-
Analysis: Black-Box AI and Cheap Drones are Outpacing Global Rules of War
From 3D-printed drones to Anthropic’s Claude, advanced technologies are making conflict more accessible and less accountable — leaving human oversight at risk.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Global
-
The Trade-offs in African Energy Access are Real: Why Electrification Efforts Must Prioritise Industrial Use over Household Connections
In the face of stagnating progress, a debate has emerged about whether energy access efforts in Africa should prioritize household or industrial and commercial electrification. Taiwo Odugbemi, a power sector regulation specialist and economist, pushes back on the argument that household access should take precedence over industrial uses — and the assertion that Africa can pursue both goals simultaneously. He explains why maintaining a dual focus may not be realistic, given the continent’s grid limitations and constrained public resources, and argues that African electricity policies must evolve to prioritize productive use, particularly in industrial and agro-processing hubs.
- Categories
- Energy
-
Analysis: Who Pays for Dignity? Rethinking India’s Waste Economy
A new wave of startups is working to transform India’s waste management sector and the workers who power it.
- Categories
- WASH
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
The African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Development Programme Have Launched the AI 10 Billion Initiative
The AI 10 Billion Initiative is a co-designed partnership between the Bank Group, UNDP and private partners that seeks to mobilise up to $10 billion by 2035.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Anthropic and the Government of Rwanda Sign MOU for AI in Health and Education
Anthropic says, "Together, these partnerships reflect a long-term collaboration that prioritizes capacity building, responsible deployment, and local autonomy over how new technologies are introduced."
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Report: Adventure Tourism Fuels $1.5 Billion boost for South Africa’s Economy as Local Impact Supports 91,000 Jobs
South Africa’s adventure tourism industry delivered a direct economic injection of about $656 million in 2024, supporting roughly 91,000 jobs, as policymakers and operators position the country to capture a larger share of a rapidly expanding global market.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- employment, public policy, research, tourism
-
UNFPA and Africa CDC Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Health and Innovation Across Africa
The agreement cements a shared commitment to accelerate progress toward universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), promote demographic resilience, and build resilient, equitable health systems through innovation and strategic partnerships.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Leveraging the Currency of Trust: How Social Commerce Data Can Inform Risk Management and Bring Formal Finance to Women-Led MSMEs
Across emerging markets, millions of women entrepreneurs operate in trust-based economies invisible to formal credit systems. As Nabilla Prita Fiandini and Monica Christy at MicroSave Consulting (MSC) explain, these businesses rely on their social reputations and customer relationships to survive, and often use platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to market their products. They share insights from a recent MSC report based on surveys and interviews with hundreds of social sellers across Indonesia, exploring how data from these entrepreneurs' social commerce activity can be used to boost their access to formal finance.
- Categories
- Finance
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.