May 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 global allocation, the African continent as a whole received a mere 33 billion USD, or 5% of the …
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 specific global conference held in Addis Ababa, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Regional Development Banks …
April 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 key consideration for private Chinese investment in climate funds. While there is widespread acknowledgement that increased public and …
March 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 released an updated Integrated Review outlining its geopolitical priorities, which includes a focus on working with like-minded partners …
New Report Highlights Opportunities for Stronger UK-Japan Development Cooperation Read More »
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 Development Reimagined on the infrastructure financing needs of four African countries – Ethiopia, Zambia, Kenya and Chad – highlights that …
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 countries. What is cholera, and how can it be avoided? Can it be treated? Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection …
Infographic: Cholera In Africa – are Vaccines and Manufacturing enough? Read More »
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 of essential goods, the international development sector has been primed to reconsider the structural flaws of its …
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 pharmaceutical sector, a new report by Development Reimagined highlights how the continent’s pharmaceutical industries can …
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 percentage, under 4%, of global greenhouse gas emissions. While these narratives are important to recognize, …
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 12th, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, launched the promotional shopping …
The rise of the online promotional shopping festival for African products in China Read More »
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 in mainly Beijing and Shanghai resulting in Beijing and other effected cities lifting restrictions. The local and global …
Is Africa-China trade picking up now the Shanghai Covid-19 lockdown is over? Read More »
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 sales! E-commerce retail sales also reached a whopping 13.1 trillion yuan (about 2.06 trillion USD) …
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 March 2021 and many have been particularly keen to understand what expert comments had been …
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 for foreign brands. It’s a cross-border e-commerce platform that allows foreign brands to sell directly to Chinese consumers …
Everything YOU need to know about China’s e-commerce giant: JD Worldwide Read More »
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% from 2020 to $254 billion in 2022. However, this was mainly due to an increase in Chinese exports …
geoGraphical Indications An Opportunity For Africa To Add Value To Exports Read More »
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 bring this into focus, just one country – the US – with a population a …
Are Africans getting the right combination of COVID-19 vaccines? Read More »
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) in Dakar, Senegal. Why? President Xi’s speech laid out the key agendas that would shape the Africa-China relationship …
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 global cases of Omicron have been recorded. Our final infographic of 2021 thus turns to …
African countries are being vilified for Omicron – here is the evidence how Read More »
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, vaccines and even spending programmes – has been essential to measuring the impact of the …
Is low vaccine access for African countries an anomaly? The data says no Read More »
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 vaccines administered globally – a far cry from the 1.3 billion doses ordered by African …
Over half of African citizens could have been protected by now Read More »
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 further interconnectedness between African countries. Indeed, the UN Economic Commission for Africa estimates that by …
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 is, yet the figure has hardly changed. Why? Perhaps the fact that African countries still …
African countries *still* have less than 2% of global vaccines! Read More »
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 renewable technologies. Despite these new commitments, China continues to fund coal projects worldwide, Africa being …
The Impact of China’s Financing for Coal on Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa Read More »
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 the series would be in 2017! Nevertheless, the 2021 paper generated considerable online buzz, especially …
Does China’s White Paper on Development Mean Anything for Africa? Read More »
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. The report – boldly entitled “From China-Africa to Africa-China: A Blueprint for a Green and …
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 countries have received only 1.5% of the world’s vaccines. While media has focused this month …
China has delivered more vaccines to Africa than COVAX, how? Read More »
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 few weeks on, it has become clear that our vaccine rollout has not been smooth …
Better Late Than Never: Can China Help Kenya Break The 2% Vaccine Wall? Read More »
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 bottle from South Africa. It struck me that compared to the other wines, this selection …
How Can African Countries Export More Agriculture to China? Read More »
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 different. This is not because of incompetent African governments. They, with the African Union, have …
Why have African countries administered only 1.5% of the world’s vaccines? Read More »
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. Over the 13 months I stayed in Natitingou, I witnessed first-hand the importance of health …
China’s Role in “Decolonizing” Healthcare in Africa Read More »
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 of the first African countries to receive COVID-19 vaccine donations but has secured a substantial …
How Can China Support Vaccine Deployment in Zimbabwe? Read More »
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 generation is the driving force behind this new ‘coffee culture’ demand. With their higher disposable incomes and acute …
Can Ugandan Coffee Be the Next “Coffee Success” Story in China? Read More »
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 China. The other image has been of Cameroonian virologist – Dr. John Nkengasong – making …
How Would Africa Have Managed COVID-19 Without the Africa CDC? The Role of China Read More »
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 unexpectedly, Sino-Australian geopolitical tensions have not only offered a lifeline to South African wine producers, but an opportunity …
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 countries and international organisations continue to make general pledges of solidarity, the data suggests that …
Why have only 2 African countries vaccinated over 10% of their populations? Read More »
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 vaccine acceptance or hesitance usually include public trust, the source of the vaccine, and socioeconomic …
Will Chinese-Made COVID-19 Vaccines Find Acceptance in Nigeria? Read More »
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 story’, and that decisive African leadership across the continent, supported by international cooperation, has led …
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 typically dominated either by photos of planes arriving with vaccines from COVAX or China, with …
African countries have received less than 2% of vaccines they’ve ordered Read More »
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 other expenditure, such as regular social spending on education and health. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic …
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 – for example this month’s new data on COVID19 response measures – there is little visible …
25 African countries don’t yet have vaccine orders – is this a problem or not? Read More »
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 in some of the world’s largest health and humanitarian aid organisations have emerged on various …
Creating a Coalition of the willing to decolonise the global health sector Read More »
“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 media outlets, aiming to objectively inform the general public about Africa’s finances. The problem with …
Africa’s been constrained. It’s time to change that Read More »
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 English and Chinese over the year – but by doing so also gathered unique data …
Which African countries will get COVID19 vaccines in 2021, and from where? Read More »
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 United Kingdom (US$135 billion) holding the top three spots respectively. Yet Africa, with 17 percent …
New brief explores the potential of digital trade to support poverty reduction in Africa Read More »
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 debt relief. African leaders are calling for debt cancellation and debt moratoriums. Countries with alleged …
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, try to champion when looking at key issues of economic growth and poverty reduction across …
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 regions (for example the Asia Pacific region is spending 7% of GDP, and G20 countries …
Could debt relief by China have a sustained impact on Africa’s Covid-19 recovery? Read More »
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 a landmark triumph – absolute poverty had been eradicated in rural areas countrywide. An incredible …
From the Soil: Can Private Money Really Cut poverty? Read More »
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 sector lenders rejected this request, and by doing so fuelled concerns that “Africa” would be …
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 termed as “green recovery” refers to implementing policies that intrinsically are centered on sustainability while …
Can African-Sino Agri-Health Cooperation Champion Green Recovery? Read More »
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 and poverty reduction. With 2020 hailed as the deadline for the eradication of poverty in …
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 will be. Currently the African Union has a target of 20 million tests by November …
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 as local manufacturing, which is often provided by Chinese partners, either in the form of …
Chinese workers in Africa- What’s the real story? Read More »
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 is largely due to the government’s sustained commitment to diversifying sources of growth beyond the …
Will Africa’s First Free Trade Agreement With China Actually Help Africa? Read More »
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 their customers’ healthy tastes, delivering on this fruit in different meals and drinks. Whether fresh …
Fresh or Frozen: Should Kenya and China Renegotiate Their 2019 “Avocado Deal”? Read More »
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 at around 4.5%, and there are very few countries and regions seeing new significant rises. …
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 future leaders. Where students choose to study can have a profound impact on their future outlook, …
Where will Africa’s students study abroad in post-COVID19 times? Read More »
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, the Ghanaian President announced that the country will allow international flights to resume from today. …
COVID19 in Africa: Is the crisis over? Or has it just begun? Read More »
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 being employed within the sector. Nonetheless reality-wise, Africa is facing the challenge of food security …
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 room temperature in premium packaging, cartons, and pouches. Tasting events are held weekly at hypermarkets …
Potential for Dairy-led Development Cooperation Between China and Africa Read More »
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, Africa’s cases rose from 800,000 cases to their current level at almost 900,000 cases. Yes, …
COVID19 in Africa: Can early momentum be maintained? Read More »
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 for citizens to live, while avoiding overwhelming health systems and unnecessary deaths? If so, you’ve …
Can African countries deal with COVID19 into the long-term? Read More »
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 – become overwhelming. Nevertheless, these 10 countries join the rest of the world in providing …
COVID19 in Africa: When can Africa reopen to the rest of the world? Read More »
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… So what are the headlines this week? Across the world and in Africa, COVID19 cases, …
It’s time to find new solutions to finance Africa’s COVID19 fight Read More »
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 governments to the virus, both in terms of health and economy, as well as development …
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 a vaccine, alternative curatives are becoming increasingly popular, the most recent being traditional herbal medicines. …
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 collated anywhere else… at least until you see it here anyway! So what’s the unique …
Is more poverty in Africa an inevitable outcome of COVID19? Read More »
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 medical equipment they need from other countries across the globe and from each other. It …
Africa’s COVID19 Tests and Deaths: Why so different? Read More »
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 UK’s aid budget. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), announced in 2013, is the flagship …
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 of its World Economic Prospects. This week, we decided to investigate the debt question a …
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 many others writing on the same topic tend to see what is happening in very …
Success v failure: Is there one Africa COVID19 story? Read More »
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 evaluation. In recent weeks, there has been controversy around the need for trials of vaccinations …
COVID-19: How Can China Help African Countries Have a Stake in the Race for a Vaccine? Read More »
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 blamed on “lockdowns” we wanted to check the facts on behalf of our clients, analysts …
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 countries are doing to tackle COVID19, we have noticed some positive trends, especially with respect …
Which African countries are winning the COVID19 fight, and how? Read More »
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 well as many “typical” changes – such as certain African markets’ being downgraded by …
Are African countries getting enough support to deal with COVID19? Read More »
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 FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has also issued a warning noting “quick, strategic action is needed …
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 expected to vary widely by country. The effects can be divided into indirect effects depending …
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 have put into place to “flatten the curve”. The last time we explored this question …
Are African countries easing lockdown too early? Read More »
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 week we return to the question of what African countries are doing to support their …
How much are African countries spending to help the poorest deal with COVID19? Read More »
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 the economy and the poorest people in African countries. This week we return to the …
Are African countries flattening the COVID-19 curve? Read More »
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 Beijing, China. Development Reimagined was commissioned to develop a number of bespoke training sessions, a …
South-South Cooperation on Climate Change and Environment Read More »
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 countries in Africa are faring in terms of numbers and location of cases, as well …
How are African countries dealing with COVID-19’s economic impacts? Read More »
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 faring? There is both good news and bad news… As part of Development Reimagined’s commitment …
How is COVID-19 affecting Africa? Our Analysis in Numbers Read More »
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 or ideas in order to maximize the benefits available. That’s why at Development Reimagined our …
How can Development Reimagined help YOU successfully respond to the COVID-19 outbreak? Read More »
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 campaigns in Africa to help tackle COVID-19. So far, the Chinese government has created numerous …
From Ebola to COVID-19: 4 Lessons China Can Apply to its Response in Africa Read More »
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, File COVID-19, first detected in Wuhan, China late last year, has so far spread to …
China’s Coronavirus Slowdown: Which African Economies Will Be Hit Hardest? Read More »
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 out of China across the world. To date, over 95,333 cases globally have been reported. …
COVID-19 is only slowly reaching Africa. That’s no surprise Read More »
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 COVID-19 has featured heavily in international news, including coverage in the Financial Times, The New …
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: NOEL CELIS / AFP With the recent Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV outbreak thrusting China into the limelight, the …
Could the Coronavirus lead to a change of Africa-China trade patterns? Read More »
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 their students and citizens from the epicentre of the coronavirus, Hubei Province. The only way to …
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 will support businesses in developing countries to increase trade with international markets, such as China. …
Geographical Indications: An Opportunity for Africa to Add Value to Exports Read More »
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 opportunities around the world, connecting regions of Asia, Europe and Africa in large investment and …
Countries along the Belt and Road- What does it all mean? Read More »
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! Shanlian, a village outside Wuxi in Jiangsu Province of China, has recently gained national …
From the soil: How one village cut poverty through…flowers? Read More »
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. These countries will export more to other countries, and other countries purchase from them. And …
What impact is the G20 having on African trade? Exclusive Analysis Read More »
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 in Beijing. With the theme of “Belt and Road Cooperation, Shaping a Brighter Shared Future,” …
Development Reimagined CEO shares Vision for Trilateral Cooperation on the Belt and Road Read More »
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. Those 124 countries who have signed BRI MOUs in particular are keen to understand more …
China’s Debt Relief along the Belt and Road – What’s the Story? Read More »
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 in mind. Last year, one toy we bought for my now 2.5-year-old son, caught my …
My new year’s resolution: Why I’m banning “The West” Read More »
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) also based in Beijing. It was a proud moment. To date, the CABC membership has …
Who is looking out for African companies in China? Read More »
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 provide cheaper, high-quality drugs but also jobs, technology and skills transfer. Currently, Africa imports 70% …
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: “the secret of the wealth of nations is clear: developed countries add value to everything …
Industrialization – Why African countries can’t directly copy China’s experience Read More »
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 Africa as a whole and in countries like Botswana, Senegal, and South Africa. At …
Infographic: Who’s helping young African people become global citizens? Read More »
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, amongst others such as China Africa Advisory (CAA), the Made in Africa Initiative (MIAI). We …
Development Reimagined analysis cited in new FOCAC Reporting Guide Read More »
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 long-standing key part of commitments from China to African countries, initially in the 1960s through …
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 global investors might. In fact, Chinese stakeholders often see changes in the top leadership and …
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 is known about how large these loans and repayments are at a global or cross-country …
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 them. The war will most likely affect their economies negatively in the short-term as the costs …
Why poor countries won’t lose out from the US-China Trade War Read More »
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 like air conditioners and fridges, and this consumption is placing ever greater strains on the …
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 its latest Africa policy white paper, it makes China’s foreign policy quite unique compared to …
Who does China prioritise? Our first infographic sheds some light Read More »
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 furore following Donald Trump’s racist or not racist comments. UN representatives condemned the comments, a …
Opinion: They may not say it, but many countries do treat Africans like Trump Read More »
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 Monday, after Kenya’s Supreme Court upheld the reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the country’s …
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 above to get a glimpse into what consultancies like Development Remagined and our partners such …
Development Reimagined part of a new foreign start up rush Read More »
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 reductions in greenhouse gases, and therefore halting climate change. Many of the reductions in ozone …
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 PLA’s first overseas base in Djibouti in Africa -, and there is even a new …
Opinion: Peacekeeping – how do others compare to China? Read More »
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 a decade. But, to anyone who has experienced or even studied colonialism, the claim seems …
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 during the journey along the then notoriously treacherous single-lane highway, we would pass the time …
Opinion: What an economist’s journeys tell us about Kenya’s new China-built train Read More »
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 being a dog owner, I am not aware of whether this is a unique system …
Can China’s civil society organisations bark like two dogs? Read More »
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 infrastructure, manufacturing and services.As was articulated recently by the head of the UN in China, …
Opinion: How can African countries get the most from Belt and Road? Read More »
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 holds. I was so curious I took a photo to later ask my Chinese friends …
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 feat. Indeed, no other country has achieved such a level of poverty reduction over such …
“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 a Chinese President had addressed the elite crowd, and President Xi certainly made the right …
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 Minister Wang Yi’s visit to five African countries illustrates the close relationship. China’s top 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 time. A few years ago, when living and working in the UK, there were three …
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 would otherwise depend on, and nurseries tend to only admit children from 18 months …
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 to avoid these sleepless nights? Well, in Beijing, November 15th and March 15th are dates …
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 therefore a simple one – to date or not to date his new girlfriend? I …
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 Union Summit, hosted at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which was built …
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 asked about hair coloring. My hairdresser gave me three options. I could either stick with …
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, I had worried about a challenge summed up well by a Chinese saying that “two …
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 one thing that makes this heavy month of present giving more manageable though – lists. …
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 moved to Beijing I would need to wear a mask every day. Now, there are …
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 my Chinese is just not that good yet! In one of the past issues I …
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 her wedding to mine seven years ago. Either thinking “Oh, I wish we had done …
Is your relationship with China better than mine? Read More »
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 through a “change process” to decentralise operations from New York to regional centres and country …
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 she was very independent, so she was able to see the best the city has …
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 most prosperous nations”. Having worked in development for over ten years now, I think recognizing …
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 it turns out the process of getting a takeaway in Beijing is quite different from …
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 how to cooperate effectively with other countries and further develop their international positions on issues …
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 off trying to enjoy Glasgow in the same way I enjoyed London. I rented a small …
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 the Saudi Fund for Development, and they were visiting my office for something we called …
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 blog post last week, although my key message was about development partnerships. The reason I’ve …
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 first ever official Chinese visit to Africa. In Kenya, as with visits to other countries, …
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. Wherever I came in the ranks, I was mostly just thankful that I wasn’t the …
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 Steering Committee. To make up for missing Valentine’s Day, I’ve been thinking about how to …
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 and what they got wrong or missed out on. It’s always good to see this kind …
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 would dance to; and b) work out when was the right moment to make the …
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. As I happened to be visiting Kenya, her mother and I decided to take her …
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 was always a sign showing that it was “twinned” with a number of other towns …
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 spend around or less than £300 on you per year (NB: for the economists out …
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 need to repeat them here – but there is clearly no right answer – we …
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… Most of the time, I disagree with these stereotypes, as I know so many dynamic …
Civil Society and Development: More than a technical issue Read More »
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 is no shortage of television devoted to “judging” in the UK these days. A new Channel …
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 servant, I know that my fellow colleagues have worked really hard behind the scenes to prepare for …
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. My toothbrush, perfume and other bits and pieces fit into it perfectly, it’s long-lasting, and …
Why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t fit Nigeria Read More »
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 market it to others. Airbnb says its aim is to build a “trusted, collaborative marketplace”, …
Can we accept negative feedback on our knowledge? Read More »
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 and understood – the encyclopaedia. They forgot that “content is king”, and tried to create …
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 of furniture and other household goods that he’d shipped over was about to arrive at …
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 on changing tax, trade and transparency policies inside the UK and other G8 countries to …
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 as far away from the hustle and bustle of London and as remote from government …
Digital by Default – a new reality for development? Read More »
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 a few months now. We’ve all been here before and January always starts with the …
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 on you tube, with over one billion views. It is also being parodied all over the …
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 a little laughable now, especially now that a year has passed and that the group …
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 London and elsewhere to join us in Glasgow. I’m really excited, but my husband is worried …
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 instance, we’re taught to be sceptical of the idea that one thing (we call it …
Putting on my sceptical hat for access to energy Read More »
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 a new job in DFID. I’ll be supporting our Secretary of State to co-chair a …
The right sized Power of We to influence development Read More »
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 where the rich use public transport”. Credit: Smart Move Campaign I think the reason people …
What’s the route to becoming a developed country? Read More »
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, but an amazing experience. And looking back on it, having my mantra was crucial. It …
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 of it – was agreed by negotiators yesterday. Today is the high level summit – …
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 pick up your innovative new idea, pitching is becoming a norm in our society. It was …
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 all that nature has to offer. This year, however, my birthday will be memorable for …
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 best share knowledge about green growth policies and strategies. It sounds rather boring, but actually we …
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 – we’ve done so much more than we would have if we’d tried to set these …
How buying together in Government can be Powerful Read More »
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) into my life like never before! How Africa tweets. Picture: Portland Last week on twitter, …
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 out there, and a focus of next year’s Rio+20 Summit.One of the first phrases I …
A new way to swim – conventional or green growth? Read More »
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 that we’re now aiming to get a global deal in 2015. The question I’ve been asking …
After 2009, why could 2015 deliver a climate deal? Read More »
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 green businesses. So I’ve been surprised to hear that the private sector has started to become …
The tug-of-war over the private sector – time to stop? Read More »
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 late) grandmother. And this is why. My grandmother comes from a beautiful part of Kenya, on …
Staying close to food is key to tackling climate change Read More »
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 just over a year ago and recently had an upsurge in subscribers because the pop-star …
How DFID can use Justin Bieber’s Twitter Account Read More »
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 questioned whether he was right to try to use social networks like twitter and facebook …
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 Sen’s seminal piece, written over ten years ago, on the 100 million women missing in developing …
What Economics can (and can’t) tell us, Part 3: Prioritising Women Read More »
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 same provider. It’s lazy, I know – but shopping around used to be so laborious – …
What economics can (and can’t) tell us, part 2: Getting the best deals Read More »
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 possibly pick to impress him? Over the next few weeks, I’m going to do a …
What economics can (and can’t) tell us, part 1: carbon taxes Read More »
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. There are, perhaps, good reasons for this. A lot of countries feel there are more pressing needs to deal with rather than a distant, future problem. Take Nigeria for example. …
“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 focus on two topics – one of which will be “green economy“. The OECD has …
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, and it’s been reviewed in The Economist and by several UK economists such as Diane …
Why we need to test cash transfers for climate change Read More »
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 at work as a result. Over time, it also ensures I look healthy and hopefully …
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 – want to use our training innovatively to make a difference to people’s lives. Hence, the …
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 can see rolling hills and woods. On a sunny day, it’s pretty beautiful, and …
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, the book is rather depressing. But it is also an engaging tour of the country, …
Dangerous generalisations: China and climate change Read More »
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 is about to leave us to become a Managing Director at the IMF, and getting …
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, which my loving husband kindly gave me. Box of chocolates. Picture credit: rei-san As I …
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 simple way is powerful. Will climate change economics ever become this colourful? Picture: allie bishop …
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 the two’s capital cities. Hanoi is full of hundreds of motorcycles, whizzing about and jam-parked …
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 do you ACTUALLY DO?”. Most people know what doctors, engineers, lawyers, even bankers and accountants …
