How biodiversity markets shape nature recovery

First Published,11 May 2026 Land, Society and Governance Blog 3 minute read  Mattia Troiano,Research Assistant, Dr Mark Hirons Senior Researcher   Biodiversity markets are increasingly being used in conservation policy, but we still don’t fully understand how their design shapes who gets involved and what actually happens for nature on the ground. A new open-access article in Environmental Policy and Governance by Mattia Troiano, a researcher at the ECI, and colleagues looks at this question through England’s Biodiversity Net Gain system, based on interviews and participatory mapping work in Oxfordshire. Rather…

Coconut Shells and Africa’s Built Environment: A Circular Economy Pespective

Introduction Coconuts constitute one of Ghana’s coastal zones invaluable natural resource endowments and its full economic potential has for decades been begging for being unlocked while the country’s East Asian compatriots have since been up to their game in that respect. For decades coconut has been generally treated and still continues to treated in Ghana by many simply as a natural goodie on break open the shell- enjoy the refreshing water-albumen-throw away the husk and shell away as waste supposedly and without appreciating them as potential vital raw materials for…

Sustainable Building Materials: Why Middle Eastern Developers Are Moving Beyond Concrete

For decades, concrete has been the default choice for construction across the Middle East. It’s durable, it works in extreme heat, and robust supply chains are established. But that era is winding down. Right now, in 2026, developers are shifting away from conventional materials faster than anyone predicted, and the transition is accelerating.  The numbers are striking. The MEA was the only region in the world to record an increase in demand for green and sustainable buildings in 2025, and that momentum has carried into 2026. While global green construction is slowing,…

Leveraging Africa’s Gold/Mineral Reserves for Economic Independence

Aurum Elite Bullion LLC Leads the Charge Story: Mohammed A. Abu Africa holds roughly 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, including 40% of its gold and up to 90% of chromium and platinum. The continent  is a global powerhouse for resources, containing 65% of the world’s arable land, 10% of its oil, and significant deposits of cobalt, diamonds, and uranium, making it essential to global supply chains. Against this backdrop,governments of African countries need sober reflection over the thorny issue of  political independence minus  economic independence complicated  by ever rising public…

Sit Up or Face National Disruption: The Urgent Call for a Skilled Electrical Workforce

About Author: Awal Sakib Mohammed, President, Ghana Electrical Contractors Association (GECA),Chairman for the Skills Body for “Electrical, Electronics and Automation” under the CTVET (Contact details: +233243864726 Email: awalcahsant@gmail.com) Introduction The Urgent Call for a Skilled Electrical Workforce Electricity is the heartbeat of modern life. Every home, hospital, school, and industry depends on it. Yet behind the switches and sockets lies a truth we can no longer ignore: our electrical networks are dilapidated, our systems outdated, and our workforce dangerously underprepared. Road Contractors’ Vital Role: Their Dilemma  Electrical contractors are the…

Feature: Now, Let’s Build a Sky Train for Accra-(By Dr Joseph K. Ofori-Kuragu)

Ghana’s infrastructure drive has gathered real momentum in recent years. Large national projects continue to shape public discussion, especially after the presentation of the 2026 Budget by the Minister of Finance. One of the most debated proposals is the Accra–Kumasi Expressway. The reactions have been mixed, but what is clear is that Ghanaians are thinking seriously about how the country should grow and how mobility can support that growth. The level of engagement shows that the public is ready for solutions that make life easier and expand economic opportunities. At…

ICD-Coris Bank Partner to Support Benin SMEs with EUR 25 M Sharia Compliant Line of Financing

This strategic financing facility will enable CBI Benin to provide much-needed capital to SMEs and corporate clients across Benin, supporting the country’s economic diversification efforts and private sector development, says, an official statement issued in Jeddah, Thursday. EUR 25 million Shariah-compliant Line of Financing facility to support private sector growth in Benin Four-year facility to facilitate access to finance for the private sector enterprises, mainly SMEs and Large corporates. Expected to create 600 new jobs and support sustainable economic development Expanding ICD’s successful partnership with Coris Holding across West Africa…

Africa’s plants: a database project has recorded 65,000 species – and is still growing

First Published: July 10, 2025 4.00pm SAST,The Conservation Author: Cyrille Chatelain, Scientist, Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Genève (CJBG) The African Plant Database lists 65,000 species of flowering plants, ferns and conifers found on the African continent and Madagascar. Since 2006, every plant species ever documented in Africa and Madagascar has been included in the massive online database, with about 200 new species added every year. Cyrille Chatelain is a curator at the Geneva Botanical Garden in Switzerland. He’s researched plants in Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and north Africa and manages the plant database. Here…

Africa’s Clean-Cooking Drive Hinges on Carbon-Credit Reform, Transport Upgrades

Africa’s long-delayed transition to clean cooking will fail without a serious overhaul of how the continent finances, transports and regulates LPG, senior executives said during a high-level panel on clean cooking and LPG at the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg on Friday. Speakers pointed to a rare alignment of political support – following G20 endorsement of clean cooking as a priority area – but warned that critical infrastructure gaps and a broken financing ecosystem are slowing progress. South Africa’s LPG demand sits “just below 500,000 metric tons,” yet…

Afreximbank Calls for Africa’s Sustainable Dev’t,Industrialisation & Just Transition at COP30

BELEM, Brazil, November 13, 2025/ — At the ongoing 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) is strategically advocating for a climate agenda that aligns with Africa’s sustainable development and industrialisation ambitions as outlined by its President, Dr. George Elombi. The Bank’s delegation is advocating for a pan-African climate narrative that builds on the outcomes of the African Climate Summits and previous COPs. Afreximbank’s engagements are anchored on the core principles of the AU Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and emphasizes the…