Why is Africa still stuck in the middle-income trap? In our latest blog, Dr Jakkie Cilliers breaks down how more, and better-targeted, financial inflows like FDI can shift Africa’s growth into high gear. As global competition intensifies, African countries have new opportunities

Comoros: Capital is the New Currency of Progress In our 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼:𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀, we explore how targeted reforms and better capital absorption could unlock growth potential in Comoros. Despite efforts to improve the investment climate, FDI remained

Floating energy, grounded risks? As FLNG expands across Africa’s coastline, the race for gas meets a wall of insecurity. In our latest blog, Ms Nina Davis from Johns Hopkins University unpacks the fragile balance between energy resilience and the risks of deepening extractive

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻! 🇧🇯 Growth, innovation, and resilience... here’s to Benin’s journey forward. From a population of 11.9 million in 2019 to a projected 21 million by 2043, Benin is growing and so is its potential. With bold reforms, its

𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄? The 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 is calling thinkers, storytellers, foresight practitioners , analysists, and young changemakers to share bold, future-focused

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿! 🇳🇪 From resilience to reinvention, Niger’s future could be powered by factories, innovation, and smart business reform. Under our 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼, the sector’s value-add could rise to US$9.9

Today we say goodbye to our colleague and friend, Enoch Aikins. Since joining AFI in 2021, Enoch has brought sharp insight, a deep commitment to African development, and a passion for inclusive governance and economic reform. His work has enriched our research and inspired our

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆? Join the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at ISS Pretoria as a Researcher and help translate complex trends into powerful insights that

𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮, 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙁𝙖𝙨𝙤! 🇧🇫 From innovation to impact, the road ahead for Burkina Faso is full of possibility. On the Current Path, Burkina Faso is projected to have the 19th-largest economy in Africa by 2043. But under the Combined

Can Malawi’s next leaders break the cycle? In our latest blog, Ms Michelle van Rooyen from AFI explores what it will take to turn political promises into real, lasting change for citizens — beyond the ballot box. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬: futures.issafrica.org/blog/2025/Mala… #MalawiVotes #AFIBlog

📢 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥𝗦! Got a bold, creative vision for Africa in 2050? Whether it’s through storytelling, research, or a video pitch, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂! Step into the spotlight at the African Futures Conference

🇨🇮 Happy Independence Day, Côte d’Ivoire! With rich soil and 75% of land suitable for farming, Côte d’Ivoire is Africa’s top cocoa exporter but the country’s full agricultural potential is only just beginning to bloom. Under the Agriculture scenario, Côte d’Ivoire could slash

Saudi Arabia in Africa: The Kingdom courts the Continent. As Saudi Arabia undergoes bold reforms at home, it’s turning to Africa, investing in minerals, agriculture, soft power, and people. In our latest blog, Ronak Gopaldas (Director at Signal Risk) unpacks Saudi Arabia’s

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗱! 🇹🇩 From subsistence farming to sustainable abundance, Chad has the means to feed its people, boost rural incomes, and strengthen its economy. Under our Agriculture scenario, improved irrigation, better seeds, fertiliser

The majority of Africans work, but few earn enough to escape poverty. In our latest blog, Dr Blessing Chipanda from AFI unpacks why Africa’s challenge is not joblessness, but the quality, security and productivity of work and what is needed to change the continent’s labour

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰! 🇨🇫 From limited access to power and roads to connected communities and growing opportunities, CAR’s infrastructure can be a game-changer for its future. Under our Infrastructure

From reversing Africa’s premature de-industrialisation to tackling working poverty, our latest updates unpack the big shifts shaping the continent’s future. Highlights: 🔹 Model how scaled-up manufacturing could add US$168.2 billion to GDP by 2043 and create millions of jobs. 🔹

When the law becomes a shield for power, democracy takes the hit. ⚖️ Across Africa, some leaders are bending legal frameworks to sideline opposition, stifle dissent, and roll back democratic gains. In our latest blog, Zenge Simakoloyi unpacks how this trend threatens governance

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼! 🇨🇬 From natural resource wealth to diversified, sustainable growth, the Congo has the potential to transform its economy and improve lives. Under our Combined Agenda 2063 scenario, coordinated

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? We’re inviting African ministries, planning agencies, and policymakers to share how they are using foresight in national strategies and long-term planning. From vision-setting to