U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Africa this month—the third in under a year—is a demonstration of the Biden administration’s growing commitment to Africa. Witney Schneidman and Landry Signé examine the outcomes of the visit and the recently released U.S. strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa.
Hardly a presentation is made on the topic of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) without starting with a lamentation about how intra-African trade is “abysmally low” compared to other continents. But this observation is simply not true, Andrew Mold explains in a recent paper.
What drives public sector employees in Zambia and how can local governments retain them? Danielle Resnick and Gilbert Siame share findings from their surveys of bureaucrats.
We just wrapped up Season 1 of the Foresight Africa podcast with host Aloysius Uche Ordu. Catch up on the latest episodes below or listen to them all on Apple, Spotify, Google, or on our website.
The future of podcasting in Africa. Africa Podfest Co-Founder and Co-Director Josephine Karianjahi discusses the region’s rising demand for podcasts—particularly among youth in urban areas—and ways to overcome barriers to the industry’s growth.
Making the future of African STEM female. The myth that math is for boys is a pervasive one in many African communities. Education experts Adefunke Ekine and Ayotola Aremu share ways to change the narrative and encourage more girls to enroll in STEM education.
Ukraine crisis
Russia’s narratives about its invasion of Ukraine are lingering in Africa.Mary Blankenship and Aloysius Uche Ordu examine tweets from Africa to track Russian narratives and online disinformation around the war in Ukraine.
South Africa, Ukraine, and the politics of non-alignment. To the bafflement of many in the West, the war in Ukraine has reinvigorated foreign policy autonomy and the principles of non-alignment in South Africa and other countries in the Global South, Elizabeth Sidiropoulos explains.
Regional integration
Seven ways to accelerate implementation of the AfCFTA. Implementation of Africa’s new free trade area has been slow. Francis Mangeni and Andrew Mold outline ways to take the agreement from vision to reality.
Re-approaching Africa’s economic integration agenda. On this episode of the Foresight Africa podcast, Julius Kiiza discusses Africa’s regional integration efforts—from Nkrumah's Pan-Africanism to the AfCFTA—and the integral role of women and technology in the movement.
New tools for easing cross-border trade in Africa. On the Foresight Africa podcast, Mike Ogbalu III explains how the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System aims to simplify cross-border transactions and transform African businesses.
US-Africa relations
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken's visit to Africa.Landry Signé breaks down the significance of Antony Blinken's visits to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda earlier this month.
Testimony on the African Growth and Opportunity Act. On June 9, Landry Signé testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission on the African Growth and Opportunity Act—its usage, trends, and sectoral highlights.
Technology
Delivering on Africa’s digital potential.Adedeji Adeniran outlines how an effective data governance framework can maximize the potential gains and limit the risks of rapid digitalization in Africa.
The role of cryptocurrencies in sub-Saharan Africa.Bitange Ndemo explains how cryptocurrencies can help level the economic playing field in sub-Saharan Africa.
Effective engagement with Africa.Landry Signé and Chris Heitzig offer insights into how the U.S. can capitalize on recent economic, technological, and business trends to strengthen ties with Africa and build mutual prosperity.
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