With expertise across 20+ emerging markets, Botho’s geopolitical and operational insights shape effective development. For over two decades, we have helped governments and industries advance political and regulatory conditions to enhance commercial success.
We help our clients interpret and shape policies, identify new investment opportunities, and develop strategic partnerships and public affairs strategies to advance business goals.
Recent publications
In a continent marked by vast economic diversity and uneven development, the pursuit of a common currency for Africa — while well-intentioned — may not be the panacea for regional economic challenges. Botho’s Associate, Tito Mbathi, interrogates this dynamic by exploring what the outcomes of a hypothetical monetary union may look like in Africa. Read more to understand the nuanced implications of a common currency and some of the alternative paths available for Africa, as it strives toward effective economic integration.
Saudi Arabia has traditionally had a substantial influence on global energy dynamics. Historically, its massive oil riches have propelled this diplomacy, providing it with significant economic and political leverage on the global arena. Today, Saudi Arabia is attempting to strike a delicate diplomatic balance between the East and West. Botho's Principal, Isaac Fokuo, and Advisor, Tilda Mwai, investigate this shift in Saudi energy diplomacy, as the globe strives to adapt to sustainable energy.
One of the most significant international trade ramifications of the Houthi blockade through the Bab El Mandeb Strait has been the choking of the Suez Canal affecting the Red Sea economy, while also causing shifts in Africa's maritime landscape. We delve into how the Cape of Good Hope is beckoning a relook at the Cape’s ports’ untapped potential while the Red Sea ports in Somaliland and Egypt are experiencing a paradoxical rise in their geostrategic stakes, potentially reshaping the landscape of global trade.
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched with ambitious global economic goals in 2013, now stands at a crossroads. Since 2013, China has poured over $1 trillion into the BRI, positioning it as a central pillar of engagement with emerging markets like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, concerns surrounding the initiative’s impact, especially in Africa, have prompted China to reassess its engagement on the continent. Reports of non-performing loans and financial distress among recipient countries have prompted Chinese policymakers to adopt a more cautious investment strategy, shifting away from solely state-backed loans. Subsequently, China is transitioning from infrastructure loans to fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), a strategy that could potentially alleviate Africa's debt burden while diversifying China's regional involvement. This shift towards PPPs could redefine China-Africa economic relations, moving beyond the "debt-trap diplomacy" narrative.
Money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) have long cast a shadow over the global financial landscape. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog against ML and TF, actively develops and advocates for policies that protect the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF achieves this by persuading countries to implement its recommended strategies, which may mean policy reforms, as seen in Kenya’s recent implementation of new policies in key sectors. However, the FATF's approach has not been without controversy, as accusations of disproportionate targeting raise questions about the fairness and efficacy of the global financial system.
AI has proven to be a powerful data synthesizer, churning through information at lightning speed. However, this brilliance has limitations. It lacks the human touch, and the ability to grasp context, build trust, and navigate the nuances of emotion. Where AI stumbles, humans excel, finding optimal solutions within the intricate dance of human interaction. But the landscape is shifting already. Big firms are building their AI to marry the speed of AI’s abilities with their consultant's experience. This raises certain questions: for boutique consultants, is open generative AI a friend (enabling faster delivery) or foe (weakening analytical capabilities)? What qualities will set human consultants apart in this AI-infused future? Botho’s Gulf Lead, Naam Chakravarty, delves deep into this here.