It sounds like a pretty ‘fowl’ suggestion but the odour of chickens could be the key to preventing malaria or even Zika, scientists believe. Experiments by Swedish and Ethiopian scientists found that mosquitoes steer clear of homes which contain a live chicken suspended in a cage. The researchers believe mosquitoes are wary of chickens because…
The release of the 2015-2016 MasterCard Foundation Youth Think Tank Report is the culmination of ten months of effort from our Youth Think Tank participants. These are dedicated, committed young researchers who take their responsibilities seriously and now join an alumni network of close to 30 members across Africa. It also represents the efforts and commitment of Restless…
Michel Sidibé has a big job ahead of him. By 2020, the executive director of UNAIDS wants 90 percent of people living with HIV to know their status, 90 percent of people who know their status to access antiretroviral treatment, and 90 percent of people on treatment to have suppressed viral loads. While achieving these…
While western governments toy with isolationism, the African Union (AU) is making moves in the opposite direction. In July, the continental organisation launched an electronic passport intended to allow free movement among all 54 markets in the region at its summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The passport will be available to diplomats and heads of state…
In a recent blog, FHI 360 CEO Patrick Fine observed: “It is time to recognize that human development challenges will exist as long as there are humans … Building resilience is a long-term endeavor that requires ongoing commitment. It is not an end state.” He was pushing back on that old adage in our international…
Development impact bonds have generated a great deal of buzz in recent months, but until now, there has been little evidence of if and how well they work. Today, one of the first DIBs is releasing data from its first year that points to signs of success. The Educate Girls bond is a results-based financing…
The United States Agency for International Development is making a bet on the off-grid energy market with a new initiative that will commit $36 million over three years in an effort to reach 20 million households in sub-Saharan Africa. The Scaling Off-Grid Energy grand challenge, which is designed to expand supply, drive demand, and strengthen…
Stories of financial corruption can dazzle with the vast sums of money involved, but this is a distraction from the real damage: the human costs of corruption. More than $1tn is thought to be siphoned out of developing countries each year, which, if taxed, could fund essential services such as schools and health. This global…
The two radio panellists cited for inciting hatred against, and threatening to kill, justices of the Supreme Court (SC) on Accra-based Montie FM are due to appear before the court today, Tuesday, July 12.Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson will join the host of Montie FM’s Pampaso programme, Salifu Maase known as Mugabe and owner…