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Improving energy efficiency and minimising the effects of climate change in the hospitality sector

Hospitality is one of the most energy-intensive sectors in real estate. In many markets in Africa, energy represents a significant burden on profitability, yet the sector has never fully embraced ener...

An example of commitment to good governance: DFIs and corporate governance support

With the collaboration of the CGDF Working Group: Marta Viegas-Rocha (IDB Invest), President; Sanaa Abouzaïd (SFI); Elisabeth Alpe (ADB); Vassilis Christakis (BSTDB); Andres Oneto (CAF); Shirley Payet...

Housing public-private partnerships in Latin America: lessons from Mexico and elsewhere

Entrepreneurs from the diaspora are ramping up innovation-led development in Africa

The African diaspora is a unique resource that must be harnessed. Aside from channelling financial flows back to their countries of origin, thanks to experience acquired abroad and familiarity with th...

Protecting biodiversity for The Long Run, a holistic approach?

Faced with the current biodiversity and climate crises, privately protected areas, which play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation, can improve the resilience of the conservation sector. The pr...

Helping the pharmaceutical industry meet health challenges in Africa

With 13% of the world’s population and 24% of the global burden of disease – but 6% of health expenditure and only 3% of the world’s pharmaceutical output, Africa faces the challenge of access to qual...

Supporting sustainable air transport innovations

Air transport is vital for local and global economic development. It plays a key part in regional integration and generating jobs. In terms of the environment, energy and climate, the sector has set i...

Fastjet, a low-cost airline flying high in Africa

The low-cost airline model has experienced rapid growth right across the aviation sector with the notable exception of Africa. With the rise of Africa’s middle classes and the gaps in its road network...

Why and how does Orange finance innovation in Africa?

Africa, which has already experienced some entrepreneurial success stories, is powering up and seeing the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs in innovation. However, digital Africa still fo...

Growth in containerisation signals a modernisation of African ports

Port logistics in Africa are rapidly shifting from conventional transport to containerisation. A number of modernisation projects are under way at existing ports, and new infrastructure is emerging. W...

Legal instruments to support the development of African ports

Governed chiefly by concession and permit agreements, the legal instruments underpinning public-private partnerships (PPP) in the African port sector are often inappropriate. These need to change in o...

The aviation sector in Africa - How can it be funded?

Because of the capital-intensive nature of the business, raising adequate finance is one of the major challenges facing Africa’s aviation sector. Local banks frequently lack the necessary resources or...

Ventures Platform Secures $64M First Close for Pan-African Fund II to Power Africa’s Next Tech Wave

Ventures Platform, Africa’s leading seed-stage fund, has announced the $64 million first close of its second fund, VP Pan-African fund II, aimed at deepening seed investments, catalysing Series A roun...

Cameroon: 90% of the labor force trapped in the informal sector

The informal sector occupies a disproportionate position in Cameroon. While it ensures the survival of many workers, it prevents the country’s development by maintaining low incomes and reducing its t...

Strengthening value chains in Africa: conditions for sustainable contractual arrangements

Africa continues to suffer from extreme poverty and malnutrition and the agri-food sector faces numerous challenges. Contract farming can boost value chain efficiency by enhancing coordination between...

A New Generation of Public-Private Partnerships for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries

There is a gradually rising trend in developing countries towards more professionally managed urban drinking water services as a result of delegation to private companies. The integration of a new gen...

Textile industry: Towards a new economic model to stamp out human rights violations in the workplace

The textile industry employs millions of people in developing countries. Yet its economic model (pressure on costs and lead times, large volumes, frequent renewal of collections, low prices) leads to...

Public infrastructure: a key driver in supporting private players

In situations of vulnerability and crisis, investment in infrastructure by international development institutions can provide a solid base to support the recovery and reconstruction of a State.

Integrating African ports into international commercial flows: strengths and weaknesses

Increased containerisation of trade, changing infrastructure and more and more mammoth projects... for the past 20 years, African ports have enjoyed huge momentum. But the obstacles hampering developm...

Yield and climate-linked insurance - a boon for small farmers

Insurance based on yield or weather indexes is a way of protecting small farmers in developing countries against natural risks. This innovation has the potential to improve their living conditions and...