Hamoye’s Africa Research Forum Newsletter Volume 1

7 min readApr 3, 2025

A curated look at Africa’s emerging research, breakthroughs, and community-driven solutions (2024–2025 Edition).

Introduction

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Hamoye’s Africa Research Forum Newsletter, your front-row seat to some of the most transformative academic research publications focused on the continent. In this volume, we explore:

How rural electrification projects are reshaping lives
Why remittance flows remain a critical economic lifeline
Progress and pitfalls in tackling Africa’s infrastructure gaps
Ongoing efforts to ensure food security, even in conflict zones
The latest on groundbreaking malaria vaccines and rising non-communicable diseases
And much more!

Grab a cup of your favorite local beverage and read on for insights that connect cutting-edge scholarship to the everyday experiences of Africans.

1. Powering The Future

Rewriting the Story of Electrification in Africa

Lighting Up the Gap: Research by Hirmer et al. (2024, Nature Energy) suggests that official statistics may overcount electrification by tens of millions of people. This calls for a clearer definition of “access,” ensuring that no household is overlooked.
Rural Transformation in Zambia: In a working paper, Figueiredo Walter & Moneke (2024) find that electrification alone doesn’t automatically boost livelihoods. Villages already equipped with productive assets (e.g., grain mills) experience greater economic gains once electricity arrives.

Why It Matters:
Electricity can transform communities — yet productive uses of power matter most for boosting local businesses, enhancing incomes, and ultimately improving daily quality of life.

2. Money That Moves: Remittances

Digital Revolutions and Diaspora Connections

Boost from Digital Infrastructure: Jemiluyi & Jeke (2024, Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development) highlight that greater internet penetration is linked to higher remittance inflows. With improved digital platforms, diaspora members can send funds home faster and more affordably.
Growing East Africa’s Economy: Adow (2025, Cogent Economics & Finance) emphasizes how remittance inflows significantly raise GDP per capita growth in East African countries — particularly where financial systems are stable.

Why It Matters:
Remittances are a vital safety net for many African households, financing everything from school fees to health emergencies. As digital connectivity expands, more families can reap the benefits of prompt and cost-effective money transfers.

3. Building Tomorrow: Infrastructure

Bridging Africa’s $100 Billion Annual Gap

Trade, Transport, and Energy: Tayo (2024, Africa Policy Research Institute) warns of a $68–108 billion annual infrastructure financing deficit. Meanwhile, private investment is growing — yet still lags behind the continent’s needs, according to the African Private Capital Association (2025).
Shaping Competitiveness: UNCTAD (2024) connects the dots between poor infrastructure and Africa’s high trade costs, estimated to be 50% above the global average.

Why It Matters:
Reliable roads, ports, and power are the lifeblood of commerce and can lower costs for everyday goods. By investing in robust infrastructure, African nations can spark job creation and deliver better public services.

4. Feeding Nations

Winning the Fight Against Hunger in an Era of Climate Shocks

Population vs. Production: Projections by Simane et al. (2025, Foods) show Africa’s food needs swelling from 438 million to 558 million tons by 2050. Rapid population growth plus climate pressures — like frequent droughts — make agricultural transformation crucial.
Conflict and Food Security: As Otekunrin (2025, Food and Humanity) notes, protracted conflicts in places like Sudan or Mali have pushed many into famine conditions (IPC Phase 5). Without peacebuilding and stable governance, food aid often struggles to reach those in need.

Why It Matters:
From urban grocery prices to rural livelihoods, food security touches everyone. Investments in irrigation, improved seeds, and conflict resolution can reduce hunger for millions.

5. Classrooms for the Future

Africa’s Urgent Need for 9 Million New Classrooms

Education Gaps: UNESCO (2024) warns of enormous shortages in schools and teachers by 2050. This crisis is especially urgent in rural areas, where schools often lack basic infrastructure or run multiple shifts to accommodate students.
Afrobarometer Voices: Afrobarometer Dispatch 768 (Adjadeh, 2024) indicates nearly half of Africans say lack of schools or teachers remains a major problem. In some cases, corruption — like bribes for enrollment — keeps children out of the classroom.

Why It Matters:
A quality education opens doors to better incomes, healthcare access, and civic engagement. Scaling up school construction and tackling governance challenges are central to equipping Africa’s youth for the 21st century.

6. A Race Against Time: Climate Change

Toward Net Zero — But at What Cost?

Emissions Pathways: Adun et al. (2024, Environmental Science & Technology) suggest that if Africa rapidly decarbonizes its electricity sector, most regions could reach carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the industrial sector remains a major challenge.
Soaring Adaptation Bills: World Meteorological Organization (2024) cautions that African countries lose 2–5% of GDP annually to climate extremes. Adaptation costs could exceed $50 billion per year by 2030 — far outstripping current budgets.

Why It Matters:
Unpredictable floods, droughts, and temperature spikes affect food prices, health, and local economies. Strengthening resilience — through early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, and bold energy transitions — can safeguard Africa’s development gains.

7. Conflict Flashpoints

Coup Belt and Consequences

Military Takeovers: Recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and elsewhere have stalled democracy and triggered violence. Research from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (2024) links these disruptions to a surge in extremist threats.
Foreign Interference: External actors — particularly Russia — have played outsized roles by supporting junta regimes, fueling propaganda, and complicating peace efforts.

Why It Matters:
Conflict can uproot entire regions, disrupt supply chains, and displace families. Stable governance and regional collaboration are key if African countries hope to sustain economic growth and protect basic freedoms.

8. Health Breakthroughs & Challenges

Fighting Malaria, Confronting NCDs

R21 Malaria Vaccine: Datoo et al. (2024, The Lancet) report ~75% efficacy in high-transmission areas, surpassing older vaccines like RTS,S. This lifesaving technology could dramatically cut child deaths from malaria.
Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases: Jobe et al. (2023, The Lancet Global Health) detail the mounting burden of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity — conditions historically overshadowed by infectious diseases in Africa.

Why It Matters:
Robust primary healthcare systems are now essential for both infectious diseases and chronic illnesses. From faster malaria elimination to routine blood pressure checks, healthcare must adapt to a changing disease landscape.

9. Protecting Life on Earth

Wildlife Recoveries and New Conservation Frontiers

Elephants & Gorillas on the Rebound: Sebunya (2024, African Wildlife Foundation Report) charts encouraging population growth for elephants (+15% over a decade) and mountain gorillas (+26% in the Virunga Massif). Key factors? Community-based conservation and anti-poaching measures.
Climate-Stressed Wildlife: Severe droughts have caused major die-offs or forced relocations of animals in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Human-wildlife conflicts also rise as farmland expands into wild habitats.

Why It Matters:
Healthy wildlife populations fuel tourism, preserve ecosystems, and sustain African cultural identities. By combining conservation with community development, countries can protect biodiversity while generating local jobs.

10. The State of Governance

Democracy at a Crossroads

Stalled Progress: The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s 2024 Index of African Governance shows overall stagnation. Gains in infrastructure and economic opportunity are offset by declines in security, rule of law, and human rights.
External Influences on Elections: Several foreign powers target African politics via disinformation or direct lobbying. Meanwhile, civil society groups ramp up digital advocacy to defend fair elections.

Why It Matters:
Transparent governance touches all aspects of life — public safety, economic growth, and respect for civil rights. Embracing term limits, investing in local justice systems, and shielding elections from foreign meddling can restore trust in government.

Featured Researchers Spotlight

Hirmer et al. (Nature Energy, 2024): Leading conversations on rethinking electricity access metrics.
Figueiredo Walter & Moneke: Unraveling how rural electrification truly boosts development.
Datoo et al. (Lancet, 2024): Pioneering the high-efficacy R21 malaria vaccine.
Sebunya (African Wildlife Foundation, 2024): Showcasing successful elephant and gorilla conservation.
Simane et al. (Foods, 2025): Modeling the long-term outlook for Africa’s food security.

Their work shapes policy agendas across the continent and provides on-the-ground solutions, from powering remote villages to protecting wildlife habitats.

What’s Next?

Look out for Volume 2

Have feedback, want to highlight your own research, or propose a special feature? Reach out to us at hello@hamoye.org.

Thank you for reading the first edition of Hamoye’s Africa Research Forum Newsletter! Together, let’s keep championing African-led innovation, research, and policy that enrich lives across the continent.

References & Further Reading

End of Volume 1