Author: zainabusman

Remarks at the United Nations General Assembly Informal Dialogue on Commodity Markets

June 21, 2026

I had the honor of speaking at the U.N. Headquarters in New York on commodities and economic diversification. The dialogue, convened on May 21 2026 by the President of the U.N. General Assembly, focused on global commodity markets, particularly the energy, minerals, and agricultural commodities that remain central to the economic performance of commodity-dependent countries. … More Remarks at the United Nations General Assembly Informal Dialogue on Commodity Markets

Keynote Speech: Africa’s Growth and Position in the Global Economy

November 15, 2025

In May 2025, I had the honor of delivering the keynote speech at the RMB – Rand Merchant Bank’s 2025 Think Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. I spoke about Africa’s Growth and Position in the Global Economy. The summary of my talk is thus: to achieve prosperity, equity and stability, African countries must industrialize … More Keynote Speech: Africa’s Growth and Position in the Global Economy

My TED Talk on Great Power Competition and Climate Change

May 18, 2024

In February, my TED Talk was published. Drawing on sci-fi, economic theory and history, I explain how deepening divisions among global powers may seriously hinder the world’s ability to fight climate change. Watch video below. In an interdependent and highly connected world where no individual, group, or nation is self-sufficient enough to reduce the earth’s … More My TED Talk on Great Power Competition and Climate Change

How Can African Countries Participate in U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chains?

December 25, 2023

I recently published a paper entitled, “How Can African Countries Participate in U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chains?“, on October 4, 2023 to be precise. The paper examines the recent major pieces of U.S. climate-related legislation—the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act—and identifies three opportunities for … More How Can African Countries Participate in U.S. Clean Energy Supply Chains?

I was Profiled in The Africa Report’s Special Report on African Voices in Washington D.C.

December 29, 2022

In April 2022, I was featured in The Africa Report’s special report on “African Voices in Washington D.C.” The report is a seven-part series that includes a background piece, entitled “Meet the Africans running programmes at influential U.S. think tanks” that explains how the D.C. think tank landscape is changing with the appointment of people … More I was Profiled in The Africa Report’s Special Report on African Voices in Washington D.C.

Trip to Guyana to Discuss Oil-Led Development in the 21st Century

June 19, 2022

In the week starting March 7 2022, I was in Guyana, South America, to discuss strategies for oil-led development in the 21st century. I had a very engaging exchange with the business community, scholars, students, the media, policymakers and development partners on the opportunities and challenges that newfound oil/gas resources present to Guyana. As you … More Trip to Guyana to Discuss Oil-Led Development in the 21st Century

Reframing Climate Justice: Low Income Countries and the Energy Transition

December 16, 2021

In the run-up to the 2021 UN Climate Summit COP26 in Glasgow, I co-authored this important new report with eight other energy and development experts from across Africa and the US on “Reframing Climate Justice for Development: Six Principles for Supporting Inclusive and Equitable Energy Transitions in Low-Emitting Energy-Poor African Countries“. The full report can … More Reframing Climate Justice: Low Income Countries and the Energy Transition

My Work on Economic Diversification is Featured in the New York Times

December 16, 2021

In October this year, some of my decade-long work and ideas on economic diversification in Africa was profiled in the New York Times. Very thankful to Peter Coy, the economics columnist and writer for the NYT, for finding my ideas interesting enough to devote an entire article to showcasing them with diligence and respect. Read … More My Work on Economic Diversification is Featured in the New York Times

Can Safety Nets Ease the Social and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Africa?

November 25, 2020

In September 2020, I co-authored this short essay on how safety nets can help ease the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. It was initially published on the World Bank blogs and later republished by the CFI magazine. Across the world, governments have geared up to respond to the socio-economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic. … More Can Safety Nets Ease the Social and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Africa?

Photos from the “20 Years of Democracy in Nigeria: 1999-2019” in December 2019

May 10, 2020

This is coming rather late, but better now than never. In December 2019, I was back in Oxford for a conference on “20 Years of Democracy in Nigeria: 1999-2019“. The conference was convened by Professor Wale Adebanwi on 6th December at St. Antony’s College and the Blavatnik School of Government. It started with a keynote … More Photos from the “20 Years of Democracy in Nigeria: 1999-2019” in December 2019

Journal Article: the Successes and Failures of Economic Reform in Nigeria’s Post-Military Political Settlement

December 20, 2019

My paper has just been published by the journal, African Affairs. Drawing on my doctoral research, the article has been four years (!) in the making, and I’m so excited and relieved that it is finally out. I had initially published it as a working paper in 2016, and its gone through a lot of … More Journal Article: the Successes and Failures of Economic Reform in Nigeria’s Post-Military Political Settlement