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African Centre is an independent non-profit think tank and social innovation hub, working in East & Southern Africa to promote the transition to new economy.
African Centre was founded by a group of emerging sustainability leaders who are passionate about the future of Africa, and are committed to making a difference.
Business skills boost for 12 start-up enterprises
/in Approach, Inclusive green business models, News /by zughdiThe New Economy Accelerator (NEA) has announced its second intake of entrepreneurs on its 10-month investment readiness incubation programme, commencing in February 2017. This year, the NEA is focused on supporting enterprises that will transform rural economies in South Africa. A total of 12 start-ups have been selected. The selection was preceded by an intensive […]
We-Africa Lab launched to drive a wellbeing economy in Africa
/in Approach, Integrated landscape management, News /by Mao AmisOne of the imperatives of the transition to a green economy is to expand the current narrow definitions of development to include well-being of people and the environment. A well-being economy is one that has at its core, the awareness of the challenges that society faces and provides tools and strategies to address these according […]
Sustainability and Inequality for a Green Economy, lessons from Kenya**
/in News /by Mao AmisSignificant progress has been made in the last couple of years in driving the transition to a green and inclusive world. Events such as the ushering of the new SDGs, the signing of the Paris agreement, and the significant investment flows into renewable energy, are just some of the few hallmarks of the significant strides […]
Financing of water infrastructure takes centre stage in South Africa
/in News /by Mao Amis#H2ODialogue splashes some interesting facts on water sector Businesses have begun to recognize that inefficient use of natural resources poses a risk to their operations, and because of that there has been a significant increase in investments in greening their processes. However water has seen far less investments and yet it is a resource that […]
Outcomes of CITES: The 7 key decisions
/in News /by nikiweMade up of 182 nations, CITES is tasked primarily with conservation and trade issues in relation to wild life. The key decisions made were: Ivory markets and elephants Zimbabwe and Namibia requested to be allowed to resume a legal trade in ivory so that the revenue can be used to help with conservation efforts. The two […]
5 reasons why sustainability can drive innovation
/in News /by nikiweInnovation is about doing something better and doing good is good business. We list 5 ways in which sustainability can drive innovation (and perhaps some entrepreneur out there will see an opportunity hidden between the lines). 1. Sustainability-driven innovation is about more than just creating green products. It includes improving efficiency and reducing waste in […]
Neoliberalization of the commons
/in News /by nikiweOver the last few months, I have been working on my PhD research in the Kuils River catchment and particularly the Khayelitsha area, a township located in the peri-urban regions of Cape Town. Within this buzzing township is a gem, the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park (KWP). The KWP is a pleasant urban wetland park and is […]
Climate finance, information and education for CSA
/in News /by nikiweContinued population growth inadvertently results in an increase in consumption and demand for food. This means that there will be a significant increase in competition for land, water and energy which will paradoxically compromise our ability to produce enough food. This will also have a negative impact on the environment and in turn the global poor who are largely […]
Lessons from the informal economy
/0 Comments/in News, Uncategorized /by Mao AmisIt’s a well-documented fact that the informal sector is key in many developing countries, accounting for most employment opportunities, delivering a full range of services and providing social cohesion. In Kenya, for example, the informal economy is referred to as Jua Kali in Swahili, which loosely translates to the ability to solve any problem.
Impact investment in a new economy
/0 Comments/in News /by Mao AmisImpact investment has emerged as an important approach for mobilising financial resources for sustainable development. Through impact investment, it has been possible to divest from harmful business practices to sectors that have strong social and environmental outcomes.