The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
The World Bank has given final approval for a $340-million financing package for a crucial hydroelectric power plant in Africa’s Great Lakes region, which is long delayed by ethnic conflict. The World Bank board of executive directors had yesterday signed off on the financing for the nearly $470-million Regional Rusumo …
As a national development model that simultaneously pursues socio-economic progress and environmental conservation, the Green Growth concept is being tested in countries around the world through context-specific policies and projects. This report reviews Green Growth policy actions related to agriculture and climate change by eight countries – Mexico, Vietnam, Rwanda, …
Nepal has made the “fastest progress” in reducing multidimensional poverty, according to a study by Oxford University. The study conducted by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) showed the percentage of the poor in Nepal dropped by 4.1 percentage points per year between 2006 and 2011. Of the 22 …
Strengthening its overseas footprint, state-run BHEL today said a renovated hydro power plant project with enhanced generation capacity has been commissioned in Tajikistan. The power equipment major is also implementing hydro projects in Rwanda, Afghanistan, Vietnam, DR Congo and Bhutan. BHEL has completed the renovation, modernisation & uprating of the …
Central African countries have launched an ambitious coordinated plan to combat poaching in the region, in the face of escalating wildlife crime and accompanying violence. The $14m initiative, which includes cooperation between law enforcement agencies, joint country patrols around border areas, ramping up of investigations, use of informants, prosecutions and …
In East Africa, human population growth and demands for natural resources cause forest loss contributing to increased carbon emissions and reduced biodiversity. Protected Areas (PAs) are intended to conserve habitats and species. Variability in PA effectiveness and ‘leakage’ (here defined as displacement of deforestation) may lead to different trends in …
Ahead of the World Bank's Spring Meetings here this week, government ministers from almost 40 developing countries are meeting with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, UK International Development Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell, Chair of the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation HRH the Prince of …
Several animal species including gorillas in Rwanda and tigers in Bangladesh could risk extinction if the impact of climate change and extreme weather on their habitats is not addressed, a U.N. report showed on Sunday. Launched on the sidelines of global climate negotiations in Durban, the report by the United …
Climate change poses a major challenge to agriculture. Rising temperatures will change crop growing seasons. And changing rainfall patterns will affect yield potentials. Underinvestment over the past 20 years has left the agricultural sector in many developing countries ill-prepared for the changes ahead. Policymakers and researchers alike acknowledge the need …
India 67th In Global Hunger Index Among 81 Countries With Worst Figures New Delhi: India’s food security situation continues to rank as “alarming” according to the International Food Policy Research Institute’s Global Hunger Index, 2011. It ranks 67 of the 81 countries of the world with the worst food security …
Bangladesh is among five most vulnerable countries to climate change-induced food crisis and hunger, says a report. It says the 10 countries that rank most vulnerable are DRC, Burundi, South Africa, Haiti, Bangladesh, Zambia, India, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Rwanda, which account for nearly a quarter of the world’s population. …
This study sought to inform climate change policy by analysing agricultural adaptation in developing countries. Country case studies following a common methodology in Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda and Tanzania, provided fresh evidence of the possible costs of agricultural adaptation to climate change. A global review of the literature on agricultural …
The negative effects of climate change are already evident for many of the 25 million coffee farmers across the tropics and the 90 billion dollar (US) coffee industry. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), the most important pest of coffee worldwide, has already benefited from the temperature rise in East …
Over the past 15 years, performance-based financing has been implemented in an increasing number of developing countries, particularly in Africa, as a means of improving health worker performance. Scaling up to national implementation in Burundi and Rwanda has encouraged proponents of performance-based financing to view it as more than a …
Performance-based financing is generating a heated debate. Some suggest that it may be a donor fad with limited potential to improve service delivery. Most of its critics view it solely as a provider payment mechanism. Our experience is that performance-based financing can catalyse comprehensive reforms and help address structural problems …
In the energy-poor country of Rwanda only 10% of households have an electricity connection. But scientists have now discovered a renewable energy source in the depths of Lake Kivu: methane gas. Rwanda aims to soon be generating so much electricity from this that it will be able to export to …
In Madina village, outside Accra, Ghana, children tease each other about whose urine has a redder color. Apart from being strikingly thin, they look healthy. Yet they could be affected by Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic disease common in Africa, where local prevalence rates can exceed 50%. Early diagnosis ensures inexpensive …
A global clamour for cuts in emissions, growing investor appetite for energy sector projects and sound government policies could help Africa make strides in green energy generation in the next few years. Some governments, like Kenya, plan to raise the amount of energy generated from renewable sources like wind and …
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Tuesday awarded an appreciation to two institutions that managed to produce environmental-friendly products while at the same time having capability to improve livelihood for poor people. In a prize awarding ceremony, the UNEP's Executive Director and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Achim …
