Beyond Words: Languages and Culture, and their Preservation in Africa
Africa is the most linguistically diverse continent on Earth. With over 2,000 languages and dialects, the continent is home to a significant portion of the world’s linguistic and cultural heritage. Unfortunately, the survival of this collection of linguistic and cultural wealth, is threatened by globalisation, the marginalisation of minority communities, and regional assimilation efforts.
Data of the People: Methodical Approaches to Uganda's 2026 Elections
As Uganda prepares for its general elections scheduled for January 2026, the nation stands at a crossroads where data science could either strengthen democratic institutions or deepen existing divisions. The difference lies not in the abundance of numbers, but in the rigour with which data is collected, analysed, and interpreted.
From Silos to Scale: How Cross-Border Capital Markets Could Shape East Africa’s Financial Future
A thriving financial future for East Africa is not a distant dream; It could be what we build today. East Africa’s combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) presently stands at around $512 billion. Kenya leads at $131.7 billion, and Ethiopia follows closely at $117.5 billion. However, capital markets in the region remain microscopic.
When Help Hurts: Medical Exploitation and Distrust in East Africa
Medical mistrust is a lack of confidence in healthcare systems, professionals, and research, often rooted in fear that these systems may not act in a person’s best interest. This mistrust arises from real experiences of discrimination, neglect, and unethical practices. While the Tuskegee Syphilis Study in the U.S. is a well-known example, East Africa also faces its own history of medical exploitation. Colonial abuses, exclusion from healthcare decisions, and violations of consent have deepened scepticism.
Promise, Power, and Protest: Considerations of the EACOP Pipeline in East Africa
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443-kilometre heated pipeline, is a flagship infrastructure undertaking, aiming to transport up to 246,000 barrels of oil per day. As of mid-2025, the project is over 60% complete, with the first drops of crude oil expected to flow in 2026. Yet, beneath its promise lies a battleground of competing interests – economic growth, environmental protection, human rights, and national sovereignty.
From Code to Classroom: EdTech as Catalyst for Kenya’s Digital Learning Revolution
Technology is quietly transforming classrooms everywhere, fundamentally reshaping how we teach and learn. Kenya, therefore, is at a critical juncture where educational technology (EdTech) platforms, digital textbooks, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered content curation can be used to overcome long-standing barriers to quality education and learning accessibility challenges.
Unlocking County Capital: Why Subnational Bonds Could Reshape Kenya’s Fiscal Future
In 2021, Laikipia issued Kenya’s first county infrastructure bond, raising KSh 1.16 billion from private investors. It was a test of law, process, and public trust. Imperfect, yes, but proof of concept all the same. It showed that with structure, transparency, and resolve, counties can access capital markets on their own terms.
Talent in Transit: The Double-Edged Sword of East Africa's Skilled Migration and Diaspora Potential
East Africa’s most valuable export is not its coffee, tea, or gold, but the best and brightest of its young and talented minds. Like many regions in the Global South, East Africa is faced with the brain drain phenomena – an occurrence where highly skilled and educated workers, such as doctors, teachers, engineers, and scientists migrate from their country of origin to other countries. This is largely seen with highly skilled workers migrating from the Global South to the Global North.
Beyond the Headlines: Reintroducing the Climate Change Conversation in East Africa
Drawing on case studies, this report hopes to demonstrate the need for East African countries to formulate comprehensive climate change adaptation strategies that focus on the needs of the people and are integrated into sustainable development across the region. Rather than imposing new, high-tech solutions, specific proposals include understanding, documenting, and enhancing current livelihood coping techniques.
