By Akanksha Goyal With research projects spanning from Ghana to Greece, the 2024 cohort of Summer in the Field Fellows have successfully completed their fellowships. Sponsored by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, the Summer in the Field Fellowship Program offers stipends ranging from $6,000 to $8,000 to a select group of Boston University […]
By Vasudha Ramakrishna Funerals are big events in Ghana, very extravagant and expensive, with people often borrowing heavily to carry out elaborate celebrations, planning them for months, sometimes years. Careful thought is given to ensuring colorful billboards announcing the funeral arrangements, drinks, food, music and dance, elaborate caskets, inviting a large guest list, and a […]
By Tianyi Wu For those suggesting China has disengaged from its cooperation with Africa, Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a clear message at the recent ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC): China is back and reaffirming its commitment to support “modernization” in African countries, offering its own development model as an example. How will this […]
By Bahar C. Erbas, Niccolò Manych, Kevin P. Gallagher and Rishikesh Ram Bhandary Retiring coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) is an effective solution for adhering to the temperature limits of the Paris Agreement. Development finance institutions (DFIs) can play pivotal roles in supporting governments in early phase-down initiatives. These approaches must consider social and environmental aspects […]
For fulfilling climate commitments and attaining net-zero emission goals, there is a global effort to retire coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) early. Given their unique business model and public welfare missions, development finance institutions (DFIs) have a crucial role to play in facilitating early retirement of CFPPs. What are the costs associated against three scenarios of […]
By Seynedhee Avenie Imagine navigating a bustling city like Addis Ababa, where the aroma of coffee and teff mingles with the dynamic rhythm of daily commutes. Yet, amidst this vibrancy, there lies a critical issue that often goes unnoticed: the unequal access to transportation experienced by different segments of the population. The focus of a […]
“Dear International Monetary Fund Board of Directors, This Friday October 11, 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to announce reforms to its policy on charges and especially surcharges, which levies extra fees on countries whose debts have surpassed certain size and time thresholds. We the undersigned urge the IMF to meaningfully reform its policies, […]
By Naomi Frim-Abrams On September 25, 2024, the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) hosted Emily Sellars from the Department of Political Science at Yale University for the first session of the Fall 2024 HCI Research Seminar Series to discuss her forthcoming book “The Politics of Exit: Emigration, Collective Action, and Agrarian Reform in Mexico.” To assess […]
By Marilou Uy and Rishikesh Ram Bhandary Policymakers, especially from the Global South, now agree that achieving both climate goals and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals will require reforming the international financial architecture. While the World Bank’s ‘evolution’ process that kickstarted at the 2022 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Annual Meetings reflects a […]
With just six years until 2030, there is an urgent need to unlock investments and mobilize affordable climate finance in a fiscally sound and financially stable manner. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has a vital role to play, and proposals to reform the international financial architecture – whether the Bridgetown Initiative, the Paris Pact for […]