infrastructure

This Briefing note describes an attempt by the city of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, to launch the first municipal bond in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) area, and considers the ramifications of the central government blocking the initiative.

Rising debt, the ever-growing prominence of social media and a battle for the soul of the ANC are just some of the things Jamie Hitchen and Nick Branson are expecting to see in Africa in the year ahead.

Kilamba New City reportedly cost US$3.5 billion to build. Dr Chloé Buire interrogates the myth it is a “ghost town” and illustrates how the settlement has attracted young, upwardly mobile Angolans.

Chronicling experiences from Panguila, Dr Chloé Buire examines the rapid expansion of suburban Luanda, arguing that it provides insights into the Angolan regime’s vision for modernity.

Jeffrey Paller argues that as Ghana’s cities grow the challenge will be to prevent the creation of more informal settlements, the rise of unregulated transport systems and the deepening of urban inequalities.

In this insightful and detailed interview, Jules Dumas Nguebou discusses how participatory budgeting has developed in Cameroon to ensure that local resources are effectively mobilised to meet community needs.

How do we constructively define public goods in contemporary Africa and what role can they play in the continent’s development? Jonathan Bhalla investigates.

    Going Public: How Africa’s integration can work for the poor

In the heyday of African nationalism, the continent’s founding fathers plotted their vision of pan-African unity. The twin paths of closer political and economic integration appeared to them as the only means to achieve dignity prosperity and security. Today, closer...