Opinions

As the United Nations (UN) marks its 80th anniversary, the world faces a defining choice: renew the institution for today’s challenges or risk its slide into irrelevance. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, the world stands at a critical crossroads. For eight decades, the UN…

The UN’s reliance on voluntary government funding underscores the need for global consensus on what kind of UN the world requires to secure more sustainable financing. UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutterres At the 80th United Nations General Assembly this September, participants will have to confront the escalating development finance crisis that…

Donor aid cuts to Africa, though sudden and painful, could serve as a wake-up call—pushing the continent to break dependency cycles and embrace self-driven dynamism. With richer countries pulling back on aid, African countries are being forced to rethink their economic future. The move has rightfully alarmed many – especially…

Reforming the global financial architecture is vital to finance climate action, particularly for debt-distressed countries and Africa must take the lead in advocating for change. When delegates from around the world convened in Bonn, Germany, last month for the 62nd session of the United Nations Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies (SB62), the…

Over 800,000 women and girls die prematurely each year from exposure to polluting fuels like wood and charcoal—yet carbon market companies seek to exploit this tragedy to bolster their offset schemes. Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift Africa One of the greatest injustices of our time is unfolding quietly in…

Vast natural-resource endowments have proven to be more of a curse than a blessing, with resource-rich African countries often developing more slowly than their resource-poor developed counterparts. The world’s superpowers have developed a seemingly insatiable appetite for the critical minerals that are essential to the ongoing energy and digital transitions,…

The Africa-Caribbean partnership is more than just a response to global uncertainty; it offers a model for inclusive and resilient South-South trade amid global uncertainty. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman, Afreximbank (Left) and Pamela Coke-Hamilton, the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (Right) The share of bilateral exports between…

COP presidencies tend to seek fresh agreements and ambitious initiatives, but when the celebrations are over, implementation often falls short. That is why Brazil’s COP30 presidency must eschew flashy results in favor of pragmatic pathways to deliver on past agreements. The landmark Paris climate agreement set the ambitious but necessary goal of…

In a fracturing world economy, regional solidarity has taken on new importance. To chart a new path toward inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth, North African countries must forge stronger economic ties with partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, which will require fully committing to the African Continental Free Trade Area. Rising tariffs,…

High borrowing costs mean that African governments often must choose between making debt payments and investing in health. This November’s G20 summit – the first to be held in Africa, and the second with the African Union as a permanent member – represents a critical opportunity to create better options.…