Water projects are a minefield for the unsuspecting

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s bad luck is to be rich in resources. Foreign investors are pouring billions of dollars into large extractive projects such as mines and hydropower dams. In a classic case of the resource curse, these projects are not promoting the country’s long-term development, but attract short-term profiteers, conflict, and corruption. In the latest example for this trend, the World Bank has just reported huge delays and cost overruns for the rehabilitation of the Inga 1 and 2 hydropower dams. Other projects are being swallowed by the morass of Congo’s resource curse at the same time.

Introducing a new series of articles by Andrew McGregor

According to the London School of Business: “Coaching is the single most powerful process ever devised for releasing individual human potential”. It is about enabling us to more fully express all that lies within so that we are true to ourselves and our potential.

Poor project performance is not always a change management issue, writes Ivan Overton

Once upon a time, not so long ago, change management was the Cinderella of the corporate ball. Change practitioners really had their work cut out for them, simply to get through the organisational front door with change management.

Infrastructure key African challenge this Century

While infrastructure development is a global challenge, the African challenge is a particularly acute one in the twenty-first century, with the continent’s governments facing severe pressure to deliver on economic growth whilst simultaneously ensuring infrastructure rollout. It is estimated that US$40 trillion will be required to address infrastructure needs between now and 2050 globally. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, addressing energy infrastructure needs will require US$250 billion over the next 15 years. The global recession has also impacted on how governments prioritise their infrastructure allocations in relation to competing priorities created by the global economic downturn. While infrastructure funding is a key concern globally, a number of other sectors have emerged as demanding government attention.