The unaccounted billions in international aid

Photos © Frederic Bonamy/EU/ECHO/ Flickr

South Africa has contributed billions of Rands in developmental assistance to the DRC. Yet according to traditional definitions of aid, these contributions do not count. In a new article published by the Mail and Guardian, SAIIA’s Carmel Rawhani investigates the controversies around defining aid and why South Africa’s contributions may actually surpass those of more wealthy ‘Western’ donors.

Can biofortified foods help Africa achieve food security?

Photo © Neil Palmer (CIAT)

The upcoming 2016 World Food Prize will honour contributions in the field of biofortification. With almost one person in four being undernourished in Africa, what do recent experiences tell us about the role that biofortified foods can play in ensuring nutritious and safe food for the continent?

Maximising AGOA now while preparing for the future beyond AGOA

Graphic © SAIIA

This week the United States (US) hosted African nations for the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum under the theme: ‘Maximising AGOA now while preparing for the future beyond AGOA’. AGOA, a unilateral development programme offering African countries duty free access for select exports to the US, is set to expire in 2025.

Values, Culture and the Ivory Trade Ban

Photo © Flickr/Nonprofit Organizations

The new reality of a world without ivory trade demands a re-examination of human values towards both elephants and ivory and what each has come to represent. The closure of the world’s largest ivory markets (US and China), in line with the longstanding international ivory trade ban, must reflect a change in values.