The West needs to think again on African gas

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

The Political Economy of Hydropower Dependant Nations – A Case Study of Zambia

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

International Climate Finance and support to national climate policy processes in emerging markets – literature review

The German Institute for Economic Research – DIW Berlin | July 2021 Programme: Strengthen National Climate Policy Implementation: Comparative Empirical Learning & Creating Linkage to Climate Finance – SNAPFI Financial support:The International Climate Initiative (IKI), Federal Ministry for the Environment, … Continue reading International Climate Finance and support to national climate policy processes in emerging markets – literature review

A Just Transition for Africa: Championing a Fair and Prosperous Pathway to Net Zero

Published by the Institute for Global Change 14 October 2021 By Gareth Walsh, Imad Ahmed, Jonathan Said, Martim Faria e Maya with a foreword by Tony Blair Our Time to Zero In series makes the case for an inclusive transition to net zero that focuses on people, fairness, technology, markets and communities. This paper seeks to share insights and recommendations with policymakers in high-income countries on how they can better partner with their counterparts in Africa, to deliver on development for the continent while mitigating climate change and its worst impacts. It draws on the experience of the Tony Blair Institute in … Continue reading A Just Transition for Africa: Championing a Fair and Prosperous Pathway to Net Zero

Increasing tariffs to prevent another electricity crisis in Zambia

International Growth Centre blogs Shivani Haria and Imaduddin Ahmed | 1 April, 2020 Zambia’s state-owned power utility company, ZESCO, is consistently struggling to meet demand, plunging Zambia into one electricity crisis after another. The Government of Zambia’s acceptance of ZESCO’s application to increase tariffs is a step in the right direction. Access to reliable power remains a problem across sub-Saharan Africa. The latest data from the World Bank’s Enterprise Surveys, show that 76.2% of firms in the region still experience electrical outages, on average 8.3 times a month. This has forced over half the firms in sub-Saharan Africa into owning … Continue reading Increasing tariffs to prevent another electricity crisis in Zambia

Seismic costs

Dawn | October 7, 2018 Imaduddin Ahmed WHEN considering investment in an infrastructure project, responsible investors or donors would ask: what is the need? What are the financial, social and environmental costs? What are the risks and the unknowns? Is the project likely to yield higher costs than benefits? Is the project the best option to address the need? Pakistan’s judiciary and government have called upon Pakistanis to invest in the Diamer-Basha and Mohmand Dam Fund, and yet they have insufficiently addressed these questions. The Supreme Court’s online app­eal is not accompanied by a feasibility study. From the outside looking … Continue reading Seismic costs

After off-grid electricity, what chance off-grid water?

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?

Leapfrogging into the light

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

PPP success in Rwanda shows potential for greater self-reliance

Financial Times Beyond BRICS | 2 April, 2015 New Times | 4 April, 2015 allAfrica | 4 April, 2015 World Bank EIN News Desk | 6 April, 2015 Twenty-one years after its genocide, Rwanda ranks 46th in the world for ease of doing business according to the World Bank, four spots below its former coloniser Belgium. This is flattering. The rush with which international lenders financed its energy utility’s first solar public private partnership (PPP) demonstrates that this ranking is not empty academic musing. Yet, in the same manner in which Rwandans drew on their own internal reserves of strength … Continue reading PPP success in Rwanda shows potential for greater self-reliance