Some developing country governments spend years making the reforms that international financial institutions want – only to find that their efforts are not rewarded. They may make budgets more transparent, publish their debt obligations, set up independent bodies to monitor government spending, and complete an International Monetary Fund programme, but still receive the same ratings…
Africa’s development finance challenge has reached a critical point. Mounting debt pressure is squeezing fiscal space. And essential needs in infrastructure, health and education remain unmet. The continent’s governments urgently need affordable access to international capital markets. Yet many continue to face borrowing costs that make development finance unviable. Sovereign credit ratings – the assessments…
How much we pay for the debt that we incur determines a great deal in our lives. This is true of countries too. In the world of sovereign debt – money raised or borrowed by governments – the cost of debt is dependent on, among other factors, how rating agencies “grade” a country. It’s a…
China has said the United States’ decision to withdraw from United Nations bodies and other entities was a proof that the international landscape was witnessing an effective operation of the multilateral system. The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasised that only such a system can “stop the law of the jungle from prevailing and stop the ‘might…
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) warn of a major hunger emergency, with acute food insecurity set to worsen in 16 countries and territories between now and May 2026, putting millions of lives at risk. A report released by the two UN agencies on Tuesday identifies six that are…
Reflections on Trust, Sovereignty, and Africa’s Economic Destiny When the language of numbers claims to replace the voice of the people—when trust becomes a score and sovereignty a chart—it is time to pause, breathe, and question the gaze that evaluates. The recent downgrade of Senegal by Moody’s revives an essential question: how can one believe…
Bolt South Africa partners with government agencies to educate drivers on the National Land Transport Amendment Act. Bolt South Africa has joined forces with the National Department of Transport (NDOT) and the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) to help drivers understand and comply with the newly implemented National Land Transport Amendment Act (NLTA). According to…
Through landmark new guidelines released today, leading reproductive health agencies are calling for a major shift in how postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is prevented, diagnosed and treated. The recommendations highlight the urgent need for earlier detection and faster intervention – steps that could save the lives of tens of thousands of women each year. Defined as…
One of the commitments the South African presidency of the G20 made in its policy priorities document at the beginning of 2025 was to push for fairer, more transparent sovereign credit ratings. And to address the high cost of capital caused by an illusive perception of high risk in developing economies. South Africa proposed to…
New York — They are lightweight, cheap, and able to be used in every sector of every supply chain. Few materials have revolutionized manufacturing and the global economy as much as plastics have. They are essential in almost everything, however this comes at a cost. A cost of 1.5 trillion annually in environmental damage, and…
