Why Africa’s free trade area offers so much promise

Some studies have shown that by creating a pan-African market, intra-Africa trade could increase by about 52% by 2022. Better market access creates economies of scale. Combined with appropriate industrial policies, this contributes to a diversified industrial sector and growth in manufacturing value added.

Continue ReadingWhy Africa’s free trade area offers so much promise

Lessons from Rwanda on how trust can help repair a broken health system

There are many factors at the root of their achievements, most notably, a strong integrated and coordinated health system built on primary health care. However, one cross-cutting factor stands out that we believe allowed them all to achieve significant health gains but which, so far, tends to be always overlooked: trust.

Continue ReadingLessons from Rwanda on how trust can help repair a broken health system

Stronger laws can keep politicians from meddling in financial decisions

This power balance is extremely delicate. That’s especially true in the domain of fiscal allocations. If politicians make promises that administrators cannot keep, or bully senior administrators to try and get their own way, bureaucracies grind to a halt.

Continue ReadingStronger laws can keep politicians from meddling in financial decisions

Kenya’s tax on digital trade and services: the known and unknowns

It’s not clear yet who will be affected – or how the tax will be imposed. The treasury still has to issue new guidelines on how the tax will be implemented. But it appears that potential targets include online taxi-hailing platforms

Continue ReadingKenya’s tax on digital trade and services: the known and unknowns

The power of the purse threatens academic freedom in Kenya’s universities

In universities, academic freedom is desirable because their work is to search for truth, transmit knowledge and, often, speak truth to power. Constraints on this freedom threaten the very essence of the university’s purpose

Continue ReadingThe power of the purse threatens academic freedom in Kenya’s universities

CEOs must face uncertainty and tackle it head-on

That CEOs are now more focused on building resilience in their organizations, rather than looking for new ways to grow profits, sends a strong message about the state of the economy considering that as a club, CEOs are generally more optimistic in their outlook compared to other segments of the economy, say the working class and the self-employed

Continue ReadingCEOs must face uncertainty and tackle it head-on