A nation cannot develop in the face of endemic corruption. The fight against corruption cannot be won unless the rationale (how and why) for the act of corruption is understood and intensive strategies to block those channels are implemented. The fight against corruption in Nigeria has always been focused solely towards its cure (aftermath) while ignoring its prevention (the how and why), which has resulted in no discernable success over the years (Onyekwere et al., 2020).

In Nigeria, women’s labour participation has begun to pick up in recent years after many years of stagnation. However, women's entry point into labour has been mainly through the informal sector or at the bottom pyramid of the formal labour market. Promoting women's inclusion in the top echelon of the labour market remains a knotty policy issue. This has become more important with the Nigerian government increasing priority around MSMEs as a tool for poverty alleviation and economic development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to arguably the most challenging global health crisis in modern times. Its impact has been felt by most sectors of the global economy, resulting in economic decline around the world. Governments have committed at least $12 trillion towards a recovery stimulus with a focus on immediate needs, including healthcare, job security and food security. However, studies show that the economic response to the COVID-19 crisis has also reinforced negative environmental trends, as few governments have used COVID-19 stimulus packages to transform the economic trajectory of their countries in a way that responds positively to climate change and enhances environmental sustainability. This despite the fact that climate change is one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. With properly designed stimulus packages that are climate friendly, countries can build back in a way that is more sustainable, resilient and inclusive.

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This article was first published by SAIIA

This study discusses the transformative impact of technology on society and on understanding how technological innovation in the public sector is driving citizens’ participation in governance.The study also examines the roles of technology and governance in sustainable development. It highlights the importance of promoting an institutional framework that fosters digital evolution. The authors argue it is the key to inclusive and sustainable growth, improved governance, and responsive service delivery.The paper focuses on three sub-Saharan countries—Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal. It evaluates the contexts of digital transformation and governance to link the two, and develops a framework to guide the discussion on inclusive digital transformation in government. In addition, a rigorous evaluation of current policies, combined with expert interviews, was conducted to highlight how these issues interact to attain sustainable development. 

This paper was originally published on Southern Voice

As we approach the midpoint of the timeline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is more important than ever to prioritise the contributions of the Global South’s fast-growing youth population in shaping its future. Young researchers and policy advocates within think tanks in the Global South, in particular, need to be more actively included. Think tanks occupy an important space in the Global South, bringing evidence-based interventions and advocacy to relevant global spaces. While collaboration in research and policy work is generally agreed to have numerous benefits, not enough attention has been given to improving it within the Global South.

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This policy brief was written by Tikristini Olawale, Zamiyat Abubakar and Tracy Mamoun, and first published by the Southern Voice