Bridging the Gap: The Rise of Digital Lending Platforms in East Africa
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms have transformed global shopping, expenditure and credit access patterns. In East Africa, the impact of these platforms is most clearly illustrated by the purchasing power they have unlocked: from financing the purchase of modern-day essentials like airtime and smartphones to enabling the acquisition of solar panels and electric bikes.
The Cost of Corruption: Navigating Risk and Opportunity in East Africa’s Business Landscape
East Africa is rapidly emerging as one of the continent’s most promising economic frontiers. With a young and growing population, increasing urbanization, and regional integration efforts like the East African Community (EAC), the region is attracting attention from global investors seeking growth beyond saturated markets.
Mitumba at a Crossroads: Balancing Trade, Industry and Sustainability in East Africa’s Clothing Sector
Across East Africa, markets like Gikomba in Nairobi and Owino in Kampala hum with early-morning bargaining and the crackle of plastic-wrapped bales of second-hand clothing. Known locally as mitumba, these garments, sourced from donation bins and unsold stock in the Global North, have become indispensable to traders and consumers.
The High-Stakes Game: Inside the Rise, Risks, and Rewards of East Africa’s Exploding Sports Betting Industry
Gambling is no longer just a vice whispered about in backrooms; In East Africa, it has gone digital, mobile, and mainstream. With smartphones in hand and sports on their minds, millions of young people, many from rural areas and fueled by poverty and unemployment, are turning sports betting into a booming industry.
The Great Migration: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of East Africa’s Labour Expatriation
Labour expatriation has become a defining force in East Africa’s economic story. At its best, labour migration fuels economic growth – remittances sustain households, diaspora investment strengthens industries, and cross-border knowledge transfer enriches both home and host economies. However, the steady outflow of human capital leaves gaps in critical sectors, while many migrant workers face weak labour protections, limited bargaining power, and exploitative work conditions.
The End of the Beginning: Kenya’s M-PESA Revolution Enters a New Phase
Starting as a simple tool to transfer money and buy airtime via text messages, Safaricom’s M-PESA ushered in a financial revolution that took all of East Africa by storm. The service has transformed into Kenya’s financial backbone with 59% of the country’s GDP flowing through it, unlocking financial services for millions along the way.
The Economics of Enjoyment: An Analysis of Uganda’s Entertainment Economy Across Its Nightlife, Festivals and Weddings
The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘enjoyment’ as ‘the action or state of deriving gratification from an object.’ However, in East Africa, the term ‘enjoyment’ has been defined in popular discourse as more than just a state of being – it is a lifestyle, a philosophy, and, as this report explores, a serious economic force.
Preparing for Peak Season: A Strategic Guide for the East African Tourism Industry
From early June to late September, East Africa enters its peak tourism season – a time when the region’s landscapes transform into a stage for nature’s most breathtaking spectacle, and travellers from around the world fill safari lodges and coastal resorts. For local businesses in the tourism industry, this annual surge presents both an incredible opportunity and a formidable challenge.
Left Alone to Work from Home: Opportunities and Obstacles Within Kenya’s Remote Work Revolution
Like much of the world, East Africa witnessed an unprecedented shift towards remote work after the COVID-19 pandemic, as organisations adapted to restrictions and health concerns. Another crucial driver of remote work adoption in East Africa is the region’s expanding digital infrastructure.
