Economy

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

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

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

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

Catalyzing Capital: Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs for a Resilient Future

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A recent discussion, “Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs: Catalyzing Private Investment for Growth,” convened at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, tackled the critical challenge of unlocking private capital for Africa’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. Moderated by Mr. Lucy Dempy, the session brought together key stakeholders, including Anna Sophie Herken (Managing Director, GIZ), Obiageli Ezekwesili (Founder and President, Human Capital … Read more

Empowering Global Partnerships: The Role of Consultants in Team Europe Initiatives and the Global Gateway Strategy

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EU Global Gateway

The European Union’s vision for sustainable global partnerships is embodied in two key frameworks: Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) and the Global Gateway (GG) strategy. These frameworks aim to foster coordinated efforts among EU Member States, mobilize investments, and drive transformative impacts in partner countries. However, bringing this vision to life requires the expertise and innovation … Read more

An inclusive digital economy for people with disabilities?

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The digital revolution in the world of work impacts all. How does it impact people with disabilities? Which chances and potential barriers does digitalised work bring for disability inclusion? What are the actions to ensure nobody is left behind and the digital divide is closed? The report “An inclusive digital economy for people with disabilities”, … Read more

Broken societies put people and planet on collision course, says UNDP

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HDR2020Intro

An experimental global index offers a new measurement of human progress that illustrates the challenge of tackling poverty and inequality while easing planetary pressure. New York, 15 December 2020– The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest crisis facing the world, but unless humans release their grip on nature, it won’t be the last, according to a … Read more

Evaluation in the COVID-19 pandemic mode

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Evaluation in the COVID-19 pandemic mode, Part 1 by Karsten Weitzenegger, updated 7 May 2020 Evaluation can inform global policy decisions during the coronavirus pandemic. However, M&E systems themselves are affected by the current crisis. Here is a quick review of recent literature. This may guide evaluators and managers in global development evaluation. Comments are … Read more

Africa’s Development Dynamics 2019 #AfricaDynamics2019

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Competitive firms and committed governments are the catalysts of the continent’s economic transformation African firms are the key to the economic transformation of the continent, but they need governments to create better conditions for them to thrive, according to the second edition of the African Union Commission’s (AUC) economic report produced in collaboration with the … Read more