May 07
Somalia: Somalia's Exports Are Threatened By Climate Change and Conflict - What 30 Years of Data Tell Us
In the sun-scorched lands of Somalia, farmers and livestock keepers have grown accustomed to the extremes of climate. In 2022, for example, the country suffered the longest drought… Read more »
Burundi: Does Free Schooling Give Girls a Better Chance in Life? Burundi Study Shows the Poorest Benefited Most
Teenage pregnancy rates remain high across many parts of the developing world: In Africa, on average, about one in ten girls between the ages of 15 and 19 has already given birth.… Read more »
Africa: The Conversation Africa's First 10 Years - a Story of New Media Powered By Generosity
Starting from scratch is daunting. And exhilarating. Your heart pounds, you can taste adrenaline, the sense of urgency and anticipation makes you high. I can recall each of these… Read more »
May 06
Africa: Covid Is Still Around and a Risk to Vulnerable People. What Are the Symptoms in 2025? and How Long Does It Last?
Five years ago, COVID was all we could think about. Today, we'd rather forget about lockdowns, testing queues and social distancing. But the virus that sparked the pandemic,… Read more »
Africa: African Women At Higher Risk of Pre-Eclampsia - a Dangerous Pregnancy Complication
Pre-eclampsia is a danger to pregnant women. It's a complication characterised by high blood pressure and organ damage, arising during the second half of pregnancy, in labour or in… Read more »
Zambia: Solar Power in Zambia - 'If It Works for My Neighbour, I'll Try It Too'
In sunny Zambia, fewer than 6% of rural people have access to electricity, leaving over 94% in darkness. Read more »
Africa: Valentin-Yves Mudimbe - the Philosopher Who Reshaped How the World Thinks About Africa
Congolese thinker, philosopher and linguist Valentin-Yves Mudimbe died on 21 April 2025 at the age of 83. He was in the US, where he had lived for many years. Read more »
May 05
South Africa: Marine Fossil Found in South Africa Is One of a Kind, Thanks to Unusual Preservation
A fossilised creature found in a South African roadside quarry 25 years ago has finally got an official name. The small, segmented, crustacean-like creature, dated to 444 million… Read more »
South Africa: A Basic Income Support Grant Can Address Extreme Poverty and Inequality in South Africa - Economic Model Shows How
South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. The country's per-capita expenditure Gini coefficient, a measure of how spending from income is distributed,… Read more »
Ghana: 30 Years of Free Basic Education in Ghana - a Report Card
Ghana, like many sub-Saharan Africa countries, began investing substantially in free education three decades ago. This led to an increase in the number of children that attend… Read more »
Africa: Investing in Agriculture Reduces Poverty and Inequality - Economic Model Finds the Best Funding Mix for 10 African Countries
Africa faces challenges in reducing extreme poverty and inequality. In 2024, 8.5% of the global population was living in extreme poverty (that is, on less than US$2.15 a day).… Read more »
South Africa: City Police in South Africa's Capital Have a Bad Image - How to Fix It
Corruption in South Africa's public institutions has been a pressing issue for the past two decades. From national government offices to local municipalities, stories of officials… Read more »
May 04
Africa: African Wild Dogs - DNA Tests of Their Faeces Reveal Surprises About What They Eat
The African wild dog is one of Africa's most endangered predators. African wild dogs are highly elusive, avoiding human contact and utilising vast, remote territories to remain out… Read more »
Africa: Reform or Retreat? the Catholic Church in Africa After Pope Francis
The Catholic church faces a fundamental question as it prepares to elect a new pope. That is, whether to go back to a monarchical papacy with its pomp and pageantry, or to build on… Read more »
May 02
Africa: Glitter's Sparkle Hides a Darker Side - It Can Change the Chemistry of Our Oceans
Glitter is festive and fun - a favourite for decorations, makeup and art projects. But while it may look harmless, beautiful even, glitter's sparkle hides a darker side. Those… Read more »
May 01
South Africa: South Africa's Shift From Coal to Renewables - How It's Going
Just over 74% of South Africa's electricity still comes from burning coal. In 2021, the country negotiated the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Germany, the UK, France, the… Read more »
Africa: Tiny Technology That Can Find Pollution in South Africa's Water and Trap It
Nanotechnology is the use of materials that are one-billionth of a metre (a nanometre) in size. One of its potential uses is to clean up whatever is contaminating water supplies.… Read more »
Mali: Burkina Faso and Mali's Fabulous Flora - New Plant Life Record Released
The Illustrated Flora of Burkina Faso and Mali is the first comprehensive documentation of the remarkable plant diversity in these two west African countries. Read more »
Africa: Using Fire to Produce Nanoparticles Could Revolutionize Various Industries
Fire is arguably humanity's earliest discovery. It was pivotal in advancing society -- underpinning many of humanity's most transformative inventions, from cooking and forging… Read more »
South Africa: Three Scientists Speak About What It's Like to Have Research Funding Cut By the Trump Administration
The Trump administration's cuts to funding for American universities and research have left many scientists reeling and very worried. At the National Institutes of Health, which… Read more »
Nigeria: Mabel Segun - Nigerian Children's Writer, Poet and Broadcaster
Mabel Dorothy Okanima Segun, who passed away on 6 March 2025, at 95, was a prominent figure in Nigerian literature. Her life was an extraordinary mix of broadcasting, children's… Read more »
April 30
Africa: Why Are Women Paid Less Than Men?
Why do women earn less than men? The usual suspects - occupation, hours, experience - explain some of it. But a powerful, often overlooked reason is simply this: where women work.… Read more »
Ghana: Informal Workers in Ghana's Chop Bars Get No Benefit From Foreign Aid - Donors Are Getting It Wrong
Informal street food caterers, popularly known as chop bars, are a key feature of Ghanaian city life. They offer the urban poor the cheapest food. Read more »
Africa: From Covid to Cancer - Why Canada's Rna Vaccine Leadership Matters More Than Ever
As the world marks World Immunization Week, attention turns once again to the lifesaving power of vaccines. Read more »
April 29
South Africa: South Africa's Frogs and Reptiles Get Their Own List of Names in Local Languages
Naming all the creatures and plants in nature is no small task. Fortunate Phaka is a zoologist who has conducted the first comprehensive analysis of naming and classification of… Read more »
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