 1 –
Updated Every Month As COVID-19 social distancing interventions continue to be relaxed in many countries and the world approaches a possible endemic stage of the pandemic, vaccination continues to be pushed as an effective strategy as new variants of COVID-19
Who We Are? Last week, hundreds of fashion enthusiasts gathered in Kigali for the eagerly awaited Kigali Fashion Week. Known for its thriving fashion industry that has produced fashion brands that are becoming globally renowned such as Haute Baso and
Who We Are? Last month, Africa Reimagined took part in a promotional shopping festival for African products in China called the: “4th Brand and Quality Online Shopping Festival and Quality African Products Online Shopping Festival.” From April 28th to May
Who We Are? Last week, authorities in Shanghai finally lifted a two-month-long COVID-19 lockdown that could reportedly reduce China’s overall GDP by 4% this year. Across China as a whole, Covid-19 cases have also reduced to around 70 per day
The simple answer as to why China’s e-commerce market is such a big deal is that China has the world largest and most diverse e-commerce market. In 2021, China’s e-commerce market took up more than half of the global online
NEW ANALYSIS: Forecasting The Infrastructure Financing Needs of Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire to 2030 Numerous international organizations often stress the importance of infrastructure for development, including in Africa’s development. Yet, there is a severe lack of analysis on
On 24th February 2022 Russia announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Since then, not only has the war led to loss of life, destruction of property and business, it has immensely affected global trade in of which Russia and
Yesterday the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) released their eagerly awaited International Development Strategy. It has been an agonizing wait; the international development community have been expecting this strategy since the publication of the Integrated Review back in
Who We Are? China’s e-commerce market is the largest in the world. The key to succeeding in the Chinese market is understanding how your brand can make the most of China’s thriving e-commerce sector. JD-Worldwide is China’s biggest online sales platform
Who We Are? Shanghai is known for its fast-paced city life, with the bright lights from the Lujiazui skyline sparkling across the Bund, attracting tourists from within China and the rest of the world. It’s a bustling trade and commercial
On April 20th, Development Reimagined in partnership with the University of Pretoria Centre for Human Rights organized a closed-door stakeholder event on “Innovative Approaches to Development Finance and Debt Vulnerabilities for African Countries”. The event brought together key stakeholders in
On the 13th and 14th of April 2022, the African Union Permanent Mission to China and Development Reimagined organized a Special Dialogue on “Coordinating on Regional Infrastructure Projects under the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA)”. The
Who We Are? Africa Reimagined is supporting a promotional shopping festival for African products in China that is taking place from April 28 till May 12. More than 100,000 African brands will be showcased on over 300 e-commerce platforms during
In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the aim of ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Just before the SDGs were adopted, during a
Updated Every Month As COVID-19 social distancing interventions continue to be relaxed in many countries in favour of vaccine-led strategies, while new variants of COVID-19 continue to emerge, the way forward for global COVID-19 management seems very unclear. Our infographics
Who We Are? Disclaimer: This article is a revised version of Development Reimagined’s article published in 2020 in the wake of the 2020 UK-Investment Summit Trade between Africa and China rose to a record high in 2022, rising by 35%
Updated Every Month March 1st marks one year since COVID-19 vaccines were first distributed by an African country. Since then, African countries have only been able to procure 633 million vaccines with over 60% of these doses already administered. To
New Report: Deep Dive of Financing Needs & Debt Vulnerabilities Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal & Côte d’Ivoire 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has created new financing pressures amongst African countries, with countries having to finance socio-economic protection measures and vaccination rollouts, whilst
On February 9th 2022, we hosted the second event of our Ambassadors Roundtable series with Ambassadors and their representatives of West Africa based in China. Co-ordinating across diplomatic missions in China, the focus of discussion was on regional infrastructure in
Who We Are? On November 29th, the Africa Reimagined team (some in Dakar and some in China) were eagerly awaiting President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC8)
Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at the 2nd China and International Development Forum, hosted by CAITEC. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Your excellencies, Vice President Yu Zirong, Chairperson Mao Xiaojing, Director General Wu Peng, Your Excellency Osman, Deputy
Our infographic series has demonstrated that in a number of ways, African countries are continuing to act in a globally responsible manner to manage COVID-19 despite constrained circumstances. This month, we uncover the finance that is still being spent to
Updated Every Month During November 2021, the WHO announced a new COVID-19 variant of concern – B.1.1.529 – now known commonly as Omicron. First detected by South Africa and sequenced by Sikhulile Moyo, a researcher based in Botswana, over 11,000
This week, the 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Dakar, Senegal from November 29th through to the 30th. The event saw several key new initiatives announced – including 1 billion vaccines to be made available by China
Updated Every Month African Statistics Day is celebrated on the 18 November every year and the use of good reliable data has never been more important. Our research on COVID-19 – utilising public data on case numbers, deaths, social distancing,
Mapping the Future of China–Africa Relations: How the Continent can Benefit China is Africa’s largest trading partner, and deeper China–Africa engagement has the potential to transform the continent’s trade. The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is
FOCAC 2021- Bridging Partnerships for Deeper Cooperation Since the first Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, the China-Africa relationship has grown significantly, both in size and scope. FOCAC has been instrumental in coordinating and progressing the relationship, with
With the 8th Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial Conference due to be held at the end of November 2021, Development Reimagined has been reflecting on past Africa-China cooperation under the FOCAC umbrella, as well as an exploring on
How can both African and Chinese policy makers ensure that the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) contributes to supporting African countries to achieve their development goals sustainably? A new report by Development Reimagined (DR), as the first ever African-
Now, more than ever, businesses no matter how large or small, and regardless of their industry, can contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Global challenges – ranging from climate, water and
For the first time in a global context dramatically changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial Conference will be held in Senegal at the end of the year. The pandemic has had a
2021 African Ambassadors Dinner Gala & Celebration On 28 October 2021, Development Reimagined organized the “2021 African Ambassadors Gala Dinner” in Beijing, in celebration of the “2021 African Ambassadors Virtual Retreat” hosted in September 2021. The dinner provided a unique and
Who We Are? We are delighted to announce that Development Reimagined was recently awarded the Rural Revitalization award at the China Social Impact Awards for our contributions to Poverty Alleviation! Our flagship project, Africa Reimagined, was especially commended for supporting
Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at the Nanjing Peace Forum. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning good afternoon dajia shang wu hao, xia wu hao, and a huge thank you to the
Bridging China-Africa health collaboration With COVID-19 threatening public health in countries and regions worldwide, international health cooperation is increasingly needed to recover from the pandemic, strengthen health systems and accelerate development. To enhance communication and cooperation on health between key
Over the past few decades, it has become abundantly clear that ‘aid’ is not the only answer to Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges requires more than just financial aid, with an urgent need for structural change – in trade,
Who We Are? Over the past few decades, it has become abundantly clear that ‘aid’ is not the only answer to Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges requires more than just financial aid, with an urgent need for structural change – in trade,
Speech by Development Reimagined CEO, Hannah Ryder, at The Forum on China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation. Recommendations by the Development Reimagined team for future cooperation regarding Africa-China private sector cooperation are provided below. Full Speech Below Distinguished guests, Ministers, Governors, Ambassadors,
Who We Are? Yenaé is one of the 10 bespoke, sustainable African brands we are representing at the upcoming China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha during September 2021. Stay tuned for more information about the other unique African brands from
Who We Are? Kazi Yetu is one of the 10 bespoke, sustainable African brands we are representing at the upcoming China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha during September 2021. Stay tuned for more information about the other unique African
Who We Are? ARTCLUB AND FRIENDS is one of the 10 bespoke, sustainable African brands we are representing at the upcoming China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha during September 2021. Stay tuned for more information about the other unique African
FOCAC Preparation Retreat On September 9 & 10 2021, Development Reimagined hosted the second virtual African Ambassadors in China retreat to engage and share ideas regarding the forthcoming Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting. The retreat covered three major
The China-Africa Internet Development And Cooperation Forum Speech by a senior African diplomat in China at the China-Africa Internet Development And Cooperation Forum in Beijing (August 2021). Recommendations by the Development Reimagined team for the FOCAC 2021 action plan are
In July 2021, we hosted the first event of our Ambassadors Roundtable series with Ambassadors and their representatives of West Africa based in China. Co-ordinating across diplomatic missions in China, the focus of discussion was the challenges surrounding West African
Updated Every Month To date, African countries have been able to secure just 121 million vaccine doses in order to minimise the effects of COVID-19. Of these, 72% have already been jabbed into arms, equating to just 1.8% of all
In January this year, after several years of planning and negotiations, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was launched. This monumental agreement sets to boost intra-Africa trade and facilitate sustainable development across the continent, presenting a tremendous opportunity for
African Needs Assessment under FOCAC On 30 July 2021, Development Reimagined supported a high-level consultation meeting “African Needs Assessment under FOCAC” organized by Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC), the only think tank and research body affiliated
In July 2021, we hosted the first event of our Ambassadors Roundtable series with Ambassadors and their representatives of West Africa based in China. Co-ordinating across diplomatic missions in China, the focus of discussion was the challenges surrounding West African
China-Kenya relations are at a critical stage as the two countries face enormous challenges related to debt sustainability, a severe trade imbalance, and the public health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, Kenya remains a strategically vital country
Updated Every Month Over the last three months, we have consistently shared the data that so far, Africa has received less than 2% of global vaccines. We’ve had people share our data and graphics, and call out how inequitable this
Back in September 2020, President Xi Jinping announced China would aim for carbon neutrality by 2060, followed by setting more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2030. Such bold commitments appeared to reflect Beijing progressing towards adopting climate-friendly policies, premised on low-carbon and
In January 2021, China finally published its White Paper on International Development Cooperation. I say finally because – having seen white papers on aid published in 2011 and 2014, some people at least had the expectation that the next in
It’s time to ask and it’s time to get – is the key message of a new Development Reimagined report, written with African leaders and policy makers in mind and also of huge interest to African NGOs and governments worldwide.
Updated Every Month Nearly 1.33 billion vaccine doses have been ordered by African countries and the African Union – that’s enough to fully vaccinate half of the population, getting close to herd immunity levels, but as of early June, African
After walking out of the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Nairobi, with my arm slightly sore after receiving my first free dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, I felt hopeful that this reflected a new stage in Kenya’s COVID-19 response. However, a
I was recently out shopping in Hangzhou to buy a bottle of wine as a birthday gift for a friend. Now, I’m no wine connoisseur, so admittedly I struggled to pick one. But while scanning the shelves, I spotted a
Introduction:- Innovation is known to be important for productivity and economic growth, while intellectual property rights are, in conventional economics models, thought to spur innovation. Yet China, which averaged over 6 percent annual economic growth for three decades and is
As the co-chair for the upcoming 2021 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Senegal is in a unique position to negotiate a better relationship with China as well as support other African countries to do so as well. At Development Reimagined,
The COVID-19 pandemic along with the Black Lives Matter movement has amplified the structural and institutional cases of racism, the “white gaze”, power imbalances and systemic lack of ownership in most if not all sectors – including the development and
Updated Every Month Ever since the development of COVID-19 vaccines began, much ado has been made about the acquisition and distribution of vaccines to vulnerable African populations. But as our monthly report demonstrates with alarming clarity, the reality is very
I still remember the day I arrived in the quiet city of Natitingou, North-West Benin, after the 7000-mile journey from my hometown in China. I was to be a translator in a Chinese medical team deployed to the local hospital.
Notorious for its hyperinflation, and its status as the 10th most fragile country on the Fragile States Index, Zimbabwe is perhaps one of the last countries you would have expected to be proactive in vaccination rollout. Yet, not only was Zimbabwe one
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp relief the highly unsustainable fact that African countries together import over 70% of all pharmaceutical and medical products. Yet, 34 out of 55 African countries have some level of pharmaceutical production, with countries offering an
Who We Are? The coffee industry in China and Uganda are two very different stories. Here in Beijing, coffee shops are springing up all the time. Indeed, from 2008 to 2018, China’s coffee consumption increased by a whopping 1032%! The younger Chinese
Two types of images have dominated the global media’s coverage of Africa the past year. The first has been pictures of cargo planes packed with medical supplies, framing Africa’s COVID response as handled through foreign aid by partners such as
Who We Are? COVID-19 has ravaged agricultural sectors across the world, with lockdowns, falling demand, and supply chain issues resulting in many producers unable to export their products. The South African wine market was thought to be no exception. But
Updated Every Month Nearly 1.7 billion vaccine doses have been ordered by African countries and the African Union, but as of early April, only 5.7% of these have arrived, and of those, only 37% have actually been administered. While many
As Development Reimagined, we recognize that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to create a more climate-conscious trade system across the continent. But more specifically we recognize the need to understand how climate change can impact
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is among the greatest challenges facing the global community today. While Ethiopia has had an overall successful response to the pandemic with a low rate of infections and deaths, the country has been negatively affected by
It is widely accepted that vaccination is one of the most important achievements in public health. Yet, in the face of this ‘consensus’, vaccines are constantly challenged by individuals and groups on religious, and even political grounds. The determinants around
On February 14th, 2020, Africa’s first COVID-19 case was reported in Egypt. Since then, there has been widespread speculation about why Africa has not experienced a mass COVID-19 outbreak. At Development Reimagined, our analysis reveals there is no single ‘Africa
Updated Every Month 1 billion vaccine doses have been ordered by African countries and the African Union, but only 1.5% of these have been delivered so far. That’s not a headline you will read anywhere else. The news elsewhere is
News from Ethiopia in early 2021 from many international media outlets has focused on whether the government will or will not ask for debt suspension or cancellation under a new framework that has been agreed by the Group of 20
As African countries continue to borrow billions of dollars internationally for a range of activities, including much-needed infrastructural development, in energy, transport, water and other sectors, servicing this debt can be challenging, and can hinder African countries’ fiscal space for
Updated Every Month As analysts focused on African countries, we often see narratives that underplay and imply skepticism of the capacity of Africans to respond to COVID19. Most of this is simply unwarranted. When you look at the data –
In the wake of COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, it has become evident that the global health sector is plagued by problems of racism – both in terms of prejudice and power. Reports of serious harassment and discrimination
“Is a new debt crisis mounting in Africa?” “Africa’s debt crisis hampers its fight against covid-19” and “African nations sitting on debt volcano” These are all headlines from as far back as August 2019 , from various international and African
Updated Every Month Last year, in 2020, we were the first to comprehensively track the impact of COVID19 across Africa with this regular infographics series. We not only published these week after week – a total 23 editions in both
How can e-commerce support poverty reduction? Watch our video to discover more! Global e-commerce sales surged to US$25.6 trillion in 2018, up 8 percent from 2017. Leading the way are China (US$1.5 trillion), the United States (US$600 billion), and the
The economic effects of COVID-19 have dominated the attention of all governments and international bodies throughout 2020. In relation to African countries, opinion shapers, experts, and journalists have focused on phrases such as debt crisis, debt diplomacy, debt forgiveness and
Image: A woman farmer who works in the maize fields on the Canhumbuca Farm in Huambo, Angola © Anita Baumann (World Bank Blogs) “There is no one model of development” is one of the key principles, we, the team at Development Reimagined,
We have been tracking African governments actions since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and calculate that currently, African countries are spending around 2.5% of GDP to combat Covid-19’s impacts. While this is this is significantly below spending by other
Hannah Ryder, CEO Development Reimagined visited Sangua, or ‘Three Melon Community’ in Anhui Province, to understand how private capital can support poverty reduction? Can the same be done elsewhere? Watch her vlog to find out! On November 23, 2020 China announced
Over the last two weeks, news of potential new vaccines to stop the spread of #COVID19 have dominated headlines. Moderna, Pfizer and Astra-Zeneca have all made press-releases about their effectiveness in trials. Chinese firms – such as Sinovac and Sinopharm
China’s medical supplies for 18 African countries arrive at the Kotota International Airport in Accra, capital of Ghana, April 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Zheng) Trilateral cooperation, a buzzword in the field of aid and development cooperation, refers to a “development relationship
Updated Every Two Weeks This week, we saw a major dispute unfold between Zambia and private sector lenders, who rejected the government’s request for a 6 month payment holiday, due to Zambia’s needs to spend on COVID19 management. The private
For a moment it would seem that climate change has taken a backseat in the midst of a global pandemic, yet we are increasingly seeing the need to make linkages between COVID-19 response and climate action policies. What has been
In China, e-commerce is everywhere. Walk down any street in a busy city and you come across “Kuaidi” drivers delivering parcels or advertisements for online “Taobao” shops. But beyond China’s bustling cities, e-commerce has a profound impact on job creation
Zhunjing de ge wei laibin, nushimen, xiangshimen, pengyoumen, da jia hão! Vice President Lu Cairong Chairperson Frolick Ambassador Zhao YanBo Distinguished Excellencies, guests ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, it is a pleasure to be here and I would like to
This week, alongside our usual examination of COVID19 cases across Africa as well as support that other development partners are providing to African countries, we take an in-depth look at the recently published World Economic Outlook by the International Monetary
NOW Updated Every Two Weeks We believe there is an intrinsic relationship between the rigorous COVID19 testing done and the vaccine rollout. The ability to detect the number of active cases through testing will determine how extensive the vaccine rollout
(Photo credit: Willem Van Cotthem 2016- Smallholder Sesame farmer in Tanzania) With the COVID-19 crisis disrupting regional and global trade, the Development Reimagined team spoke with H.E Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzania’s ambassador to China, to get his take on Sino-Tanzania trade
In order to mitigate the ongoing impact of COVID-19, it will be essential to reignite growth – in particular trade, finance and people flows to, from and between African countries. Much of these flows rely on increased infrastructure and connectivity, as well
Famed for its natural beauty, surrounded by nothing but the Indian Ocean, tiny in size yet densely populated, understanding how Mauritius managed to become the most developed, diversified, and competitive economy in Africa is worth exploring. Overall, Mauritius’s economic growth
Whether it is ordering a vegetarian wrap or having a healthy fruit and veggie smoothie, the most sought after ingredient I crave for is avocado! Today, be it Beijing or Shanghai, restaurant chains and smoothie bars, are now catering to
NOW Updated Every Two Weeks As we analysed two weeks ago, the “good news” appearing from the continent in relation to COVID19 cases is continuing. Africa as a whole is making up a decreasing percentage of the world’s COVID19 cases
It’s that time of the year when university students move around the world in pursuit of their dreams, including over a quarter of a million African students. But 2020/2021 could be very different because of COVID19. Students are the world’s
NOW Updated Every Two Weeks We’ve been taking a bit of a break from our infographics covering COVID19 developments in African countries, and as we resumed this week we noticed some “good news” appearing from the continent. For example, yesterday,
Agriculture is an important piece of Africa’s development puzzle. Resource-wise, the continent is blessed with 60% of the world’s arable land, yet only 17% of the world population. Dependency-wise, Africa is largely sustained by agriculture, with two-thirds of the population
August 11th 2020 “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sino-Africa cooperation is at a defining moment in which it has the potential to help propel African countries towards sustainable development.” This was one of the most echoed sentiments from the ‘Sino-Africa
Blue skies and cows grazing on pristine green pastures. Smiling celebrities. Cultural heritage sites and healthy lifestyle motifs. Milk products with these images fly off the shelves in China. It’ s ultra-high temperature (UHT) long-life milk, stocking refrigerators and stacked
China has a long history of involvement in agriculture in Africa. As far back as 1959, China offered food grants to Guinea, and especially since the 2007 introduction of China’s “Agriculture Going Out” initiatives – a set of policies that
Updated Weekly This week, African countries recorded more recoveries relative to the rest of the world than recorded new COVID19 cases. That said, Africa now, as a whole, makes up almost 5% of the world’s COVID19 cases. Over 6 days,
Updated Weekly Do you want to know how your country is coping with COVID19? And how your African neighbours are coping in comparison? Is your government doing all it can to learn the best lessons and provide the best guidelines
Updated Weekly 84% of Africa’s #COVID19 cases have occurred – so far in just 10 countries. This is important. For the other 45 African countries, #COVID19 has been a huge economic shock, but it has not – at least so far
How to ensure food security on the African continent is a major question for African policy makers, businesses and the international community. A recent report by Mckinsey highlighted that 650–670 million people in Africa, roughly half the population, already face
Updated Weekly It’s been 5 months since the 1st COVID19 case was detected on the African continent. How are African countries coping? Our weekly update provides a great, unique snapshot of the progress so far and the challenges building up…
Updated Weekly We have been tracking the spread of COVID19 in African countries for over 4 months now, soon after the first case was recorded in Egypt on 14th February 2020. We have also been tracking the response of African
As COVID-19 has ravaged the globe, governments have had to face the grim reality of overwhelmed medical systems. The impact has been morbid, with over 7 million confirmed cases and over 400,000 deaths worldwide. In the absence of therapeutics or
Updated Weekly What is the latest update on #COVID19 cases and responses across #African countries? As usual, our weekly infographic is here to help you digest the key headlines quickly, with additional analysis to bring out information you won’t find
Updated Weekly This week could mark an important shift for African citizens health-wise. This week saw the African Union launch the African procurement platform, which is aimed at making sure African governments can get easier and faster access to the
China is one of the best-known emerging powers in international development cooperation. In 2014, China’s aid flows were officially estimated at over US$4 billion a year—similar volumes to Canada and Norway, and about a third of the size of the
Updated Weekly There is one word this week that we have been hearing a great deal. Debt. Concerns are being expressed by many international development organisations about the potential for a debt crisis, especially given the World Bank’s gloomy update
Updated Weekly Over the past few months, as we have scored through and collated the data from a huge number of sources, to share our weekly updates on what African countries are doing to tackle COVID19, we have noticed that
Six months after the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, the global effort to develop appropriate vaccines and treatments is continuing at a pace. The WHO report that there are now 125 candidate vaccines in development, including 10 in clinical
Updated Weekly Last week, our regular infographic update highlighted the actions and challenges African countries are facing in directly managing the COVID19 health crisis. This week, prompted by a concern that economic woes on the continent appear to be being
Updated Weekly As world leaders meet virtually for the World Health Assembly this week, is it premature to be talking about winning the COVID19 fight? Over the past few months, as we have provided our weekly updates on what African
Updated Weekly It’s been close to three months since the first COVID19 case was detected on the African continent. Over those three months we have seen some fairly unprecedented changes in global markets – for instance negative oil prices –
As COVID-19 spreads across the African continent, an African Union report has suggested that the outbreak could lead to a serious food security crisis in Africa, with as estimated 2.6% to 7% decline in agricultural production predicted for 2020. The
An activist explains how to wear a face mask in Nairobia’s Mathare slum. Photo Credit: Fredrik Lernery/AFP/Getty Policy Brief: COVID-19- Impacts on African economies April 2020 The impacts of the “COVID-19 shock” on African economies are unfolding rapidly and can be
Updated Weekly As part of our now regular series of infographics on how COVID19 is affecting the African continent, and how governments in the 55 countries are responding, this week we provide an update on what preventive measures African countries
Mafi Mafi’s Mahlet Afework on Supporting Her Community Through the Production of Face Masks The Ethiopian brand, Mafi Mafi, led by designer Mahlet Afework, has been a staple in the countries’ fashion industry since 2011. Her designs merge contemporary styles
Updated Weekly COVID19 first entered the African continent on 14th February 2020, and since then many African governments have been responding with both speed and determination. Last week, we explored what governments are doing to “flatten the COVID19 curve”. This
Updated Weekly For the last two weeks we have been publishing infographics on how COVID19 is affecting the African continent, and how governments in the 55 countries are responding. Last week, we explored what measures are being introduced to support
As an African-led wholly foreign-owned company in China, Development Reimagined is often asked to support Chinese companies with understanding African markets better. Right now, due to rising cases of people with COVID-19 around the world as well as more recently
December 2019 During the last quarter of 2019, the Foreign and Economic Cooperation Office (FECO) of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) held a series of two-week intensive training Courses on “Climate Change and Green & Low-Carbon Development” in
Updated Weekly Last week, out of a frustration with the lack of coverage and understanding by our clients as well as the public on how COVID19 is affecting the African continent, we published an infographic that showed how the 55
Updated Weekly Over the last few weeks, we have seen many think-tanks, consultancies and experts sharing information around COVID19 cases in Asia, Europe and the United States. But what about the African continent? How are the 55 countries in Africa
How can Development Reimagined help YOU successfully respond to the COVID-19 outbreak? Having access to the right information in a timely and consistent matter allows us to better understand the world around us and subsequently how to adjust our policies
Chinese military medical personnel attending a patient at a hospital in Freetown during the height of the Ebola crisis in Liberia in December 2014. Photo via Xinhua. Over the last few weeks, we have seen various Chinese actors launch significant
File photo, Kenyan nurse Lucy Kanyi demonstrates to media the facilities and protective equipment to be used to isolate and treat coronavirus cases, at the infectious disease unit of Kenyatta National Hospital in the capital Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi,
A woman wearing mask and gloves at Tunisia Airport Photo Credit: REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi There are only a few cases of Coronavirus reported in Africa, but history shows us that this is to be expected. The COVID-19 outbreak is currently sweeping
DR China-Africa knowledge demonstrated As an African organisation based in Beijing, Development Reimagined (DR) is highly informed and up to date with key data and information in the Africa-China relationship. In recent weeks DR analysis on the China-Africa relationship and
A security personnel wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly SARS-like virus which originated in the central city of Wuhan is seen at the entrance of subway station in Beijing on January 28, 2020. Photo Credit:
The decision whether to evacuate their citizens from China is just the first hurdle for African countries amid the outbreak To evacuate or not to evacuate. That is the question. African governments are currently struggling to decide whether to evacuate
This week, the United Kingdom held the UK-Africa Investment Summit, whereby the country committed to strengthening its economic partnerships with African nations and announced commitments to support job creation, trade and investment across Africa, including a £20 million programme that
Online Counterfeit In China – Could the EU Memoranda of Understanding approach help, and if so – how? We all know that China has grown rapidly over the last 40 years, with the result that over 800 million people have lifted
Building Partnerships for Development Cooperation The Center for Global Development’s (CGD) 2019 Development Leaders Conference, co-hosted with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in Beijing, China, convened Heads and Directors of development cooperation agencies and ministries from around the world.
President Jin Liqun, President Ahmed, Distinguished leaders, guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is an absolute honor to welcome you all to this conference. Thank you in particular to those who have travelled literally across the globe to be here. I
The Development Reimagined Infographic series explores which countries are and aren’t signed up to China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative Announced in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has promised new business and development
Hannah Ryder, CEO Development Reimagined explores how one village in China, that initially grew just one crop, has cut poverty in just a decade… but will it last? Can the same be done elsewhere? Watch her vlog to find out!
Good afternoon everyone. The title of the keynote I’ve been asked to give to you today is “caught in between the West vs China – can Africa rise to the play?” The way I interpret this is how African countries
Who We Are? During our pilot programme, the brands also attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of New Champions, where they met successful China-based entrepreneurs and international renowned businesses, as well as leaders in innovation, technology and science. Here,
Over the past 5 years the East African region has been benefiting from increased trade due to growing FDI into the region, driven primarily by new players such as China alongside a vibrant economy. However, this growth has produced a dilemma
Development Reimagined helping put trade at the heart of sustainable development in Africa At Development Reimagined we firmly believe that ‘aid’ or development cooperation is not the only answer to sustainable development in Africa. Solving economic and social problems in
Development Reimagined’s infographic series Trade is always changing. It’s a fact of life. According to economic theory, there will always be some countries or areas that have advantages – cost and efficiency wise – in producing certain goods over others.
On April 27th China Daily, China’s state-owned English language newspaper, hosted the sixth session of Vision China, a TED-Style event themed “Belt and Road, Shared Future” in Beijing. The event coincided with the second Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation, also held
Development Reimagined’s infographic series With the second Belt and Road Forum (BRF) kicking off, all eyes are on China to understand more about the far- reaching Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the potential impacts and opportunities for developing countries.
The world is currently on its tiptoes, wondering what the outcomes of the US-China trade discussions will be. Many commentators are also concerned about the state of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), created just less than 25 years ago, and
One of the greatest aspects of being a parent is having your child question the way you look at the world. Even more so bringing up a child in Beijing, where toys, for instance, are designed with the Chinese market
This year I got a great, albeit unusual Christmas present. On Christmas Day, my company, Development Reimagined – the first Kenyan Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise in Beijing – was accepted as a member of the China Africa Business Council (CABC)
“The average global tenure for a Finance Minister is two years…I made it seven very tough years!”- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, talks China, climate and corruption On December 5th 2018 Development Reimagined convened the inaugural event of the ‘DR Lens On: Global
A new report launched today by UNAIDS and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE) highlights the vastopportunities for Chinese pharmaceutical companies to relocate their manufacturing to African countries, not only to
Today marks the annual ‘World AIDS Day’, and therefore also marks a perfect time to reflect on a series of projects that Development Reimagined delivered for UNAIDS China this year in a bid to break down silos and facilitate catalytic
African countries are seeking to industrialize. From Addis Ababa to Dakar, Cape Town to Cairo, the impetus to manufacture is now a priority for much of the continent. As the President of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina put it:
Development Reimagined Convenes Post-FOCAC Retreat for African Ambassadors On October 27th 2018, at the request of several Ambassadors of African countries based in Beijing, Development Reimagined convened a first-of-its-kind retreat for Ambassadors and a small group of select and high-level
The African continent is home to 16% of the world’s population and 19% of its youth. We often hear the negative side of this – with young people making up 60% of unemployed Africans, with youth unemployment over 30% in North
Having kept the meeting date hush-hush until just two weeks ago, governments across the African continent are preparing their final briefings and security plans for the seventh Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial, and Third FOCAC Summit. To be
Over the past few years, a range of consultancies and think-tanks have sprung up to build bridges between and support China Africa relationships. While we also focus on other topics, Development Reimagined is proud to be one of these organisations,
Health policy plays a major role in many African countries development plans. And many African countries have recently made commitments to create and nurture well-functioning pharmaceutical industries to provide medicines to their own, growing populations. Health has also been a
Here at Development Reimagined, we regularly bring in talented young people to join our team as well as do internships with us. They are from all over. One of our top talents, Joshua Nederhood, recently worked on a new infographic
Anyone working in development now knows these days that manufacturing, or industrialization is central to the majority of African countries these days. Here at Development Reimagined, we regularly work with many partners on industrialization, in particular the Made in Africa
When we advise Chinese companies going abroad, especially to African countries, one of the first questions they ask is: “Is the country stable?”. We in Development Reimagined know that by “stability” many companies are not necessarily referring to what other
Since the 1970s, many developing countries around the world have taken up a range of loans from Chinese banks, in particular to finance much needed infrastructure projects – from buildings to power stations, to new roads and railways. However, little
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning! It is my honor to be here today, I am the CEO of an international development consultancy called Rui Na Xin (Development Reimagined), and the former deputy country director for UNDP here in
Good afternoon distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you so much to Kente and Silk for organising this event, China-Africa Stories, and for the kind invitation to speak today. I must apologise that I was not able to join and
A Kenyan saying goes, “When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers”. News headlines over the past few weeks have been dominated by two “elephants”, the US and China, and what looks like the beginning of a protracted trade war between
Thank you so much for the honour and invitation to give the dinner speech today. This is my third year of joining the Yenching symposium in as many years of being in China, and as always it is wonderful to
Introduction: Development Reimagined supports Beijing’s first Africa Week. Development Reimagined is one of the sponsors of the week, amongst others such as OFO, Hotel Jen and many more. In particular, we have supported the sifting of applicants for a start-up
For nearly three decades now, 11 July has been marked as World Population Day, to raise awareness about shifting global populations and their implications. In many parts of the world, expanding middle classes are creating increased demand for electric appliances
Whether you see it as taking place at the beginning of the calendar year or at the end of the Chinese year, the now annual visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister to the African continent is a remarkable tradition. Alongside
The American President’s comment on “shithole” countries may have shocked the world but it is not the first time I have been made to feel that the African continent is viewed negatively. There has been a great deal of public
Ask anyone with a basic knowledge of Africa which country is more poised for success – Zimbabwe or Kenya – and he or she will undoubtedly answer “Kenya.” Events of the last week would seem to confirm that verdict. On
Why get a foeign start-up going in China? Development Reimagined was very pleased to be featured in a flagship programme by China’s Global Television Network (CGTN) called “New Money”, which explored this question. Have a quick watch of the video
Since its agreement in 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has become the most successful international environmental agreement. The protocol has not only had great success in meeting its stated objectives, but also driven major
Our CEO, Hannah Wanjie Ryder, featured as one of the keynote speakers at the first ever “Brazil + China Challenge Forum” – a global Forum aiming to kick-start a new agenda for development, in the margins of the 10th BRICS
Here in China it’s been impossible to miss the fact that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is celebrating its 90th anniversary this week. There’s been a grand parade, numerous articles about its history and new endeavors – for example
A few months ago, a New York Times magazine cover was emblazoned with the question “Is China the World’s New Colonial Power?” The notion that China is a twenty-first-century colonizer is not new: commentators have been batting it around for
Creating jobs and entrepreneurs is key for sustainable development; At least three ways China can use the Belt and Road Initiaitve to create jobs and entrepreneurs across the world; China’s local governments should use “going out” strategically to innovate and
As a small child growing up in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, our annual family holiday to the beautiful beaches of Mombasa always began and ended with a degree of trepidation. My sister and I would jump into the car and
In Beijing, today is the annual deadline every dog owner dreads – registration time. As this handy guide sets out, if owners don’t register their dogs by the end of May, the dogs risk being taken away as strays. Not
Who We Are? At Africa Reimagined we firmly believe that ‘aid’ or development cooperation is not the best answer to sustainable development in Africa. Solving economic and social problems in poor and middle-income countries requires structural change – in trade, investment, and
Living in China, it’s been impossible to miss the country’s first ever Belt and Road Forum (BRF). The forum concluded on Monday, with outputs including a detailed declaration and numerous — over 270 — bilateral deals in areas such as
I remember the day I noticed mo-bikes, the new shared bikes that have literally taken over several cities in China. They had this attractive bright orange design, and I would spot them parked in random places, rather than dedicated bike
尊敬的各位来宾，女士们, 先生们, 大家下午好！Wanawake na mabwana, Habari zenu! Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It is a real pleasure to be here today to open this first ever award ceremony aiming to both recognise and incentivise the best Chinese reporting on my
One of the most cited statistics about China may well be the number of Chinese who have been lifted out of poverty over the last 35 years. At over 800 million, it is a huge number – and an extraordinary
Introduction: Evaluating a project to help Indonesian journalists better understand and communicate about climate change. Climate change is a complex but critical issue, affecting every person on this earth in different ways depending primarily on their geographical location, income and
“Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room” was one of the many memorable quotations from President Xi Jinping’s historic speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, just under a month ago. It was the first time
There is no doubt that relations between China and African countries are becoming ever more intertwined and important. In what has now become an annual tradition to visit Africa as a priority continent at the beginning of the year, Foreign
The beginning of the year – Western or Chinese – always means its resolution time. For the year of the rooster, I’ve been toying with the idea of trying to cut my social media addiction, which has really grown over
As part of my preparation to return to work early next year, I have recently started the search for someone to look after my son full-time during the day. Being in Beijing, I don’t have the same network of family
I’ve recently discovered that my 5 month-old son is quite sensitive to cold. As temperatures have dipped in Beijing, he, my husband and I have therefore had two weeks of sleepless nights. But why haven’t we switched on the heating
There’s a song by one of my favourite RnB artists Usher, called “You remind me“. In it, Usher tells a new girlfriend that she’s like a previous girlfriend that he fell in love with, who treated him badly. His question is
Late last year and early this year African heads of state and Government leaders gathered together at two key events. The first was the 6th summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The second was the 26th African
Most women, if and when they can, love visiting the hairdresser, especially if the results are good. It’s usually a time to get pampered, and also get an update on the latest styles and gossip. During my last visit, I
I’ve recently celebrated my first anniversary of working in China, and I can wholeheartedly say it has been fantastic so far. In particular I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive and enthusiastic colleagues. To be very honest,
June is always a busy month for my family, as three of us have a birthday in the space of two weeks. Father’s day also takes place in June, and it’s also my husband and my wedding anniversary. There is
Before I arrived in Beijing, many friends warned me about one major issue: air pollution. They – and articles such as this in the UK’s Guardian newspaper – warned me so much that I had this idea that once I
As a relative newcomer to China, I do my best to read as much as I can of other people’s perspectives about China. One magazine I often enjoy is “World of Chinese”, a bi-monthly publication, helpfully written in English as
Just a few weeks ago, my sister got married. The wedding was beautiful, her husband is an absolutely wonderful man from Uganda, and my two other sisters and I were bridesmaids. But there was one problem. I found myself comparing
Throughout my career, I’ve worked in large organisations. And every single large organisation – from highly profitable businesses to multilateral institutions – goes through swings and cycles of “change processes”. The organisation I work in now, UNDP, has just gone
This month, I had my first visitor to Beijing. My mother-in-law joined me for ten days. Luckily enough, we get on very well, so we had a great time. I prepared a packed itinerary covering her two weekends here, and
Africa isn’t a country. It’s an obvious statement but a while back, even American Vice President Joe Bidden forgot it when he said: “There’s no reason the nation of Africa cannot and should not join the ranks of the world’s
I’m entering into my fourth week here in Beijing, and one of the experiments I tried last weekend was to order a takeaway. I was tired from a very hectic week of meetings – that was my excuse anyway! But
A few days ago I arrived in Beijing to begin a new job as deputy country director for UNDP China. In this job, I’ll be heading a team that advises the Chinese government and other Chinese counterparts such as businesses
A couple of days ago, I had coffee with a friend and ended up talking about my move from London to Glasgow, just over a year and a half ago. I told my friend that when I first moved, I started
One of the things I love about my job is getting to meet people from all over the world. Just recently, I had the opportunity to meet a bunch of officials from Saudi Arabia. They were in charge of running
Chinese and African construction teams work together on a development project in Angola. Picutre: Dieter Telemans/Panos Anyone following my Twitter account will have noticed that I’ve recently developed a strange obsession with all things China. China even featured in my
A couple of weekends ago, the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang made his first ever trip to Africa, visiting Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya. This was a significant date. 50 years ago, the then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai made the
My primary school had some quite strong incentives to drive up performance. Every end of term, our teachers would test us and rank my classmates and I against each other. It was the extremes that mattered – top and bottom.
I sometimes worry that I work too hard. This is the third valentine’s date with my husband that I’ve missed because of working abroad. I’m currently in Nigeria for the fifth meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation’s
In January, I always enjoy reading the Economist’s World In Year X publication – which sets out their forecasts for big headlines under a number of categories. What I particularly like is their review of how correct their forecasts were
During my teenage years, I had a good number of friends who were determined to be DJs. Personally, I was never very excited by DJ’ing, mostly because I found it rather difficult to a) find great music that other people
About 4 months ago, I found out that a second cousin of mine who lives in Kenya, a beautiful sweet 5-year-old girl called Blessing, had been having problems walking. Her problems had become so severe she could no longer stand.
A boy stands by a WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) programme sign, outside the village of Tshibashi, Kasai Occidental, DRC. Picture: Stephanie Dunga/DFID. When I was a teenager, I lived in a city called St Albans. At the entrance there
Here in the UK, according to national statistics (PDF 2.44MB) the government spends an average of £8,745 on each person per year providing services. But if you live in a lower middle-income country like Pakistan or Sudan, your government will
As a bride-to-be, I remember having quite a few conversations about whether to change my surname after marriage. Apparently, grooms have been increasingly considering this question too. The pros and cons are regularly covered in magazines so there is no
If you’ve ever watched the seminal British comedy Yes, Minister, you’ll know that “technical” and “bureaucratic” are 2 words often associated with civil servants. They are also 2 words often associated with international organisations, though I won’t name any names…
This year I’ve been lucky enough to be one of the Guardian’s International Development Journalism Competition judges, which means I have had my first insight into what it is like to “judge”. From Britain’s Got Talent to The Voice, there
The coverage of the Tax, Transparency and Trade “Three T’s” agenda for the G8 over the past few days has been excellent. On my twitter feed I’ve seen many commentators, Non-Governmental Organisations and others welcoming the outcomes. As a civil
I have to travel a lot for my work, and over time I have refined my packing to be as compact as possible. I’m particularly proud of a small see-through plastic zip-up toiletries bag, which is a triumph of space saving.
A good friend of mine has started advertising her flat on Airbnb, a website that allows anyone that has a spare bedroom, owns a second property, or just want to rent their place out while they are on holiday to
Did you know that Wikipedia had several predecessors? According to this article, there were plenty, but one of the main reasons they didn’t become as well known was because they didn’t explicitly relate themselves to a product that people already knew
A recent experience brought to life for me some of the issues facing developing countries trying to improve tax collection. I have lots of family in Kenya, and a few days ago, my dad received the news that a cargo
A few months ago, DFID’s Secretary of State Justine Greening announced the beginning of a new, non-aid based relationship with India focused on trade and the private sector. Around the same time, David Cameron, announced a focus for the UK’s G8 presidency
A few weeks ago I went to see the new James Bond film Sky Fall. Without giving away too much, at one point in the film James Bond goes to a remote part of the UK. The area is portrayed
Happy New Year to all my DFID friends and blog readers! Traditionally, the new year is a time for making new resolutions. Go on that new diet, start that exercise regime, enrol in that evening class you’ve been eyeing for
The world is definitely changing. The song “Gangnam Style“, made in Korea and sung in Korean, has gone to number 1 in the UK, number 2 in the US, and has broken the record for being the “most viewed” video
About a year ago, I experienced one of the hardest working days of my life. It was the first day I chaired a meeting of a new 20-ish person taskforce on green growth and poverty reduction. It sounds odd and
It might be over a month away, but my husband and I have already begun to think about the Christmas and New Year holidays here in the UK. In particular, it looks like lots of my family are likely to travel from
Economists have a reputation for being sceptical. So much so that there is a book called the Skeptical Economist, and a new book referring to economics as the dismal science. This has a lot to do with our teaching. For
Over the past couple of weeks, two big changes have happened in my life. First, one of my sisters has moved to Glasgow from London with her little baby girl. So I’ve become a very busy auntie! Second, I’ve got
Last week, there was a great quotation doing the rounds on Twitter, Pinterest and other social media from the Mayor of Bogota in Colombia. The quotation was “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s
Every morning for the past three months, I’ve been saying a little mantra to myself when I wake up: “I am a marathoner”. I’ve been training for my first marathon and ten days ago I finally did it! It was pretty hard,
My alarm goes off at 6.15am. I hit the snooze button and realise I’ve been dreaming about work. I must be nervous. Not surprised really. Today’s going to be busy, despite the fact that the “text” – all 283 paragraphs
Sometimes, it seems like we are constantly under pressure to “pitch”. Whether it’s planning your two minute “elevator pitch” for the momentous day you meet your role model in a lift, or working out how to get your boss to
I’ve always been a fan of birthdays. Mine falls on June 20th. Last year, I had a wonderful celebration. It wasn’t just because of the presents – I got to spend the weekend in the countryside with my closest friends, enjoying
Winning is great, but is it OK to talk about losing as well? Picture: Marcos Villalta/Save the Children A few days ago I was in a meeting with colleagues from a number of organisations and countries talking about how to
It’s Climate Week in the UK, and I’ve been busy working with several enthusiastic colleagues to organise photo exhibits, seminars and leaflets for DFID staff to better understand climate change and their impacts. It’s been great working in a team –
It’s the beginning of a new month, and I’ve just celebrated my 1st anniversary of blogging and tweeting about my work in DFID. I have to say I have really enjoyed it so far. It’s brought Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
The end of the year is always a time for reflecting on what has gone well and hasn’t: 2011 has been my first full year at DFID, working on the topic of green growth – one of the hottest issues
The phrase “the benefit of hindsight” has been ringing in my ears as I’ve been reading the reports from the close of the Durban climate negotiations late on Saturday night. In particular, it’s been ringing in my ears as I read
Over the past few weeks, and as I mentioned in a previous blog post, I’ve been continuing to help the DFID team in Ethiopia design an exciting new programme focused on supporting new small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs, including
A few years ago, my grandparents came to visit my husband and me in London. It was a Sunday, so we welcomed them with a lovely, organic roast chicken. Unfortunately, it didn’t go down too well, particularly with my (now
A friend of mine has been raving to me about a new iphone app called Instagram. Instagram is a service that allows you to “pretty” up your photos and share them with millions of people around the world. It was launched
Did you participate in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project last week? I wasn’t able to because I was working in Ethiopia (my next post will tell you why), so I’ve been reading up on responses from participants, some of whom have
A few days ago, a report by the UK’s Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), declared that over 5,000 women were missing from the top jobs in the UK. If you’re a development economist, you might recognise the language from Amartya
I don’t know about you but I always dread “that time of the year” when I have to revise all my contracts – home insurance, energy, water, and so on. I dread it so much that I usually stick to the
On my first day as a civil servant, my new boss asked, “So, Hannah, what would you say are the three key concepts in economics?” I was tongue-tied – it felt like a trick question. What three concepts could I
Ok so I admit that’s a provocative title. But in many countries taking action on the two c-words “climate change” just isn’t a key priority. Avoiding the C-word in Nigeria There are, perhaps, good reasons for this. A lot of
“Green growth” is en vogue in the development and international affairs world. The Republic of Korea has created a new Global Green Growth Institute, and a major UN Summit to be held in Rio de Janeiro in July 2012 will
As a development economist, I’m itching to read Poor Economics, the new book by the amazing Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee. Unfortunately, it’s not yet widely available in UK bookshops. Thankfully, there’s a wonderful visual web version of the book’s key findings,
Most week days, I wake up at around 6.30am to go for a run, do some yoga or go to the gym. It makes me feel alive and ready for the day, and I am usually more productive and focused
Yesterday, I played a “disaster game”. It was part of an event organised by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), which has brought together development practitioners, students with unbelievable energy, and lawyers and economists that – like me –
I live in Scotland. A lot of people are often surprised at that. They’re also often surprised to hear that DFID has a large office in Scotland, just on the outskirts of Glasgow. From my desk on the top floor
I’ve just finished reading “When a Billion Chinese Jump” by Jonathan Watts. It took me a while – it’s a pretty huge book, with copious notes to flick back and forth to. But I am glad I got there. Yes,
It’s a big week of change for DFID this week. Despite apparently being in the “sexiest” department in Whitehall (according to the London Evening Standard at least!) we’re all actually reeling from the news that our fantastic Permanent Secretary Minouche Shafik
Valentine’s day, and yet another excuse to apply economics to daily life – yes you guessed it, a book called “Spousonomics“. But despite my love of all-things-economics, this year I decided to gorge instead on a lovely box of chocolates,
One of last week’s editions of the Financial Times featured an article by John Kay, a top UK economist, saying that “clarity of thought and clarity of expression tend to go together”. And he’s right – presenting complexity in a
I’ve been working with two of our Asian country offices this week – Vietnam and Indonesia – helping them focus their programmes on low-carbon and climate-resilient growth. Travelling back and forth to the offices, I’ve noticed some sharp contrasts between
I’ve been a Senior Economist in DFID for just over a month. Many friends and colleagues are excited about my new role…even people I don’t know that well. My first challenge has been giving a clear answer to the question “what
