The European Union continues to be Africa’s most important strategic commercial partner, yet a failure to turn policy rhetoric into action in Brussels could leave it struggling to adapt its cooperation model to new realities on the continent

Microfinance is touted as a way of lifting people out of poverty, yet its benefits are often assumed rather than proven and new economic trials are putting these claims to the test

With south Africa’s membership of the Brics, the continent now has formal representation amongst the world’s leading emerging markets

West Africa has emerged as a major hub for trans-Atlantic drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, prompting warnings that the region could Mirror countries such as Mexico

Plans to create a “Grand Free Trade Area” covering half of Africa could mark an important step towards strengthening the continent’s international competitiveness, but some suggest it may be overambitious

Encouraged by greater economic and political stability, African professionals living and working abroad are seeking out investment opportunities across the continent

Six months from now, the world’s leaders will gather in Durban, South Africa, for yet another round of negotiations on the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change – who is responsible for the phenomenon, what should be done to address its effects, who should pay for the necessary adaptation and mitigation measures, how much and to whom the bill is due?

“There’s a definite tie between improving the African economy and improving the American economy”

About two millennia ago, ancient Chinese architects used sweet sticky rice soup mixed with lime to make a mortar that gets stronger and stronger with time. Many of the buildings they put up are still standing today. More recently, China and the other Bric countries – Brazil, Russia and India – have been playing an even larger role in binding the world’s emerging markets.

Sovereign Bond issues have historically been limited to the more developed economies in Northern Africa and South Africa. But as sub-Saharan economies develop more robust fiscal, institutional and regulatory environments, more economies are tapping into international capital markets.