With the breakdown in relations with Russia endangering gas supplies, the West should rethink its policy on embargoing development finance for gas deposits in Africa. Continue reading The West needs to think again on African gas
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Imad Ahmed has written a fascinating and meticulously researched book on Zambia, which details the various challenges posed by hydroelectric power. This book is a must-read for all interested in Zambia and energy policy in the developing world. Continue reading The Political Economy of Hydropower Dependant Nations – A Case Study of Zambia
5th November, 2019 on ZNBC following my keynote presentation at a public discussion programme organised by the International Growth Centre on Nurturing the Manufacturing Sector: Ensuring Strong Roots for Zambian Growth Continue reading On Zambia’s main news channel
18 December 2017 | Bartlett News Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management PhD Candidate Imad Ahmed reports on a talk from Mr Farrukh Khan of Acumen. Following dinner in the Great Hall of Goodenough College, Acumen’s Chief Business Development Officer … Continue reading Acumen share pioneering investment philosophy with Bartlett PhD students
Financial Times | 31 July, 2017 Innovative solutions bring the prospect of accessible water to the isolated poor By Imaduddin Ahmed Fifty-one million people lack access to safe water in the core East African Community member states of Tanzania, … Continue reading After off-grid electricity, what chance off-grid water?
Financial Times | 27 March, 2017 Solar systems help Rwanda government switch from provider to regulator of electricity by Imaduddin Ahmed Mobile phones were the “leapfrog” … Continue reading Leapfrogging into the light
and how they can be mitigated. Compiled by a PPP transactions advisor to Rwanda (me). Barriers to private investment in African infrastructure: Country political risk – Eg. medium or high likelihood of terrorist attacks, war, corruption, riots, strikes Risk of expropriation Payment risk Insolvency for state off-takers such as state utilities Inflation/currency depreciation Currency convertibility Risk mitigants and Rwanda’s experience: Country political risk – Solution: State to improve security internally by having a strong law enforcement agency and also by pursuing sustainable and fair domestic and foreign policy – Rwanda surveyed as the African country where citizens feel most safe according … Continue reading African (frontier market) risks associated with PPP infrastructure
Businesses: – The business model is scalable – There is a compelling case that there is large latent/unmet demand for the product/service – Competition is underperforming/non-existing and barriers to entry are high – Competition for financing a given firm is low (don’t want to enter a bidding war) – Strong personal relationships with management – Strong balance sheets for financial institutions (diligence their Accounts Receivable and recovery rates) – Strong Debt Service Coverage Ratios for mature businesses Economies: – Rapid growth in the urban middle class – rapid demand growth from the latent baseline – Large domestic market – Rule … Continue reading Stories private equity is looking for in Africa
In this post we will discuss the The Doha Declaration on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement & public health, and how it affects the scope of intellectual property laws set out for the first time in international law for WTO Members by the TRIPS Agreement in 1994. The need for a clarification of the scope of the TRIPS agreement arose because of the potential conflict of two matters of public interest: 1) The matter of providing incentives to those who innovate solutions which have the potential to improve public health 2) The matter of making … Continue reading Explanation of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS
Fletcher Features Imaduddin Ahmed | March 23, 2010 Medium-sized investments in sub-Saharan enterprises will help develop the region more than hand-outs, and return profit, say London financier and Kampala-industrialist In 1995, New York had more mobiles than the entire continent of Africa. This year, in spite of the low GDP per capita of the continent, it will have as many mobile phones as the USA. Nigeria, according to UNESCO, produces more feature films than the USA. More than 80% of African countries are politically stable, and the average return on foreign investment into Africa is about 30%. Yet, in the … Continue reading Unraveling the World’s Best-Kept Secret
energy and a just transition 