Author: june njoroge

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform has been helping EdTechs around the world including Africa; to innovate faster technology solutions that support students and educators every day, lowering costs and offering over 200 fully-featured services from data globally.  

Some EdTech initiatives in Africa include; Kenya’s Elimu, which is a leading digital educational provider in East Africa; with fun and engaging literacy apps that have garnered numerous positive reviews, due to fast improvements in reading fluency as opposed to the control group. They have been encouraging students to improve their skills both at home and school, combining engaging content as well as proven pedagogies.  

Another Kenyan EdTech company gaining traction is Zoezi Education, with a vision to empower the learning community in Kenya, through its flagship products ‘Zoezi Revision and Zoezi Darasani’. The renowned platform offers interactive and auto marked revision questions, for the …

Trade between Kenya and the US is governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), given that both countries are members of the Organization.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), is perhaps the highlight of the strong trade relations between Kenya and the US; enacted in May 2000 and has since been renewed to 2025. Under the Act, Kenya qualifies for duty-free access to the U.S market, exporting products such as textiles, apparel, and handicrafts among many others.  

The US views Kenya as a key strategic trade partner in the region, which is the second-largest beneficiary of the AGOA tariff benefits. In 2019, trade between the United States and Kenya was estimated at US$1.1 billion, recording a 4.9% increase from 2018. Top US imports from Kenya were apparel, estimated at US$454 million, edible fruit and nuts at US$55 million, titanium ores and concentrates at US$52million and coffee at US$34 million. …

• The tourism industry accounted for about seven per cent of Africa’s GDP in 2019 and contributed $169 billion to its economy, employing more than 24 million people
• Over 8,400 species of wild flora and fauna are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are deemed vulnerable. Over a million species are threatened with extinction. 
• Illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth more than $23billion annually, fueled by institutional decay in law enforcement that consequently pushes many endangered species closer to the brink of extinction.

Africa hailed as the cradle of mankind and wildlife is endowed with spectacular flora and fauna and home to the world’s seventh wonder, making it undisputedly a top-rated tourist destination. The continent is a hub of wildlife economies that have significantly morphed over the past two decades; pertinently propelled by the ‘Big Five’ wildlife economy activities that include: ecotourism, wildlife ranching, hunting and fishing, carbon …

• Africa is the second driest continent in the world after Australia and millions of Africans lack access to clean water, while still perennially suffering from shortages
• Africa loses 5% of its GDP every year due to water scarcity, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region experiencing the greatest economic loss from climate-related water scarcity
• The theme for the recently passed World Water Day celebrated annually on March 22nd was ‘Ground water-Making the Invisible Visible’.

Africa is endowed with abundant natural water resources, being home to large freshwater bodies revitalizing the continent in a myriad of ways, spurring various social and economic initiatives. However, in stark irony, Africa is the second driest continent in the world after Australia, and millions of Africans lack access to clean water, while still perennially suffering from shortages. This has remained among the long-standing wounds ailing the continent, which need to be urgently remedied.…

• According to data from Euromonitor International, the combined apparel and footwear market in Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be worth well over US$31billion
• The much-anticipated landmark show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London will narrowly focus on the flourishing African fashion industry
• The Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition will run from 2^nd July 2022 to 16^th April 2023, taking the world on a fashion safari tracing the history of fashion

The business of African fashion is riding on the crest of a wave in 2022, especially with the much-anticipated landmark show at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; that will narrowly focus on the flourishing African fashion industry, featuring 45 designers from over 20 countries, showcasing 250 pieces of the continent’s crème de la crème.  It’s projected to be a game-changer that will put the continent on the global map, broaden the investment pool of …

• The Congo Basin spans six countries which include the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo
• 700 species of fish, 1300 birds, 900 butterflies, 300 reptiles and over 400 other mammals inhabit the Congo rainforest
• The Basin also provides fresh water, food and shelter to more than 90 million people who live in the region and are dependent on the rainforest for their livelihood

‘Forests and Sustainable Production and Protection’, was the theme for the recently passed 2022 International Forests Day, and could not have been timelier in light of the climate change crisis; spelt by the myriad natural disasters experienced globally. Forests make for a natural arsenal to combat the climate change crisis, whose deleterious manifestations have hitherto left no African nation unscathed.

Since its proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2012, the International Day of Forests has been instrumental in not only …

• 2021 was a significant year for venture-backed companies worldwide, investing more than US$ 675B into startups globally, with more than US$5B allocated to African startups
• VCs have been keenly eyeing a spectrum of sectors from fintech, edtech, biotech, health tech, insurtech, mobility, logistics, e-commerce, crypto, connectivity, proptech, software and mobile commerce
• A report from Partech further reveals that more than 600 tech companies in Africa, raised US$5.2B from venture capitalists in 2021. 

Striking whilst the iron is hot, is the shrewd move that Venture Capitalists (VC) are making, to seize opportunities presented by the lucrative African Startup ecosystem that is burgeoning by the day; heralded by the massive technology wave sweeping across the continent, a prominent harbinger that the fourth industrial revolution is but within grasp.
Currently, Africa boasts of a myriad of VC-backed startups, with big investors like Jeff Bezos sinking tentacles into this frontier, that has seen the …

• According to Statista, Africa contributed a sum of US$13 B in 2018 to the global art market which is predicted to rise to US$15B by 2023
• African art has become the subject of bidding wars, with high sales of artworks pertinently at globally renowned auction houses such as Bonhams, Piasa, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Strauss and Philips
• International African sales in the first half of 2019 by Christie’s, Bonhams, Sotheby’s, Phillips, Piasa, Strauss and ArtHouse Nigeria; generated a total of US$25.3 M
• The major roadblocks to accessing arts education in Africa are the lack of sufficient learning institutions and enough trainers

Demand for African art has been firmly taking root, perpetuating the newly found global prominence and recording a meteoric rise that is projected to continue growing exponentially in 2022.
Consequently, this market boom has been rapidly driving colossal investments from both indigenous and international investors, rushing to tap into the fairly …

• E-commerce is a key component of the fourth industrial revolution and Africa is poised to become the world’s next big online retail frontier
• Significant players like Konga, Jumia and Takealot are putting the continent on the global map, attracting pools of investors,
• Statistics indicate that there are about 264 e-commerce start-ups that are operational across the continent, active in at least 23 countries; with a potential to create an estimated 3 million jobs by 2025

The rapid mushrooming and proliferation of E-Commerce Startups in Africa is a distinct bellwether that the industry is steadily flourishing like a green bay tree; making for a powerful development driver in the African economy.
E-commerce is a key component of the fourth industrial revolution and Africa is poised to become the world’s next big online retail frontier; with markets swiftly moving to embrace this revolution in full throttle, looking to build on the momentum …

Taking into account the 2022 International Day of Women and Girls in science; it’s imperative to assess the state of Africa’s water security which needs to be urgently addressed.

Africa is bearing the brunt of the climate change crisis, yet had no hand in its creation only contributing a paltry 4 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions; spelt by the numerous natural disasters from floods, drought and famine, locust infestation to tropical cyclones, which have put significant water stress in the continent.

In a series of initiatives, African leaders are spearheading strategies for resolving the quandary pertinently its impact on Africa’s water security and sanitation. Nearly 63 per cent of urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to basic water and sanitation.…