Economy & Industry

At the intersection of thriving cities and sustainability, African urban life rethinks how we build, live, and belong where city dreams meet earth demands.

Economy & Industry

Illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Ghana’s Secondhand Clothing Trade Is Drowning in Waste. Here’s How to Save It.

A Waste-based Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility could keep jobs alive while tackling pollution at the source.
Avatar photo Ezinne Okoroafor
6 min read
Photo Collage/Illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

How Invisible Networks Are Powering the Next Economic Leap

Fiber cables and cloud servers don’t get much attention, but they’re changing lives—from smart farms in Uganda to online classrooms in...
Avatar photo Adetumilara Adetayo
6 min read
Photo Collage by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

The Climate Case for Bamboo Is Clear. So Why Isn’t the Money Moving?

Bamboo is cheap, fast-growing, and carbon-rich. Cameroon has a national strategy and active pilot projects, but unlocking scale will take more...
Avatar photo Adetoro Adetayo
7 min read
Photo Collage/Illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

What Happens to a Pad After It’s Used? In Nigeria, the Answer Is Complicated.

With no clear disposal path, menstrual waste becomes a silent threat, polluting land, water, and communities.
Avatar photo Ezinne Okoroafor
6 min read
Photo Collage by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT. Source: Welana, Mafi Mafi, Kabana Leather

Slow Fashion Is Thriving in Ethiopia And It’s Anything but Small

Women-led collectives are weaving climate-smart fashion from heritage crafts, creating lasting jobs along the way.
Avatar photo Adetola Adetayo
7 min read
Photo illustration & Collage by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Africa’s Smart Cities Are Growing. So Are the Gaps.

While investors fund high-tech hubs and luxury towers, informal settlements are razed and millions remain offline. What does inclusion really look...
Avatar photo Salamatu Alabi
6 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Seychelles Saved Its Ocean. Can It Save Its Coastline?

Marine protections have worked, but with 90% of the population crowded on one island, Seychelles must now build a future without...
Avatar photo Tomi Abe
8 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

The Global North Has Its ‘Smart Cities.’ Africa Is Building Better Ones.

African urban development isn’t playing catch-up. It’s forging a new path that blends technology with culture, ecology, and inclusivity.
Portrait of Victoria Agbakwuru Victoria Agbakwuru
10 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Can Grassroots Action Prevent the Next Major Disease Outbreak?

Top-down responses keep failing. Can trust, local knowledge, and early action stop outbreaks before they overwhelm already fragile health systems?
Avatar photo Blossom Amena
7 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Can AfCFTA Boost Trade Without Harming the Environment?

Africa’s biggest trade deal promises economic growth, but weak regulations and rapid industrial expansion could trigger an environmental crisis. What’s the...
Avatar photo Salamatu Alabi
7 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Who Will Keep Paying the Price for Polluted Air?

Despite contributing the least to global emissions, vulnerable communities face worsening air pollution, rising deaths, and economic devastation—who will act?
Avatar photo Adetoro Adetayo
8 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Power, Water, and the Trade-offs of a Lesotho-South Africa Megaproject

A water-rich nation fuels South Africa’s economy, but at what cost? Displaced communities and environmental damage reveal the hidden price.
Avatar photo Blossom Amena
5 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Shea Butter: A Heritage of Craft, Commerce, and Survival

For centuries, African women have crafted shea butter by hand—now, as global demand soars, who truly benefits from this billion-dollar industry?
Avatar photo Thelma Ideozu
7 min read
Photo illustration by Tomi Abe for SUSINSIGHT

Does ESG Reporting Reflect Real Progress or Just Corporate Greenwashing?

Many companies promote ESG initiatives, but are their reports accurate reflections of real change or just carefully crafted narratives hiding the...
Avatar photo Adetoro Adetayo
7 min read

How Betty Wandia Githinji is Shaping Eco-Conscious Living Through Design in Kenya

Betty’s designs fuse African craftsmanship with practical, mindful living—creating functional pieces that preserve culture and empower local communities.
The Publishers
9 min read