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Policy Brief
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping Africa’s socio-economic and political landscape. For a continent where over 60% of the population is under 25, AI represents a double-edged sword. It holds immense potential to drive inclusive growth, improve governance, stimulate the creative economy, and enhance learning outcomes. However, its unchecked spread and unethical use present grave threats. These include misinformation, radicalization, cybercrime, political destabilization, and the marginalization of African identities through biased datasets.
Policy Brief
Eastern Africa finds itself at a crossroads as global political dynamics shift rapidly. The rise of ultra-nationalism and protectionist policies in Western nations, notably the United States (US) and the European Union (EU), has far-reaching implications for the region’s security preparedness, economic stability, humanitarian capacity, and geopolitical alliances. While these developments pose considerable risks, they also open new avenues for recalibrating foreign relations, strengthening intra-African trade, and advancing regional integration.
Policy Brief
The brief opines that the global proliferation of virtual currencies portends a rise in crypto-driven Transnational Organized Crimes (TOCs) risks to the Eastern Africa region if effective dissuasive
measures are not implemented. The usage of cryptocurrencies globally rose by over 880% in 2020 with Kenya and Tanzania ranked 5th and 19th globally. Virtual currencies are digital forms of money that exist solely in electronic form including Cryptocurrencies, Centralized Virtual Currencies, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
Special Focus
Official Development Assistance (ODA) has long been an important pillar of Eastern Africa’s development. This financing strategy has supported critical sectors like healthcare, infrastructure development, climate mitigation, and resilience. Concurrently, agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Kingdom Aid Direct, the European Union (EU) Aid Program, and others, have continued to be a favoured soft power instrument in influencing policy orientation and action in development economies while advancing the Global North’s national and regional interests.
Special Focus
In April 2025, the United States enacted the Global
Corruption Accountability & Dollar Sanitization Act, signalling a major shift in its strategy to combat illicit dollar holdings. The rationale behind this move is multifaceted. They include the need to curb tax evasion, money laundering, and financial crimes. The U.S. is collaborating with Interpol, FATF, and global whistleblower networks to identify and intercept unregistered cash flows in high-risk jurisdictions.
Special Focus
In early April 2025, President Donald Trump implemented a raft of global tariffs under the “Liberation Day” executive orders. These orders targeting over 180 countries, including East African nations such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia illustrate the United States’ prioritization of trade tariffs in its geopolitical, geo-commercial, and foreign policy arsenal.
Special Focus
The rapid expansion of China’s Digital RMS (e-CNY) cross-border settlement system of $ 1.2 trillion across six Middle East and ten ASEAN countries signals a progressive and potentially transformative shift in regional, continental, and global finance. The trade on this system is estimated to account for 38% volume of global commerce. The rollout possibly bypasses the US dominated SWIFT network that has long been criticized for inefficiencies, cost, and geopolitical weaponization. The digital RMB is slowly redefining traditional geo commercial relationships by providing alternative financial platforms for commerce.
Policy Paper
In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, STEM education is pivotal to East Africa’s economic transformation, innovation, and competitiveness. While regional initiatives like the EAC Regional Strategy for STEM and national efforts, and national level initiatives such as Kenya’s Competency Based Curriculum and Rwanda’s digital literacy programs reflect progress, systemic challenges persist. Structural gaps, including chronic underfunding that average 2-4% of GDP, acute teacher shortages particularly in STEM subjects, and inadequate infrastructure exacerbated by rural disparities where 90% of schools lack functional laboratories collectively hinder equitable access to quality education.
Weekly Influential Brief
Rwanda’s rising geopolitical and economic influence in Eastern Africa presents a timely challenge to Kenya’s historical leadership in the region. Guided by long-term frameworks such as Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Rwanda has embraced efficient governance, streamlined business operations, and technology driven growth. Its appeal to investors is bolstered by a stable political environment, digital-first public services, and assertive multilateral diplomacy
Policy Brief
Tourism holds untapped potential as a strategic lever for accelerating regional integration across Eastern Africa. Despite accounting for 17% of export earnings, 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 7% of employment in the East African Community (EAC), the region’s tourism sector remains underutilized. Intra-EAC trade constitutes just 20% of total trade, reflecting low levels of cross-border economic and cultural exchange. Africa’s overall share of global trade has
stagnated at under 3%, a stark indicator of limited intra-continental engagement.
Welcome to The Global Centre for Policy and Strategy
The Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS) is a think-tank based in Nairobi, Kenya. GLOCEPS is a leading centre of excellence in policy influence and strategy formulation. The Centre provides strategic linkage between experience and research by bringing together outstanding professionals, thought leaders and academia to advance key issues on peace and security. GLOCEPS work cuts across five pillars, namely, security and defence; foreign policy; transnational organized crimes; governance and ethics; and development.
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Brig (Rtd) Wilson A .C. Boinett Book Launch Fixing Spy Craft To Serve National Interests In Kenya at JW Marriott, Nairobi 3rd July 2025
Balancing Kenya’s 2025 Finance Bill Against Geoeconomic Complexities. Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi June 3rd 2025
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