Development and
Cooperation

Sustainability

The UN Sustainable Development Goals aim to transform economies in an environmentally sound manner, leaving no one behind.

TV sets for poor households in Ghana

A Ghanaian businessman runs two companies that tackle the problem of digital waste. He is in competition with informal waste recycling, which has a poor reputation because it damages the environment, exploits workers and exposes them to harmful substances.

Agriculture

Malawi must implement pro-women reforms to strengthen food security

Malawi faces an ongoing food crisis, mainly due to systemic gender inequality. Empowering women in agriculture through land reforms and economic rights is crucial for food security and sustainable development.

Book review

“Energy transition” does not mean what you think it does

A French scholar shows that when new sources of energy become prominent, the old ones are generally not phased out.

Global environment

Irreversible climate disaster

Earth is in a perilous state because bad-faith propaganda of interest groups tends to outweigh good-faith research by scientists

Uganda

Kampala’s urgent road infrastructure challenges

Uganda’s capital has ambitious plans to become a “smart city.” Recent events have proved how tough it will be to achieve these aspirations, however. The city still faces the daunting task of fixing its road infrastructure.

D+C

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Research

Why and how we should question growth

Debates on the feasibility of continuous economic growth have increased. Thinking about degrowth models to reduce material consumption and production in richer countries must strongly involve lower-income countries to avoid a neo-colonial agenda.

Beauty industry

Natural skin products redefine Kenya’s quest for beauty

Kenya’s beauty industry shifts towards natural skin products. Entrepreneurs champion organic alternatives, empowering women and reshaping perceptions of beauty while rejecting harmful skin-lightening products.

Excessive sovereign debt

What G7 should do in response to sovereign debt crises

The 1990s experience of the Brady bonds shows that generosity makes sense when linked to smart incentives.

Restricted growth

Multilateral action on sovereign debt must speed up

The G20 Common Framework on Debt Treatment is useful, but not fully fit for purpose yet.

Local communities

Mexican community fund drives post-pandemic recovery

The Active Communities Fund in Mexico has mobilised $ 6.2 million to support grassroots projects, addressing post-pandemic challenges and fostering economic recovery through collective community action.