From rapid urbanization to persistent housing shortages, Africa’s cities are facing immense challenges—and emerging opportunities, including innovative mortgage models, government-backed projects, and rising investor interest in sustainable development. In this episode, Mvemba is joined by Thierno-Habib Hann, CEO of Shelter Afrique Development Bank, to explore how innovative finance, strategic partnerships, and public-private collaboration are reshaping the continent’s urban future. Together, they examine the scale of Africa’s housing deficit, the barriers to affordability, and the emerging solutions driving sustainable urban development across the continent.
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42:00
Understanding the case for the Africa Credit Rating Agency
Catherine Nzuki is joined by Dr. Daniel Cash, Associate Professor in Law at Ashton University. He specializes in the study of the international credit rating agencies. They discuss the “Big Three” credit rating agencies, why they have been accused of biases against Africa, and the impact that sovereign credit ratings have on outcomes for young people. Dr. Cash explains why the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) is being formed and why it is important to champion this initiative.
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52:18
The Afropolitan is now the Youth Bloom podcast!
But not much else has changed: Catherine Nzuki is (still) your host, and by 2050, one in four people in the world are still expected to be African.
Thank you all very much for supporting this podcast. We are back this Thursday, May 15, with a new episode on the case for an African credit rating agency.
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1:42
The Congo, the Cold War, and Capitol Hill
From Cold War dynamics to legislative debates, U.S. foreign policy toward Africa has been shaped by complex historical, political, and institutional factors. In his memoir From the Congo to Capitol Hill, Steve Weissman recounts his experiences as a young professor in the Congo and later as a congressional staffer engaged in foreign policy and human rights advocacy.
In this episode, Mvemba is joined by Steve Weissman, longtime foreign policy and campaign finance analyst. Together, they examine how Cold War dynamics shaped U.S.-Africa relations, the challenges of holding authoritarian regimes accountable, and the role of Congress in crafting principled foreign policy.
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41:25
Coffee Chat with Catherine: Unofficial Tips for Internships
Darrel Lloyd, CSIS Africa Program Intern, joins Catherine Nzuki for an informal discussion on internships. Catherine shares her background (2:10), tips on think tank internship applications (6:10), engaging with the African diaspora (10:59); interviews (14:27), networking (18:57); social media (22:55); building research skills (24:50); and how to stand out during your internship (28:00). Darrel shares his reflections on his spring internship at CSIS (29:00).
Fearless music activists. Savvy tech entrepreneurs. Social disrupters. Into Africa shatters the narratives that dominate U.S. perceptions of Africa. Host Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Africa program director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C., sits down with policymakers, journalists, academics and other trailblazers in African affairs to shine a spotlight on the faces spearheading cultural, political, and economic change on the continent.
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