The Business of Healing: East Africa’s Untapped Strengths in the Global Medical Market
East African countries face significant challenges in meeting the essential healthcare needs of their growing populations. Traditionally positioned as recipients of healthcare solutions, it is time to shift the narrative toward how the region can actively contribute to the development and expansion of the global healthcare industry.
Dormitories in Distress: Rethinking Discipline, Safety, and Class in East Africa’s Boarding Schools
In February 2025, Kenya’s Ministry of Education ordered the indefinite closure of a boarding sections of 348 primary schools following a string of violent incidents, including a fire allegedly started by students protesting against poor living conditions. The story made national headlines, but for many parents, teachers, and students, it wasn’t surprising.
Left Behind? The Challenges Holding Back East Africa’s Musical Success
African music seems to be taking the world by storm. So far, promises of East African music becoming a powerhouse on the world stage are yet to come to fruition. As Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz secures his biggest hit in years, Komasava, by tapping into South Africa’s breakout genre, Amapiano, this begs the question – is there room for an authentic East African sound on the global stage?
COVID Five Years On: Evaluating the Response and the Transformations in Healthcare Since the Pandemic
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus, emerged as a global pandemic, disrupting societies and economies worldwide. Five years later, East Africa continues to navigate the lasting effects of the crisis, particularly within its healthcare systems. This report evaluates the region’s response, assessing both immediate interventions and long-term transformations.
Fragmented Funds, Untapped Futures: East Africa’s Informal Sector Pension Puzzle
The current pension landscape within East Africa can be akin to a small square blanket during a cold winter night – little coverage and unsatisfactory returns. While formal sector workers can access pension schemes, the vast majority employed in the informal sector are excluded, missing out on the benefits of retirement savings and leaving much of the economy untapped for collective resource pooling.
From Chalkboards to Chatbots: Revolutionising East Africa’s Education Trajectory with Technology
With East Africa's student population projected to grow by 17% in primary schools and 9% in secondary to higher education by 2040, traditional teaching methods may face mounting challenges in delivering effective, personalised learning. Already strained by limited resources, educational systems must now adapt to meet the demands of a growing and increasingly diverse region.
A Fall from Grace? The Unraveling of Makerere University
On the proverbial mantle of prestige, Makerere stands firm but seems to gather dust while sister universities contend and surpass its glory. Founded in 1922 as a technical school, Uganda's flagship institution has been a hub not only for Ugandans, but Africans to flock in search of quality education. Uganda’s education sector, modelled upon the British system, was one of the best in Africa until the early 1990s.
Smart Cities and Bright Futures: Tech-Driven Transformation for East Africa’s Urban Landscape
In East Africa, the concept of smart cities offers an exciting opportunity to address the region's pressing urbanisation issues, such as inadequate infrastructure, inefficient public services, and environmental concerns. With East Africa experiencing an average annual urban population growth rate of 4.32% between 2020 and 2025, the adoption of smart city solutions can play a crucial role in shaping the future of these urban centres.
Facing the Fate of a Fiscal Reckoning: An Analysis of Ethiopia’s Debt Restructuring Efforts
Ethiopia’s recent debt restructuring aims to counterbalance mounting economic pressures. Once showing promises of unrelenting growth, Ethiopia's growth domestic product (GDP) slowed to an average of 6% from the 9% growth rates seen in 2017-2019.
