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Becoming a “green port” in Africa
Port authorities have a number of levers at their disposal to pursue a “green port” model: contracting taxation, environmental certification and the adoption of international standards. However, while...
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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...
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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...
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Good links to the hinterland: the key to efficient overland transport
Good links between ports and their hinterland is one of the key catalysts driving growth and opening up different regions of Africa. Rail and roads – with all their respective advantages – compete to...
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Freight: the African bet
Major shippers are increasingly turning to Africa to avoid fierce competition on more traditional routes. However, as freight volumes are still too low, overcapacity is a constant problem.
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Proparco and the European Union
In 2015, the European Commission accredited Proparco to manage European funds for development. Mobilized to support projects in financial inclusion, support for entrepreneurship, climate finance, pres...
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Saving the Ganges: the vital changes needed in institutional and business models
While pollution of the Ganges appears to be an insoluble problem, demand for water – driven mainly by farming – is actually drying out certain sections of the river. Solutions exist but they require a...
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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...
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Privately-produced renewable energy in Africa: a credible alternative to traditional projects?
In Africa, many independent energy supply projects have grown up alongside state-controlled programmes. Sector-based reforms designed to boost production of renewable energies have been a boon for suc...
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Life insurance in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa
This article summarises part of the work of professors Aymeric Kamega and Frédéric Planchet: “Presentation of the life insurance sector in Frenchspeaking Sub-Saharan Africa” at Université de Bretagne...
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African Hotel Development – Great potential returns for investors
Everyone knows about Africa’s potential, created by the population explosion, the demographic profile of the population and the commodities “lottery win”. However, the shortage of hotel bedrooms provi...
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Insurance via your mobile phone: development of distribution channels in Africa
In Africa, insurance distribution relies on broking companies and insurance agents. The development of bank insurance is fraught with difficulty due to the persistently low penetration of bank account...
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Morocco: medical assistance for micro-business owners
Al Amana is Morocco’s leading microfinance institution, both in terms of customer base and the amount of credit provided. It operates throughout the country, supporting a vulnerable population by offe...
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Aavishkaar
Aavishkaar Frontier Fund invests in companies in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, which have an inclusive economic model and whose activities have a positive impact on low-income populat...
Project
How can Africa's mineral resources help promote sustainable development?
Since 2003, demand for mineral resources has been bolstered by growth in emerging countries. In Africa, it opens a «window of opportunity» that can make its growth sustainable. The exploitation of its...
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Tourism in developing countries: a neglected lever of growth despite its potential
As the negative impacts of tourism are clearly visible, they tend to dominate the spheres of debate and research and consequently eclipse its positive spillover effects, which are less visible and mor...
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What tourism for remote areas in developing countries?
Remote sites in developing countries often present a major interest for tourism. Although the difficulties to access them, the lack of infrastructure and skilled human resources may pose a problem, “p...
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IFC's approach to investing in tourism
Although tourism plays a key role for developing countries, investment projects in these countries carry a high level of risk. This risk can only be borne via a long-term commitment and rigorous proj...
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Combining best practices and profit in tourism
In order to bring about economic growth, develop local human resources, as well as cultural and natural heritage – while reducing the ecological footprint of establishments to a minimum – the Serena H...
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