Megatrends between Democratization and Autocratization

• Victor Muchineripi Gwande

Crisis, Mbingas and Artisanal Small-Scale Mining in Zimbabwe

Illegal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is attracting Zimbabwe’s youth. Despite numerous challenges, their work ethic, endurance and creativity promote entrepreneurship. Using the rise of mbingas as an example, this policy brief analyses how that may benefit both young people and the economy.

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• Lena Gutheil
• Margit van Wessel

Starting from the South – Why we Need to Rethink Civil Society Collaborations and Funding Structures

• German

Collaborations between civil society organisations in the development sector are often driven by priorities set in donor countries. In this Spotlight, Megatrends Afrika talked to Margit van Wessel, Wageningen University, about ways to make civil society collaborations more equal.

• Zerihun Berhane Weldegebriel

Social Protection and Regime Stability in Ethiopia

Ethiopia uses formal social protection programmes as a political instrument. Some of these, however, have an adverse effect on citizens’ equitable access to resources. Integrating informal social protection platforms into the system could help reduce both societal grievances and state fragility.

doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB15

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• Vincent Foucher

Boko Haram and the Alleged Disappearance of Lake Chad

• German

For decades, policymakers have been calling to save Lake Chad. More recently, they have insisted the shrinking of the Lake was both the cause and consequence of Boko Haram. This narrative is not fully corroborated by scientific research and comes with risks, Vincent Foucher explains in this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight.

• Adama Bamba
• Kossi Lorimpo Adjah
• Rodas Melaku

Strengthening NDC Implementation in Africa through Local Participation

• German

Globally, states’ climate commitments (nationally determined contributions) are insufficient to curb global warming. One major challenge is the scarce participation of local stakeholders in implementing them. Locally determined contributions (LDCs) can play a crucial role in enhancing participation, our authors argue in this Megatrends Afrika Spotlight.

• Astrid R.N. Haas

African Cities: Unlocking Financing for Urbanisation

African cities need to raise USD 20-25 billion investment in basic infrastructure and USD 20 billion for housing to accommodate urban growth. This brief explores how improving creditworthiness, strengthening subnational financial intermediaries and pipelines of transformative investments may support this.

doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB11

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