Voices of Africa: Recent Episodes
Marcus Courage
Join Africa Practice CEO, Marcus Courage, host of the ‘Voices of Africa’ podcast series, and hear from leaders who are unlocking the continent’s human and natural capital and transforming African societies.
The views and opinions expressed on the ‘Voices of Africa’ podcast series are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management team.
For too long, the global health financing architecture was built for a world of centralised donor procurement. In this second episode of our series with the Oxygen CoLab, we move from the clinical problem to the financial solution: how to build the investment architecture that sustains life-saving care. In this episode, our guests discuss the critical ‘Missing Middle’- local SMEs that could form the backbone of healthcare delivery but are often excluded by global health financing. Using the Nigerian experience as a case study, we discuss the urgent need for a more flexible financing toolkit that prioritises local manufacturing and de-risks health markets.The #FundWhatLasts campaign argues that, to make the necessary shift from aid to investment, we must shift from top-down equipment donations to an African-led service model that includes the network of people and expertise needed to get oxygen to every patient who needs it, when they need it. By backing local SMEs, and investing in the operating conditions for them to thrive, we can ensure that investment guarantees the reliable delivery of oxygen to the patient’s bedside. What’s more, if we can prove this model in respiratory care, you have a template for other lifesaving services.Visit https://lnkd.in/dPjzDwc7 to explore the hashtag#FundWhatLasts campaign.
Despite billions in COVID-era investment, 91% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to medical oxygen. This episode of Voices of Africa explores the ‘Missing Middle’, the gap between oxygen production and the patient’s bedside. In collaboration with the Oxygen CoLab, featuring Dr Carina King (epidemiologist), Hilda Bugingo (biomedical engineer) and Shiellah Bagayana (entrepreneur and oxygen policy champion), we discuss why oxygen is a complex system; the personal toll of systemic failure, and how local SMEs are transforming oxygen into a reliable, sustainable, scalable service that fills the ‘Missing Middle’.The #FundWhatLasts campaign argues that, to move forward, we must shift from top-down equipment donations to an African-led service model that includes the network of people and expertise needed to get oxygen to every patient who needs it, when they need it. By empowering local SMEs and biomedical engineers, we ensure that investment guarantees the reliable delivery of oxygen to the patient’s bedside.Visit https://www.makingbetterfutures.org/fundwhatlasts to explore the #FundWhatLasts campaign.
In this episode of Voices of Africa, we sit down with Isabela Nyoka, Mining Specialist at Ecobank to unpack the transformation of the continent’s mining sector ahead of Mining Indaba 2026. Isabela provides a masterclass in how financial infrastructure acts as the catalyst for African agency. By moving beyond simple extraction and focusing on the ecosystem of mining, she illustrates how strategic capital can de-risk supply chains and drive inclusive growth.
The global energy transition has placed Africa in a paradox: the continent possesses the minerals the world needs to survive, yet the infrastructure to process those minerals remains fragmented. In this recent episode of Voices of Africa, Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO of the International Council on Mining and Metals, offers a sobering yet optimistic roadmap for the continent’s subsurface wealth. Rohitesh outlines a three-pillar framework: Transparency, stability, and fairness, essential for turning mineral wealth into lasting development. The conversation moves beyond idealistic rhetoric to tackle the hard economics of beneficiation, the threat of illegal mining syndicates, and the need for a unified African Mineral Trust.
The African mining sector is at an inflection point. Once primarily viewed through the lens of extraction for the Global North, a new narrative - one of African Agency, sovereignty, and strategic self-determination - is rapidly emerging. In the latest episode of Voices of Africa, Mzila Mthenjane projects a sector actively reimagining its purpose, pivoting from passive supplier to strategic developer, fundamentally driven by its own needs and a commitment to enduring, inclusive growth. A major highlight is Mzila’s call for an African Critical Minerals Strategy that prioritises local infrastructure over global exports.Produced by Africa Practice, in partnership with Investing in African Mining Indaba.
What underpins operational resilience in complex markets? For AngloGold Ashanti in Guinea, it’s a commitment to becoming a core development partner. In this episode of Voices of Africa, we speak to Stewart Bailey about how the company’s long-term investment at the Siguiri mine is driving deep social change. This includes a revolutionary public-private health partnership model, strengthening its social license to operate, and building a genuinely Guinean team amidst the country's rapid transformation.Produced by Africa Practice, in partnership with the Investing in African Mining Indaba.
In this episode of Voices of Africa we speak with Bilha Ndirangu, founder of Jacob’s Ladder, about why Africa is uniquely positioned to leapfrog traditional development trajectories and lead the new green development state, a visionary approach where the continent’s development objectives are achieved by integrating economic growth with climate action and social inclusion from the outset. Bilha argues that Africa's challenges - massive youth unemployment and the global climate crisis - must be solved together.
Addressing the high cost of capital is as nuanced as it is urgent. Ahead of the Financing Africa Forward Cost of Capital Summit, Marcus Courage speaks with Standard Bank Group CEO, Sim Tshabalala about what is needed to set the agenda for Africa's financial future. They discuss the structural and dynamic factors that drive up capital costs for Africans, and how to unlock the continent's vast potential, not just for Africans, but for the entire world.
In this episode of Voices of Africa, Marcus Courage interviews Almaz Negash, Founder and CEO of the African Diaspora Network, about her vision for the 'Contemporary Diaspora's' role in Africa's sustainable development. Negash highlights the potential of going beyond remittances, shifting to strategic investments that extend beyond traditional aid. She emphasises the importance of harnessing the potential of Africans living abroad, and those migrating within the continent, aiming to spark a new era of partnership and prosperity.
Africa is poised to be a powerhouse in the global clean energy transition—but how can the continent turn potential into prosperity? In this episode of Voices of Africa, host Marcus Courage sits down with Ellie Gomez-Callus, Metals and Mining Associate at BloombergNEF, to discuss Africa's crucial role in the green revolution. They delve into the surging demand for critical minerals, the rise of solar energy, and the smart policies needed to unlock Africa's potential. If you're interested in the intersection of energy, economics, and Africa's future, this episode is a must-listen.
The Simandou project in Guinea is the largest greenfield integrated mine and infrastructure project in development in Africa. Unlike mining’s traditional “pit to port” model, Simandou promises to touch every region of the country, bringing development to hitherto neglected communities and transforming Guinea into a key player in the global steel industry.Kicking off Voices of Africa in 2025, Aboubacar Koulibaly and Ismael Diakité reveal details of this monumental project dubbed the 'backbone of Guinea's economy' and progress towards production of first ore in November 2025. Produced by Africa Practice, in partnership with the African Minerals Development Centre and the Investing in African Mining Indaba.
Africa's vast reserves of critical minerals are vital to the global energy transition, but how can the continent move from exporting raw materials to leading in value-added processing? In this episode of Voices of Africa, John Magok and Deshan Naidoo join Marcus Courage and Laura Nicholson to discuss green financing, intentional collaboration, downstream beneficiation, and the policies and partnerships essential for sustainable growth. This episode was produced by Africa Practice in partnership with the African Minerals Development Centre and the Investing in African Mining Indaba.
In our special edition episode of Voices of Africa, Tatenda Mungofa, CEO of Mureza Auto Co., envisions an African industrial renaissance where local minerals, manufacturing, and innovation drive economic transformation. Join Tatenda, Africa Practice CEO, Marcus Courage, and Head of Content & Strategic Partnerships at Mining Indaba, Laura Nicholson, as they discuss Africa-led industrialisation shaping the continent, one component at a time.This episode was produced by Africa Practice in partnership with the African Minerals Development Centre and the Investing in African Mining Indaba.
In the latest Voices of Africa episode, Founder of Our Legacy Foundation, Oulimata Sarr, lays out her vision for an Africa where women and girls lead with equal access to opportunities. Through her “3 Rs” approach—rights, representation, and resources—she’s helping women in agriculture secure land, capital, and leadership roles. Speaking with Africa Practice CEO Marcus Courage, Oulimata shares her journey in driving policy change and amplifying women’s voices across the continent.
In Africa - as with the rest of the world - communities are grappling with complex questions about how we design our societies. In the latest edition of Voices of Africa, Jessica Horn speaks with Africa Practice CEO Marcus Courage about the work she leads as the Regional Director for East Africa at the Ford Foundation, the importance of civic engagement, flexible ecosystem funding and shaping a resilient and self-sustaining future for Africa.
In the latest episode of #VoicesOfAfrica, @Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director for Africa at the @World Resources Institute sits down with @Africa Practice CEO @Marcus Courage. Wanjira, a powerhouse championing a greener future for Africa, shares the profound impact her iconic mother’s environmental activism had on her, and delves into her current work at WRI. Tune in to learn how she is tackling Africa's biggest challenges - climate change, food security, and sustainable cities - by bridging the gap between global ideas and the power of local action.
In the latest episode of Voices of Africa, Africa Practice CEO, Marcus Courage speaks with Wangeci Kanjama, Group Chief Financial Officer at SPIRO about Africa’s e-mobility landscape. Wangeci paints a vivid picture of a prosperous Africa, driven by trade, digitalization, and a shift towards private sector-led initiatives, highlighting how innovative entrepreneurs are driving change across critical economies.
In this special edition episode of Voices of Africa, Marcus Courage, the founder and CEO of Africa Practice, reflects on Africa's growth prospects and challenges, emphasising the continent’s pivotal role in the race for decarbonisation and highlighting the role of quality policymaking and a coherent regulatory environment to attract the private capital essential for economic growth.
In the latest episode of Voices of Africa, Marcus Courage speaks with Johnny Velloza about the progress Kobaloni is making in building the first battery grade cobalt sulphate refinery in Africa – a key input for battery manufacturing – and Zambia’s plans to build a battery park on the copperbelt.
In this episode of Voices of Africa, Africa Practice CEO, Marcus Courage, and Head of Content at Mining Indaba, Laura Cornish, speak to Chairman of the Tanzania Chamber of Mines, Eng. Philbert Rweyemamu about the efforts and progress that Tanzania has made to promote diversity in its mining sector, including upskilling young mining managers and amplifying women’s voices in leadership.
Transition minerals hold immense potential for economic growth and social development in resource-rich nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, past experiences have linked the natural resource sector to human rights abuses, economic exploitation, and governance failures. In the second episode of our special series with Investing in African Mining Indaba, Marcus Courage and Laura Cornish speak with Marie-Chantal Kaninda, President of Glencore in the DRC. The DRC produces more than two-thirds of the world's cobalt output, and last year Glencore was the biggest cobalt producer in the country. Marie-Chantal explains the measures Glencore has put in place to responsibly source the commodities that advance everyday life.
In the latest episode of Voices of Africa, Marcus speaks to Ken Njoroge, Founder and CEO of PANI, a venture capital and private equity firm that supports tech entrepreneurs to navigate the startup ecosystem in Africa. They discuss what it takes to get ahead in the African startup space, and the myriad opportunities that exist for tech entrepreneurs in the African digital ecosystem.
The De Beers Group is on its way to becoming a miner and marketer of carbon-neutral diamonds. In the latest episode of Voices of Africa, Marcus Courage speaks to Kirsten Hund, Head of Carbon Neutrality at De Beers Group. This discussion explores how the world’s largest diamond producer is setting out to achieve carbon neutrality – by 2030 - at its mines in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa, as well as in its other operations across the diamond pipeline around the world.
Marcus speaks to Dr Marit Kitaw, the Interim Director of the Africa Union’s African Minerals Development Center (AMDC), dedicated to minerals for sustainable development in Africa, through implementing the Africa Mining Vision (AMV).
Marcus speaks to Dr Marit Kitaw, the Interim Director of the Africa Union’s African Minerals Development Center (AMDC), dedicated to minerals for sustainable development in Africa, through implementing the Africa Mining Vision (AMV).
Marcus speaks to Elizabeth Wangeci Chege, Energy Efficiency and Cooling Specialist at Sustainable Energy for All, who has worked on the continent and at a global scale to shape national green policy for the built environment, advocating for climate resilience and a sustainable future for African cities.
Marcus speaks to Rita Madeira, Africa Programme Officer at the International Energy Agency about what it’s going to take for African energy-related development goals to be achieved, including universal access to modern energy services by 2030 and the full implementation of all African climate pledges.
Marcus Courage talks with Jakkie Cilliers, chair of the Board of Trustees and head of the African Futures and Innovation Programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) . They discuss the growing divergence between Africa and the rest of the world, how Africa can reap the demographic dividend and the continent’s significance in an increasingly polarised geopolitical context.
Moky Makura is an author, journalist, actress, businesswoman and passionate advocate for Africa. She is the CEO of Africa No Filter, where their mission is to connect and build the field of narrative change makers in Africa. Through research, grant-making and advocacy they aim to build the field of narrative change-makers by supporting storytellers, investing in media platforms and driving disruption campaigns.Marcus speaks with Moky on how narratives matter, created and can be shifted in Africa.“The only way to change a narrative is to change the underlining stories and the reason we think its important is that narratives inform your beliefs and perspectives about a central idea’ - Moky Makura
Marcus speaks to Rebekah Shirley, Director of Research, Data and Innovation, World Research Institute. In this episode, Rebekah delves into the challenges and opportunities that Africa faces on the road to a just and fair energy transition. She discusses the intersectional issues that affect the energy sector, touching on the nuances that colour the continent’s risk profile and the complexities of delivering energy access at scale on a continent where 560 million people don’t have access to energy. Their conversation touches on decentralising renewable technologies, principles of equity and delivering low-cost, long-term financing. Rebekah has vast expertise in energy systems modelling in the context of developing economies and found that the questions she was focused on as a person from the Diaspora applied in Africa, widely, and Nairobi where she is currently based
Marcus speaks to Mzila Mthenjane, Head of Stakeholder Affairs at Exxaro Resources. Mzila joined Exxaro in 2013 after having his hand in both mining and financial sector roles at AngloGold, Gold Fields Limited, RMB and Deutsche Bank. In 2022 he was appointed the Board Chairman for Impact Catalyst.Exxaro is one of the largest coal producers and has made plans to become carbon neutral by 2050, in this episode Mzila gives an insight into how the transition will look. He mentions the plan to have no new investments into coal beyond 2030, the expected increased production rate and the exportation of higher quality coal with higher energy content to European markets.
Marcus speaks with Hilaire Diarra at Barrick Gold, one the leading gold and copper producers on the African continent, with mines and projects in Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, DRC, Mali, Tanzania and Zambia. Hilaire joined Randgold Resources as a graduate in 2008 (before the merger with Barrick). In 2021 he was appointed Sustainability Head, responsible for ESG performance in the Middle East and Africa. Marcus and Hillaire reflect on initiatives to groom more Africans for leadership positions in the industry; Barrick’s progress towards decarbonising its mining operations; measures to preserve biodiversity in Mali and the DRC; and the critical role of copper in the energy transition.
Marcus speaks with Charles Murito, Regional Director at Google, responsible for Government Affairs and Public Policy in Sub Saharan Africa. Charles sheds light on the large scale investments the tech giant is making in infrastructure connectivity solutions, in growing the software developer ecosystem in SSA, and in supplying early and growth stage African startups with funding. He outlines too the principles and approach that he adopts when working with policy-makers to support homegrown technology innovation and the digital economy.
"We need to equip our youth to compete in the global economy and participate in the 4IR. There were 720,000 certified software developers in Africa at the start of 2022 (mostly in SA, Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria), of which more than 38% were working for projects and companies outside of Africa.….Over the next three years Africa has a chance to gain $180bn in GDP from the digital economy. ‘’ Charles Murito.
Marcus speaks with Saul Levin, Executive Director of TIPS (Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies), a leading South African economic research institute. Saul gives his views on industrial policy in South Africa, progress towards a clean energy transition and the state of intra-regional trade within Southern Africa. He reflects too on the upbeat mood among companies and investors at the recently concluded fourth instalment of the South Africa Investment Conference - an event to market the country as an investment destination. Visit www.tips.org.za for more information.
Marcus talks to Sharmi Surianarain who is the Chief Impact Officer at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. The Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator is a not for profit social enterprise that's building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. She leads research, knowledge, and insights, focusing on the impact of Harambee’s capabilities to change the system and contribute to solutions for the African continent.
The focus is International Women's Day, 8th March. We look at the systems change grant from Co-Impact which has been incredibly valuable as a thought partner in deepening their approach to understanding gender issues. Harambee always has had a skew towards a female network. We've over the years built a network that's 64% female. It has made us a lot more intentional about the barriers that young women face. And these are many.
Marcus speaks to Jean-Claude Tshipama, Deputy CEO of Equity BCDC, a leading financial institution in the Democratic Republic of Congo. EBCDC is a subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings Ltd, the Kenyan-domiciled banking group..
Prior to joining EBCDC, Jean-Claude worked throughout Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and North America, serving in senior Commercial, Sales and Distribution roles for Microsoft, Eutelsat, Canal + and Digicel. In this podcast Jean-Claude speaks to Marcus about convergence between telecoms and financial services, as well as the potential for new technologies to cater for underserved markets in rural communities.
Rakesh Rajani, Vice President of Programs at Co-Impact has devoted himself to social impact causes over three decades, working in the fields of human rights, education, governance and philanthropy. Our CEO, Marcus Courage, speaks with Rakesh about why some systems do not function, who we are leaving out and what kind of levers can be used to change systems so that they benefit all people equally.
Rakesh also introduces Co-Impact’s Gender Fund, to be launched in 2022 - which aims to accelerate progress towards gender equality and women’s leadership. Through this Fund, Co-Impact will support initiatives that are working to transform systems for women and girls to rise and thrive in leadership positions at all levels – in the household, in their communities and the highest national institutions. Locally-rooted organisations in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa working to make systems just and inclusive for women are invited to apply for funding and organisational support. The deadline for submissions is 20 December 2021.
This week Marcus talks with Ken Munyi, Managing Director of Echo Kenya. Ken is an accomplished leader in both private and public sectors with more than 15 years’ experience in IT, finance and administration management in various countries.
Ken shares his observation of the Kenyan ITCT space and technology. He alerts us of threats that malware and cyber security represent for all of our businesses.
Siegfried (‘Siggi’) Huegemann, co-founder and Vice Chairman of the African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP) tells Marcus why hydrogen technology could be the crucial missing link in the transition of African economies to green electrification. Hydrogen technology is ready for use and available now, Siggi explains, and new markets for it are growing rapidly. A handful of countries in North and Southern Africa, including Morocco, Namibia and South Africa, have now set out plans to develop hydrogen economies, offering a great range of environmentally-friendly economic opportunities and a path towards Net Zero.
Max Jarrett is Africa Director for the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations, and real-world solutions to help countries provide secure and sustainable energy for all.
Marcus and Max have a candid discussion about leadership in the industry, the energy crisis, and the mission and journey to Net Zero.
Salimatou Diallo is managing partner at ADNA, an independent African law firm. Her practice operates across four West and North African countries and focuses on complex project development and finance, M&A, general corporate and other commercial matters. The firm operates primarily in the energy and mining sectors, and advises both DFIs and sponsors. Salimatou worked as a lawyer in renowned international law firms in Paris and London before founding ADNA, which is a member of the African Legal Network.
Listen to Marcus and Salimatou as they consider the challenges of setting up a new business, the transformative potential of Guinea’s mineral wealth, and some of the hurdles to overcome when operating across borders in the sub-region
Our CEO, Marcus Courage speaks with Kombate Marindame who is the Regional Manager for West Africa at Camco Clean Energy, Ghana. Camco Clean Energy is a fund manager focused on renewables and climate solutions in emerging markets. Kombate speaks about the shift in the investment landscape of clean energy and gives his perspective of the global climate finance markets.
Marcus speaks with Monica Musonda, a corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur who is the Founder & CEO of Java Foods, a Zambian-based food processing/FMCG company. Monica talks about changes in consumer tastes during COVID-19 and how Java has evolved its portfolio to cater for nutritional needs. She believes that consumers need to be educated more on nutrition, malnutrition and obesity. Monica highlights areas where Government & Industry, working together, can play a stronger role.
Dario Giuliani is the Director of Briter Bridges, a think tank and data-driven research company focused on the role of innovation and technology, as well as private sector development across underserved markets (i.e. those lacking a sufficient supply of data to showcase their untapped business opportunities). Briter also runs an editorial side project that looks into the trends and dynamics in the innovative sphere mainly across Africa and Asia.
Marcus talks to Charles Mudiwa, CEO of Stanbic Bank Kenya about his motivations for transition from medicine to banking. and the challenges and responsibilities associated with leading a large financial institution. Charles shares his outlook for the Kenyan economy and speaks about his strategy for contending with technology companies who are disrupting the banking sector.
Greg Murray is CEO and Co-Founder of KOKO Networks – a venture-backed technology company with staff in Kenya and India. He and his team have designed an imaginative approach to deliver affordable clean cooking fuel at scale, tackling the scourge of indoor air pollution. Greg fills us in about KOKO’s smart fuel network and his plans for solving some of the most acute pain points of daily life in Nairobi, as well as his ambitions to extend into some of Africa’s other fast-growing cities.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Marcus speaks to Frannie Leautier, Partner and CEO of SouthBridge Investments. Frannie explains how ‘Frugal Innovation’ has come to guide her investment decisions, and she speaks about her experience promoting and supporting intra-Africa trade, as well as her hopes for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Marcus speaks with William Asiko, Managing Director, Africa Regional Office at The Rockefeller Foundation who shares the great work that this foundation is doing across the continent as both an active investor and being a catalyser of partnerships and policy reform in areas extending across a broad portfolio.
Sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and transport were already bedevilled with challenges pre-pandemic and the pandemic has exacerbated these sectors. The Rockefeller Foundation has made a commitment of $1 Billion over the next 3 years to this fight and assist in a clean-green recovery to vulnerable committees, globally and in Africa.
Have we made enough progress and transformation in agriculture and food security that needs to be taken in Africa? William talks through the challenges and solutions to this as well as expanded economic opportunity, data innovation and technology on the continent.
William Asiko is an experienced, results-oriented leader of international development institutions with both private and public-sector experience.
In this episode, Marcus asks Sheila Khama if the mining industry has stepped up to the plate in assisting local communities during this pandemic. The pair also discuss whether the oil industry’s leaders have missed critical signals and failed to act decisively in taking decisions that would see it play a key role in the transition to a clean energy future.
Sheila Khama, is one of the continent’s most sought-after extractive policy advisers. Before consulting independently, Sheila worked at the African Centre for Economic Transformation, the African Development Bank and the World Bank, advising governments on policy. She has recently authored a book on corporate governance of mineral, oil and gas companies in which the state has an interest.
Marcus Courage has a candid conversation on the state of transformative leadership in Africa with Dr K.Y. Amoako, President of the African Centre for Economic Transformation. former Executive Director of UNECA and author of ‘Know the Beginning Well'.
Dr Amoako has operated at the apex of international development in Africa for more than five decades. He speaks here about his motivations, his inspirations and his hopes for the future. He’s not afraid to name check former heads of state either.
Marcus speaks with Jackie Chimhanzi, CEO of the African Leadership Institute (AFLI), about leadership. AFLI works in partnership with Oxford University to develop 20-25 carefully chosen candidates annually from across Africa. The Institute’s flagship programme is the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship.
Eugene speaks to Riva Levinson CEO & President of KRL International, and Tom Sheehy Senior Adviser at KRL, about the future of US-Africa relations. How will the Biden administration continue this commitment and will the emphasis change? Riva also touches on the ‘Activist Generation’ and her optimism towards the youth in Africa.
Tom has had a 22-year career with the Foreign Affairs Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Riva has combined lobbying in Washington D.C with advice to former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf through her two terms in office, as well as Joyce Banda.
Marcus speaks to Alison Reid, Director of Personal and Applied learning at the Gordon Institute of Business Studies (GIBS) and Tanya Stevens, Professional Associate at GIBS. Alison and Tanya discuss the power of ‘Adaptive Leadership’ for managing complexity.
‘Adaptive Leadership is a ‘we’ thing, not a ‘me’ thing and it would be a trap to think that adaptive leadership is something I do to others. It’s a safe space, not an ‘I am the commander and I have all the answers’ narrative, but a meaningful conversation in which people can come to grips with elements that need to shift in order for a new and better future to emerge.’ - Tanya Stevens, Professional Associate at GIBS.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Gabon’s Minister of Environment, Oceans and Forests, Prof. Lee White, is a very rare species. He’s a conservationist who was born in Britain and had never held a political post before agreeing to serve in President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s cabinet 18 months ago. Here talks to Marcus about his government’s plans to build a forestry industry that can supply up to 300,000 jobs in the next decade, bringing hope for a long term viable economy given that Gabon still heavily depends on oil - an industry which he believes revenues are likely to crash in the next 20 years.
Prof White speaks also about the international effort that is needed to address the issues surrounding wildlife consumption and deadly diseases in response to the Covid 19 Pandemic. He highlights flaws in responses to previous pandemics, such as Ebola, where the prevention of consumption of monkeys had only a short lived impact. He argues there needs to be long term solutions to the way humans interact with nature. His insights are both fascinating and revealing
Marcus speaks with Robert Amsterdam, Founder of Amsterdam & Partners. Amsterdam has built a reputation working with sovereign governments, political candidates and multinational corporations. Here he speaks to Marcus about the tools businesses need to manage political risk, and about his client Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA presidential candidate in Tanzania.
Robert Amsterdam is an international lawyer with 40 years’ experience working on high-profile cases in emerging markets.
Marcus speaks to Catherine Constantinides, a South African climate activist & human rights defender. Her drive to address some of Africa’s largest challenges and create sustainable change combined with her understanding of the powerful role of the media and strong leadership has given her an influential platform to address these issues. Catherine’s recent appointment as one of the global ambassadors of the EarthShot prize, launched by Prince William, is another indication of her great success in empowering and encouraging others to help lead change.
Daphne Piriou speaks to Richard Kiplagat, director at Africa Practice and board member of Safe Hands Kenya, which recently won a series of Fast Company awards. Safe Hands Kenya is a mission-driven alliance of Kenyan organisations deploying free soap, hand-washing stations and masks to Kenyans. Richard explains how resources and capabilities are being brought together to improve the quality of hygiene where it is most needed during this pandemic
Listen to how, just over a few weeks more than 30 companies spread from manufacturing, distribution and to local community organisations, who understand the sensitivity and culture in underprivileged communities, pulled together in a sustainable way by removing the profit motive to make this initiative affordable.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Marcus receives a lesson in sovereign bond trading from Jim Croft. Meanwhile, Zambia’s Finance Minister has appealed for an interest-payment holiday from holders of its $3 billion in Eurobonds. Croft, who participated in the call between the Finance minister and bondholders, tells Marcus the reaction of bondholders.
The ratings agency Fitch believes that its recent downgrade of Zambia’s rating could herald a series of sovereign defaults in sub-Saharan Africa. ‘’The share of African countries with government interest payments relative to revenue above 30% is now higher than before the debt-reduction initiatives at the start of the millennium, which saw low-income countries’ debt burdens forgiven by Paris Club creditors,'' Fitch has said
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Marcus speaks with Brian Menell, CEO of TechMet, a privately owned company that is investing in projects that mine and process metals that are critical for the production of electric vehicles, energy storage and renewable energy. Brian shares his views on the richness of Africa’s resource base and sheds light on how the Coronavirus pandemic will accelerate demand for clean energy and technology metals.
Brian has owned, developed and operated natural resource and mining projects across 18 sub-Saharan countries, the CIS, and Canada over 25 years. The Menell family company, Anglovaal Group, has been an important player in the African mining and industrial scene for 80 years
“China now commands over 90% of global rare earth supply and in excess of 50% of global lithium supply and processing. It’s this backdrop which has triggered the proliferation of companies like TechMet, who are investing in the pipeline of supplies and materials’’. -Brian Menell, CEO, TechMet.
“Across all of these technology metals, Africa has a very important role to play in building additional supply to meet this exponential growth and demand that we are starting to see.” -Brian Menell, CEO, TechMet.
“This present crisis [Coronavirus pandemic] has certainly catalysed an acceleration of focus on green technologies and that will prove to be very beneficial for our industry in terms of drivers of demand for our metals in the medium term. In the medium term we will get an acceleration of adoption of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and other clean technologies.” -Brian Menell, CEO, TechMet.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Governments have become more interventionist since the onset of COVID-19, resulting in a waveform of new regulations. Marie Wilke, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy at Africa Practice shares insights into the state of regulation in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the nature of corporate responses.
Leona Archary, Director at Bigen Africa talks about South Africa’s agriculture sector and the ambitions of industry and government. Leona also serves as Interim CEO of the South African Agricultural Development Agency (AGDA) which is a private sector-led initiative that is mobilising funding and support to the smallholder and black commercial farming sector through improved partnership models across the agricultural value chain.
“We are finding a lot of commitment from the commercial farming sector to grow and develop the emerging black farmers in our country, and I think the impact in the years to come is going to be substantial in terms of the number of jobs that we can contribute to the economy” - Leona Archary, Interim CEO of the South African Agriculture Development Agency (AGDA)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Ruud Jansen, Executive Secretary, Gaborone Declaration for Sustainable in Africa speaks with Marcus about the importance and growth of Natural Capital Accounting, as well as the Community of Practice for Africa project that the GDSA has recently launched. Ruud also addresses the concerns of climate change and ecosystem conservation, as well as where the African countries sit in terms of involvement in Natural Capital Accounting.
"Our mission is to incorporate the value of natural capital into public and private sector policies in decision making and planning" - Ruud Jansen, Executive Secretary, Gaborone Declaration for Sustainable in Africa
"Before you invest in a company, one looks at balance sheets and assets that the company has. Funny enough, with Government we don't have that, we have human capital, produced capital but natural capital simply does not enter into that equation and Governments should think in terms of balance sheets. We withdraw from natural capital to generate benefits to the economy, we need to figure out how much we are withdrawing down from our natural capital assets and to what extent" -Ruud Jansen, Executive Secretary, Gaborone Declaration for Sustainable in Africa
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
This week Marcus speaks with Simon Anholt, a leading public diplomacy specialist who has a new book just out, called The Good Country Equation, which contains many anecdotes from his experience advising governments all across the globe, plus a series of recommendations for ‘’repairing the world in one generation’’.
Simon gives his honest insights about globalisation, multilateralism, and political leadership.
“All the problems in the world are basically caused by two things; the way people behave and the way countries behave. People’s everyday acts - omissions and commissions - that cause problems of climate change, pandemics, conflict, human rights abuses and the other things the world is facing today; and how countries behave, specifically governments. There is a fundamental tendency to compete instead of collaborate. Those are the things we need to fix! ” - Simon Anholt
“The gold standard of good governance in the twenty-first century is harmonising your domestic and international affairs. You do the right thing for the people in your own territory and at the same time you do the right thing for the people of other countries and the rest of the planet. It is perfectly possible, and in fact it makes better policy if you do it.” - Simon Anholt
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
This week Marucs speaks with Kola Masha, Managing Director of Babban Gona, one of Africa’s leading social entrepreneurs and lead coordinator of the GiveFood.ng initiative.
Kola gives his views on the importance of collaboration for managing the COVID19 crisis and how GiveFood.ng is supporting the most vulnerable. LISTEN HERE
Givefood.ng is an emergency food relief platform that leverages technology and existing food supply chains to provide tens of thousands of meals to those in need in Nigeria. Givefood.ng was formed by a coalition of leading public and private partners including The Lagos State Government, Babban Gona, Spar, Shoprite, Foodco, Justrite, Dufil, UAC, Flour Mills, Golden Penny Foods, FCMB, Dalberg, Whitten & Roy Partnership, Africa Practice, Facebook, and Trace TV.
“What GiveFood.ng has taught me is that the solutions exist. They may not all be resident in one organisation, but if we can get the right group of people together, the right structures, then we can solve many problems much faster than we anticipated.” Kola Masha, MD of Babban Gona ( and Lead Coordinator for GiveFood.ng)
“A critical part of the system was around motivitating everyday Nigerians to recognise this challenge and step forward and provide as little as $1 to provide a meal to persons in need. A key part of that coalition has been the strategic communication partners. Here in Nigeria, Africa Practice has played an incredible role in leading that whole aspect of the initiative .’’ Kola Masha, MD of Babban Gona ( and Lead Coordinator for GiveFood.ng)
Marcus talks with Jonathan Pell, CEO of Adam Smith International, about the recent announcement that the UK Government will merge its Dept for International Development and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. What are the implications for the UK’s partnerships with African nations? How has the international system responded to the Pandemic and did Britain engage?
“There are lots of question marks as to whether funding of the multilateral system is delivering the results that are necessary. Questions over the effectiveness of the international system will become even more prominent following the announcement of last week.’’ Jonathan Pell, CEO, Adam Smith International.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.
Marcus talks with Gyude Moore, Senior Policy Fellow at the Centre for Global Development and a former Government Minister in the Liberian Government.
Gyude shares some of the lessons he learned when managing the Ebola outbreak and draws parallels with the current Covid-19 pandemic. Marcus and Gyude discuss the #BlackLivesMatter movement and African Government's response to the discrimination of African citizens in China, Geo politic views and Africa’s debt.
‘’I was uncomfortable hearing ‘official Africa’ get involved [in response to the killing of George Floyd]. The AU made a comment, yet not a single African government made a comment about a South African beaten to death. This idea that somehow because it's happening in America, African govts should get involved; when the same thing is happening at home.’’ George Floyd will get a measure of justice in the US. There are thousands of people who have faced extra judicial killing in Africa who will get no justice at all.’’ - Gyude Moore.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Africa Practice and its management.