Development Practitioner | #AfricaWeHave
Nairobi, Kenya
Joined April 2014
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Carl Manlan retweeted
The first real splash came in 2016, 10 years ago, when my SOAS Centenary Lecture, “How Big Is Africa?”, was unusually hosted at the AU—a packed room intrigued as the cartographic issue was raised there for the first time. Today, the UN has affirmed that cartographic justice must be respected. 🌍🗺️✊🏾
m.youtube.com/watch?v=15DlPq…
Carl Manlan retweeted
Essay | Afrophobia holds a mirror to Africa – and the rainbow can’t hide it
brnw.ch/21x4Yfv
Carl Manlan retweeted
My 2026 @MandelaUCT Masters students. Forming the next generation of African leaders.
Carl Manlan retweeted
The "Eminent Persons meeting on #BlueEconomy & #FoodSecurity " organised by @SPF_PR in Tokyo was a learning experience on #acceleration of best practices and creation of pertinent institutional ecosystems in #FoodSystems. Honored to be with colleagues clearly and pragmatically dedicated to devpmt.
@SPF_PR is a pillar of intelligent international #cooperation.
Carl Manlan retweeted
The IMF's favourite trick: compare 🍎 to 🥔.
When discussing "aid dependency", they often use **Sub-Saharan Africa** for aid figures but then switch regional definitions for GDP comparisons. Convenient. 🙃
Using OECD DAC aid to **all of Africa** and IMF's 2025 Africa aggregates:
💵 ODA to Africa: ~US$70–80bn
🌍 Africa GDP: ~US$3–4tn
➡️ Aid ≈ 2% of GDP
In PPP terms:
🌍 Africa PPP GDP: ~US$11–13tn
➡️ Aid < 1% of PPP GDP
That's not an economy "dependent on aid". That's a narrative dependent on selective denominators. 📊✨
Carl Manlan retweeted
@ecowas_cedeao high-level meeting on future of #ECOWAP #FoodSystems , I proposed 6 strategic shifts:1) from tech generation to technology scaling 2) food &nutrition security at core of devpmt strategy 3)youth as economic drivers with robust incubation 4)rigorous investment discipline 5) weaponize regional integration for #FoodSovereignty 6) enforce #data driven accountability
🌎 On June 4 and 5, @ParisPeaceForum and @ocpgroup will
bring together global leaders and civil society in Rabat
around a clear imperative: in the face of global shocks,
transitions must not only be fair, but also resilient.
👉 bit.ly/3RK6cQb
#ResilientTransitions
Carl Manlan retweeted
Pleased to meet the CEO of @CGAP @SSirtaine with @AGRA_Africa senior manager @CarlManlan at the meetings of @CGAP council of governors in Paris 27/28 may 2026.Potential cooperation with @AGRA_Africa on #FinancialInclusion can drive meaningful impacts.
Carl Manlan retweeted
@AfDBPresident in his 2026 #AfDB Annual Meetings opening remarks:
"And perhaps Africa should also remind the world — with a little humility — that we practiced parts of the circular economy long before it became fashionable. Africans repaired, reused and repurposed almost everything long before consultants gave it a name. And long before ride-sharing applications became billion-dollar companies, African shared taxis had already solved the problem — admittedly with business models that economists still struggle to understand."
Carl Manlan retweeted
How can Africa turn today’s fertiliser and food systems shocks into an opportunity for long-term climate resilience?
Join Carijn Nouwen, Co-Founder of Climate Action Platform, for a timely conversation on building stronger, more sustainable food systems through coordinated action, innovation, and resilience-focused solutions, today at 3.00 PM (EAT)
Register here:
agra-org.zoom.us/j/848053730…
Catch you in a few ⌛️⏳
#AGRA #AGRAImpact #FoodSystems #AGRAat20
Carl Manlan retweeted
@NEPAD_Mayaki Delighted to attend with @CarlManlan in the name of @AGRA_Africa , sessions of the Council of Governors annual meeting of #CGAP. Very interesting session on unlocking the promise of #AI in Finance using Agent-based systems.
Carl Manlan retweeted
H.E. Wamkele Mene met with Ms Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, in Nairobi to discuss enhanced collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat and AGRA in advancing agricultural trade under the #AfCFTA framework.
The Secretary-General emphasised the importance of leveraging AfCFTA opportunities to develop agricultural value chains, improve industry competitiveness, and expand market access, with a view to reducing Africa’s food import bill.
He further underscored the need to align AfCFTA implementation with continental initiatives, including the CAADP Kampala Declaration, to strengthen agricultural trade and food security.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the domestication of the Agric-Trade Action Plan as a practical framework to promote intra-African agricultural trade, value addition, and inclusive growth.
@AGRA_Africa
The African Cup of Nations offers more than sporting drama, it reveals a blueprint for agricultural transformation.
Read my first commentary of 2026: ecofinagency.com/insights/15…
#Agriculture #AFCON2025 #AfricanDevelopment #FoodSecurity #Nutrition #AgricultureTransformation
Countries like Comoros, Mozambique, and Tanzania are competing with traditional powerhouses not by luck, but through years of grassroots investment in infrastructure, youth academies, and coaching.
#Agriculture #AFCON2025 #AfricanDevelopment #FoodSecurity #Nutrition #Agriculture
Agricultural transformation requires systematic investment in research institutions, extension systems, seed development, and market infrastructure. #Brazil’s Bolsa Família Program demonstrated this connection; addressing nutritional foundations while developing athletic talent.
Carl Manlan retweeted
The success of #AFCON2025, both the quality of football, inc by weaker teams like Tanzania & Burkina, & the jump in infra quality vs 20 yrs ago, draws parallels to agric transformation. It's not a 5 year project: Long term grassroot investments are key.
ecofinagency.com/insights/15…
Carl Manlan retweeted
Honoured to be the 1st to receive the Amilcar Cabral Prize of the University of Cabo Verde. The ceremony will be January 26th.
Carl Manlan retweeted
This year hasn’t been easy. With funding cuts hitting the sector hard, we had to get creative, think outside the box, and stay bold.
From scaling Girls Thrive to launching new coalitions in Uganda and Zambia, the @Brandsonmission team proved that the mission doesn’t stop when things get tough.
I’m incredibly proud of our team’s grit and grateful for the partners who stood by us. Now, we’re signing off to rest, disconnect, and spend time with loved ones.
See you in the New Year for more "edgy" work and even bigger impact!
#BrandsOnAMission #GlobalHealth #ImpactThatMatters #RestAndReflect #WorkCulture
Carl Manlan retweeted
All Protocol Observed
Welcome to Issue 224 of The Continent
We celebrate people whose purpose and passion shine through a tumultuous 2025, embodying Khalil Gibran’s words that “work is love made visible.”
Meet our Africans of the Year: bit.ly/224_TC
Carl Manlan retweeted
Check out this video featuring my conversation with CNN's Jim Sciutto: cnn.com/2025/11/05/world/vid…
