• UN Photo/Marie Frechon
    Where Has Chinese Aid to Uganda Been Directed?

    China’s growing influence in Africa is a trending topic in African studies. This paper discusses the specific areas in which Chinese aid to Uganda has been focused and the impact it has had.

    February 21, 2012 Read More
  • UN Photo/Marco Castro
    Efforts to Improve France’s Relations with Africa in the Sarkozy Era

    The election of President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 heralded a rebuilding of France’s relations with Sub-Saharan Africa. However, ambivalence issues pose a challenge to France’s ambition to be a constructive influence in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    February 21, 2012 Read More
  • UN Photo/Martine Perret
    Gender Dimensions of Agricultural Service Delivery in Ethiopia

    Agricultural extension services are readily available in Ethiopia. But there are stark differences in access between male and female farmers. Most agricultural extension officers are men, which creates a barrier in reaching female farmers. What are the options for solving this problem?

    February 16, 2012 Read More
  • UN Photo/Sophia Paris
    Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in Rural Nigeria

    Nigeria relies heavily on food imports and food security is a major concern. Malnutrition is widespread in the entire country and rural areas are especially vulnerable to chronic food shortages, malnutrition, unbalanced nutrition, erratic food supply, poor quality foods, high food costs, and even total lack of food.

    February 13, 2012 Read More
  • UN Photo/Marco Castro
    The ICC and Africa: A Relationship of Suspicion

    In June 2011, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi for alleged crimes against humanity. How did the Libyan situation come before the ICC? On what basis did the ICC judges issue the arrest warrants? What are the prospects for Africa-ICC relations?

    February 10, 2012 Read More

The Africa Portal is an online knowledge resource for policy-related issues on Africa.

feature stories
OCCASIONAL PAPER
Off-Grid Solar Generation: The Answer to Africa’s Energy Needs?
South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)
The comparative lack of reliable electricity sources holds back economic development in many areas of Africa. The continent has huge potential for greater power generation from a number of sources, but one of the best could be off-grid solar power generation. As this brief explains, a recently proposed joint venture between a Chinese company and a Kenyan company to establish a solar panel factory in Kenya has the potential to be the beginning of a significant industry for Africa.
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#Energy
RESEARCH PAPER
Impact of Public Spending on Healthcare in Cameroon
African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)
While healthcare availability and quality in Cameroon remain at low levels, some advances were made through increased government investments in the late 1990s. This study evaluates how much these investments really benefited the poor in the country. Through an exploration of the role of health investments in poverty reduction, and of the factors that determine how Cameroonians seek help from publicly funded health services, this study develops well-informed policy recommendations for improving health and poverty outcomes in Cameroon.
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#Health
ARTICLE
Guns Change Everything
Project Ploughshares
The introduction of automatic firearms to East Africa in the 1960s marked a huge escalation of violence in the region. Decades-long attempts to control the trade of small arms have not been successful in reducing the violence. Arms control alone, cannot solve the cycle of violence. The answer to this problem lies in a holistic understanding of the challenges faced by these communities, including development, health, and food security.
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#Conflict Resolution
POLICY BRIEF
Hurdles of Resettling the Displaced in Kenya
United States Institute for Peace (USIP)
In the last 20 years, violence has plagued Kenya during elections, displacing thousands. In December 2007, over 600,000 people were forced out of their homes because of election violence. The government of Kenya has prioritized the resettlement of displaced people but there are many challenges, especially regarding relief and justice. This brief highlights the Kenyan government’s efforts and discusses policy options on settling internally displaced people.
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#Migration
SITUATION REPORT
South Sudan: A New Country in a State of Flux
Institute for Security Studies
It’s been six months since the Republic of South Sudan was born. The new country faces many challenges in the form of ethnic animosities and economic uncertainties. This situation report provides explanations for the state of affairs in South Sudan and the implications of the emerging dynamics for the future of the new state. The report outlines key policy recommendations and options that various stakeholders, particularly the Government of South Sudan, could pursue to nurture and sustain internal peace and stability in South Sudan.
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#Conflict Resolution
ARTICLE
The Gender Dynamics of Coffee Farming in Uganda
Kiel Institute of World Economy
In Uganda, coffee farming has traditionally been a male-dominated enterprise. But has the recent market liberalization of coffee changed the gender-related dynamics? Using data from household surveys conducted between 1992 and 2006 this report finds that income from coffee is increasingly pooled and shared equally among household members. But the gender disparities still persist; discrimination in land access still bars women from coffee farming.
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#Food Security

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