Big Data in Urban Planning: Transforming East African Cities
Rapid urbanisation – evident in the growth of cities like Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala – poses a special challenge to East Africa’s urban landscape and contributes to the widespread development of informal settlements. This expansion places immense pressure on existing infrastructure, leading to critical gaps in transportation, water, sanitation, and energy provision. These challenges are aggravated by the impacts of climate change, including escalating weather extremes and increasing water scarcity.
Kenya’s Shift in IMF Engagement: Fiscal Freedom or Miscalculation?
Last year, Kenya witnessed widespread protests driven by public discontent over tax hikes, rising living costs, and its government’s economic policies. These demonstrations hinted not-so-subtly at growing frustrations with Kenya’s fiscal management, particularly with its reliance on external debt and the stringent, unforgiving austerity measures linked to International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs.
Mwalimu for Hire: The Rise of Private Tutoring in East Africa
Education in East Africa remains a global concern, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic which exacerbated existing challenges, as evidenced by World Bank Group projections that about 66 million children, adolescents, and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa will be out of school by 2030. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive educational reforms across the region.
Reactive Power Compensation in East African Power Systems: Technical Innovations and Grid Stability Solutions
East Africa’s power sector is rapidly expanding, with increasing reliance on renewable energy sources and growing regional electricity trade. The region’s transmission infrastructure is expanding to allow for robust power trade and eventually, to achieve the Africa Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), so managing reactive power becomes crucial.
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.
Small Data, Big Decisions: How SMEs Can Turn Local Data into Business Insight
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital contributors to East Africa’s economy. In countries like Uganda and Kenya, they employ up to 90% of the population and account for about 40% of the GDP. Despite many challenges like power shortage and limited funding which put a ceiling on their chances of long-term survival, the digitization of SMEs has the potential to counter their effects by eliminating operational inefficiencies and using predictive capabilities to add value to an enterprise.
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.
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.
