Schoolgirl Nomasonto Masango giggles as she lists the things she and her friends want boyfriends to buy them. “If you have an older boyfriend, he can buy you things and it is nice to show your friends that you have things,” says Nomasonto.

More people in Africa’s poorest countries have mobile phones than have bank accounts. That reality is spurring mobile service companies to explore how they can capture a share of the potential banking market by enabling migrants from these countries to transfer funds back home

Over the past 10 years, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has launched a number of bold and innovative programmes. In some instances the plan is already scoring notable yet underreported gains. Africa Renewal highlights NEPAD’s impact in five key areas.

I picked up the phone and dialed. It rang twice. A subdued voice came alive from the other end. Hello, the voice said. Even after more than thirty years, the crisp voice sounded familiar. Hi, I replied. This is Mathew Jallow. Do you remember me, I asked? There was a second’s pause that seemed to last forever, then a loud burst of surprised laughter. Mathew, the voice