Connect with us
Africa Lead
Mwanda Phiri is an economist with extensive experience in applied economics research and policy analysis. She was recently the head of the Trade and Investment Unit at the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR). During her tenure, she actively engaged with the Government of Zambia, the private sector, Parliament, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders by providing technical support through meetings, workshops and memberships to various national committees on trade, industrialization, tax, the demographic dividend and sub-national carrying capacity. She has made notable contributions to key national policy documents namely: Zambia’s Tariff Phase-down Schedule for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the 7th National Development Plan, the National E-Commerce Strategy and Action Plan, and the National Demographic Dividend Operational Plan.
Beyond Zambia, she has also engaged with other regional and international organizations such as the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research; the International Growth Centre; the Centre for Competition Regulation and Economic Development, the Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network; the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Development Bank; GIZ, UNIDO and others. Mwanda is a recipient of the UK Commonwealth Scholarship and holds a Master of Science in Economics and Public Policy obtained from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.
I recently gave ten one-hour lectures at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in bountiful summer-ripe Lusaka. The lecture series was planned in collaboration with the Center for Urban Planning and
In today’s episode of Charter Cities, we’re honored to welcome Lant Pritchett, a distinguished economist and a thought leader in development economics. Our deep-dive conversation will focus on the critical topic of growth diagnostics, exploring the complex challenges policymakers face in developing nations. Lant will illuminate the importance of identifying impactful actions for growth, emphasizing the need for rigorous debate and evidence-based decision-making. We’ll also scrutinize the limitations of traditional development metrics like the “dollar a day” measure and consider alternative, more effective approaches. We’ll also investigate innovative solutions like charter cities as a mechanism for fostering sustainable growth by addressing institutional challenges.
On today’s Charter Cities podcast episode, host Jeffrey Mason is joined by colleagues Heba Elhanafy and Matthew McCartney to unpack the New Africa’s Bad Urban Laws project. This initiative dissects laws in African cities hindering growth and community well-being. Additionally, Jeffrey reminds listeners of the upcoming Africa’s New City Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. The team dives deep, discussing the reasons for and effects of detrimental urban laws, using instances like Zambia’s land ownership as an example. Tune in for an insightful discussion on urban policies in Africa.
CCI is excited to announce a series of two webinars as part of our efforts to contribute to the global conversation on the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid urbanization
Urban infrastructure in major cities is inadequate to support pedestrian mobility. In Zambia, for example, the majority of citizens rely on walking for their daily travel, but unfortunately, sidewalks are often inaccessible or non-existent, and urban expansion makes travel time longer. To help address this issue, CCI, in collaboration with key stakeholders, conducted a participatory research project called ‘Walking the Un-walkable’. The project aimed to map and address walkability in Lusaka, identifying the challenges pedestrians face while walking and highlighting opportunities for improvement. The findings and recommendations were mapped using methods including participatory policy-making, transect walking/mapping, co-design, and validation workshops. This report outlines the findings identified in the walks and the verification workshop conducted with key stakeholders. With cities like Lusaka continuing to grow rapidly, it is crucial to understand how infrastructure and urban form can effectively meet the needs of urban residents.
Coming up on today’s episode of Charter Cities, we have a very special guest joining host Mark Lutter: Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of community building and the importance of creating meaningful connections within cities and online communities. We explore the challenges and successes of building communities in different contexts, from crypto communities to health tribes. With insights from Vitalik’s own experiences and observations, we discuss the value of diversity, the impact of infrastructure on small towns, and the need for community filters. Stay tuned for an enriching conversation on the power of communities in shaping our lives and the future of cities.
The Charter Cities Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to empowering new cities with better governance to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.
© 2023 Charter Cities Institute. All rights reserved.
