Microfinance: An Indian backlash or an African solution? The honeymoon with microfinance is over. Since the idea of lending small sums of money to poor people was pioneered by Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, ... the approach has been taken up by many non-governmental organizations, donor agencies and the United Nations as an essential part of their poverty-reduction efforts. Microfinance has provided countless people with access to financial services.
Heineken seals Ethiopian takeover Holland's largest brewer, Heineken on Thursday sealed a US$163million deal to acquire two Ethiopian breweries after protracted negotiations. ...
Breaking the vicious cycle of food crisis Once every few years, the world goes through a familiar ritual: various factors converge to trigger unusual increases in global food prices. ... In response, countries rush through emergency measures to ward off widespread shortages. Prices stabilize, calm returns and the world declares yet another victory in the war against rising food prices. The crisis vanishes from the radar — until the next one.
Kenya: Spotlight on Willy Munyoki Mutunga The outspoken new Kenyan chief justice worries the traditional establishment, writes Parselelo Kantai, but the task of judicial reform may prove ... larger than his personality
Ethiopia presses with Nile projects despite Egypt’s opposition Ethiopia has launched its biggest ever irrigation project over the Nile River after receiving US$100 million from the World Bank. The project ... is going ahead despite disapproval from Egypt, which is against such activities along the Nile.
Ethiopia and UN accuse Eritrea of backing Al Shabaab Ethiopia and the UN on Thursday accused Eritrea of supporting Al Shabaab. Eritrea's embassy in Kenya is believed to be providing monthly payments ... of around US$ 80,000 to help the terrorist group.
After South Sudan, should Somaliland be Africa’s next new state? Somaliland has been seeking international recognition since it declared independence from war-torn Somalia in 1991. After the independence of ... South Sudan on 9 July, Somaliland's government would like it to be Africa's 55th country. Join in the debate.
Trendhunter in East Africa: See you ?at the mall! ?East Africa's middle classes are turning into mall rats. A way of life so familiar and pivotal to many in South Africa is now cementing itself ... within the continent's ever-changing urban spaces.
Kenya: Poverty eradication goes hi tech with M-PESA In 2007, Kenya's mobile network service provider Safaricom introduced a low cost electronic mobile phone money transfer system known as ... M-PESA.
Ghana and most African countries record weak ICT capacity in 2009-2010 Ghana and most African countries still have weak information communication technology (ICT) capacity, a review of the continent's telecommunication ... sector has revealed.