Insights
Our thought leadership includes events, podcasts, articles, concept notes and white papers.
Check in regularly for cutting-edge perspectives from our team and knowledge partners.
Insight 01: Concept Paper: Pathways to a New Global Economy out of Lockdown
This paper is available in both an international edition (International pdf download) and an Africa edition (Africa pdf download).
Insight 02: February 2021 - ESG Global Update
Insight 03: The Business and Economic Case for Vaccine Equity
Global herd immunity is being hailed as a key factor to opening up our economies and societies to kickstart the Covid-19 recovery. But this will depend on mass immunisation and equitable distribution of vaccines between rich and poor countries. In this edition, we make the business and economic case for vaccine equity.
Insight 04: The outlook for crypto and blockchain in Africa
In April of 2011, one bitcoin was worth approx $1, last April the cryptocurrency surged to a record-high $63,000. In this month’s edition of the Newsletter, we explore the phenomenon of crypto and the applications of the technology behind it, blockchain. We also specifically look at the potential for blockchain and crypto in Africa to revolutionise trade, investment and payments as the industry continues to professionalise with increased regulatory oversight and institutional backing and grounbreaking innovations such as NFTs. Lord Hain and myself offer our view alongside our panel of experts from Luno, Consensys and ChainVine.
Insight 05: Accounting for Climate Change: The Business and Economic Risks of a Warming Planet
In this edition we discuss the risks and opportunities arising from climate change and the transition to a low-carbon future.
Insight 06: Raising Capital in the Global Market
In this issue of Insights, we explore, along with our subject experts, some ideas on how best to attract, raise and deploy private capital across the African continent against this complex backdrop. Lord Peter Hain lays out the pros and pitfalls of private capital raising for African countries and points to blended finance as a way forward. Meanwhile, I set the scene and also recap some recent work our team has done on gender-lens investing with private capital. Next, the team at NEU Capital Africa offer some practical solutions in 5 themes for raising $5 to $50m+ of capital in the alternative/private capital mid-market in Africa in light of its own special challenges: opacity of deal- making, insufficient information, weak institutions and powerful politicians. Finally, Eleanor Brown of Invest Africa writes for us on how MSMEs can be supported in the tougher global environment.
Insight 07: Implications of the Ukraine invasion for Africa
Almost three months on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the conflict shows no sign of abating. In this issue, we unpick the economic, geopolitical and domestic implications of the invasion for Africa, with contributions from Chatham House experts Aanu Adeoye and Dr Alex Vines.
Insight 08: Africa's energy transition
Africa’s energy transition is causing enormous debate. In the run-up to Africa’s COP in Egypt in November, many are counterposing the adjustments required to mitigate the disastrous impacts of climate change to the escalating development needs of the continent. Fossil fuels, in particular, are in the limelight; whether Africa should or should not exploit its prodigious reserves of oil and gas. In this edition of IC Insights our contributors, including Chair of IC Intelligence Lord Peter Hain and experts from the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Clean Energy 4 Africa, weigh in from a political, economic, technological and infrastructural perspective.