Reimagining the Future of Entrepreneurship Support in East Africa: 25 Solutions that Could Change the Game

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(tl;dr) East Africa’s startup scene is booming – but many incubators and accelerators are stuck in a cycle of donor dependence, generic programmes and weak investor trust. A new William Davidson Institute study maps these system failures and, more importantly, presents 25 concrete solutions: from revenue-generating “acceleration as a service” and sector‑specific support, to venture … Read more

Designing for Empowerment: How Participatory Design Thinking Can Transform Economic Inclusion Programs for Women

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Economic inclusion programs are already reaching tens of millions of women, yet too many of these initiatives treat women as beneficiaries rather than co‑designers of change. The Partnership for Economic Inclusion (PEI) has mapped over 400 economic inclusion programs in 88 countries, benefiting more than 70 million people; 90 percent target women, but only about … Read more

Empowering Resilience: Female Entrepreneurship in Ukraine Amidst Conflict

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In the midst of war, Ukrainian women are not only holding the fabric of society together – they are building the future of its economy. The webinar “Female Entrepreneurship in Times of War,” hosted on December 3, 2025, by the Secretariat of the Platform for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Germany Trade and Invest GmbH, … Read more

AI with a clear position: How NGOs can develop intelligent strategies

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Visualisation of AI Policy Making in CSO

As an organizational developer keenly focused on AI integration, I observe that civil society organizations (CSOs) globally are grappling with a complex, urgent task: defining clear, ethical, and practical positions on the use of artificial intelligence. This is not merely an IT challenge; it is a fundamental discussion about organizational values, risk tolerance, and future … Read more

Germany’s BMZ Launches Ambitious Action Plan for Stronger Economic Partnerships

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Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has unveiled a new action plan, “Strong Partnerships for a Successful Economy Worldwide”, marking a major shift in the country’s development cooperation strategy. This plan, introduced by Federal Minister Alabali Radovan, aims to forge deeper ties between German businesses and development policy, blending commercial opportunities with … Read more

EU Aid for Trade to Least Developed Countries: Critical Shortfalls, Missed Targets, and the Road to Reform

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(tl:dr) EU aid for trade to least developed countries (LDCs) remains a critical aspect of the bloc’s development cooperation, aiming to address barriers to trade, foster economic growth, and contribute to poverty reduction. However, European Court of Auditors Special Report 17/2025 delivers a sobering assessment: needs are recognized and support is being delivered, but EU … Read more

The Ukraine Donor Platform: A Pillar of Coordinated Support

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Today, we took the opportunity of hearing from Simon O’Connor, Head of Secretariat for the Ukraine Donor Platform (UDP, https://ukrainedonorplatform.com), in a detailed discussion about the platform’s crucial role in supporting Ukraine. Simon, an official with over 25 years of experience in policy and communications, took up his role in July 2024 and provided invaluable … Read more

Event Report: Charting a New Financial Course for Climate Action

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This report synthesises key discussions from a significant session at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) 2025, titled “Charting a New Financial Course: Mobilizing Climate Action from COP29 to COP30”. The session focused on the critical need to accelerate climate finance, particularly private sector investment, to meet global sustainability targets and address the profound challenges of … Read more

Analysis of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2025: Content, Process, Results, and Political Significance

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The 2025 Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) emerged as a pivotal forum for advancing global sustainability agendas amid escalating geopolitical fragmentation and economic uncertainty. With 1,600 participants from 110 countries, the conference prioritized actionable outcomes, producing landmark agreements such as the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the SDGs and the Global Alliance against Inequality[1][2][3]. This … Read more

Responsible AI for the Planet: Charting a Course for a Sustainable Future

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As a Policy Advisor, I’ve had the distinct opportunity to reflect on the critical discussions at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on June 3, 2025. This pivotal session, focusing on “Responsible AI for the Planet,” delved into an urgent question: how can we manage AI’s growing environmental footprint and increasing demand to align it with our … Read more

Bioeconomy: Charting a Course Between Climate Action and Sustainable Development

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As a Policy Advisor, it was a privilege to reflect on the vital discussions held at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on June 3, 2025. This round table, expertly moderated by Melina Walling of the Associated Press, brought together a distinguished panel of experts – Jukka Kantola, Roberto Jaguaribe Gomes de Matos, Éliane Ubalijoro, Rosalie Matondo, … Read more

Unlocking Investment through the WTO’s Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement

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The recent “Time for Take-Off: The WTO and the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement” interactive workshop, held at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on June 2, 2025, convened decision-makers and thought leaders to explore how the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) can significantly benefit developing countries. Moderated by Axel Berger, Deputy Director of the German … Read more