When Lifelines Become Nooses: East Africa’s Battle Against Predatory Digital Lending
Throughout East Africa, a financial revolution is unfolding, one that promises liberation but too often delivers bondage. East Africa's dramatic surge in digital lending has transformed the financial landscape with remarkable speed, creating a paradoxical reality where access to capital coexists with meticulous exploitation.
Domiciliation of Private Investment Vehicles in East Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Establishing Private Investment Vehicles Across East African Jurisdictions
Private capital funds, or investment vehicles (IVs) – spanning private equity, venture capital, and private debt – play a pivotal role in the region’s economic growth and job creation, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Yet, fund managers and investors often face questions about where best to domicile their vehicles for optimal regulatory compliance, tax efficiency, and investor confidence.
Beyond Consumption: The Investment Potential of Remittances in East Africa
Every month, millions of East Africans receive a familiar, much welcome alert – money sent by a loved one abroad. 'Money sent back home,’ or remittances, are payments sent by migrant workers to their home countries, most often to support family and friends. Remittances are an economic lifeline, covering essential expenses like education, healthcare, and housing. By sustaining households, they contribute to long-term human capital development and economic resilience.
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.
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.
Deliverance or Damnation? The Fortunes and Fairytales Found Through Foreign Direct Investment for East Africa’s Economic Development
Given the economic potential of developing economies, foreign direct investment (FDI) is regarded as the private capital inflow of choice, as free capital flows seek the highest return on investment. East Africa is an attractive location for foreign capital inflows as international investors seek new opportunities and markets.
Fight or Flight: Seeking Remedies in Retaining East Africa’s Infrastructure Sovereignty
East Africa’s infrastructure financing is taking a dramatic turn. Once heavily reliant on foreign debt, the region is now drawing interest from Indian conglomerates and Dubai-based firms, signaling a pivot toward diversified strategies. Yet, as the players change, the risks remain the same.
Raise and Return: The Increasing Role of Venture Studios in East Africa’s Startup Ecosystem
East Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape is at a crossroads. Despite a growing youth population, abundant resources, and rapid technological advancements, many promising startups still struggle to scale. East Africa’s startup field has established itself as a leading hub for innovation, with fintech, agritech, and healthcare sectors leading the charge and attracting one-third of Africa’s total startup funding in 2024.
Tanzania’s Gender Bond: A New Era for Impact Financing in East Africa
The African Development Bank’s article on affirmative finance action in Africa placed the disparity in the financing gap facing women in Africa at $41 billion – a damning figure. While the female entrepreneurship rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is 25.9%, three-fourths of women on the continent remain financially excluded. In a bid to contest this trend, enters Tanzania’s Jasiri Bond – the first gender bond issued in sub-Saharan Africa.
