In September 2026, in Accra, the Mastercard Foundation organized the first Africa Higher Education for Transformation convening and prize ceremony. “Transformation is not just a better university,” said Foundation CEO Sewitt Ahderom. “It is a university that makes the whole economy around it work better for young people.” Dr. John Nkengasong, the Foundation’s Executive Director…(Read more)
On October 15-16, 2026, with support from the International Development Research Centre and the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa, the Group of 78 hosted its annual policy conference on the theme of Reinventing the Architecture for Peace. Powered by three outstanding keynote speakers—Peggy Mason, Dan Smith and Lloyd Axworthy—and important…(Read more)
From September 15 to September 17, 2026, the 2X Global network that mobilizes financing for women’s businesses in developing economies held its annual summit in Montreal. With support from Global Affairs Canada and FinDev Canada and the active involvement of the International Development Research Centre, the conference explored how gender lens investing can, even facing…(Read more)
Building on a decade of research on innovations in care, Canada’s International Development Research Centre recently co-convened— with the African Union and the Government of South Africa—the inaugural Africa Care Forum. “Women and girls undertake 70% of unpaid care work, limiting their economic participation and costing the continent an estimated USD95 billion annually in lost…(Read more)
On June 10, 2026, Kellylee Evans was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa, at Carleton University’s Convocation, “in recognition of her distinguished career as a Canadian singer-songwriter, in addition to overcoming great personal adversity along the way.” A dear friend of Jackson and Associates president Ted Jackson and his wife Magda Seydegart, Ms.…(Read more)
On July 7, 2026, on the NextBillion platform, Katie Turner, a Senior Associate with Jackson and Associates, and Jenny Holden published “What Drives Positive Outcomes in Gender-Lens Investing? DFI Portfolio Evaluations Reveal Four Key Factors.” Examining 81 investments across four development finance institutions, the authors found that the best gender outcomes were generated by investments…(Read more)
Working with Impact Investing Ghana and Savannah Impact Advisors, the Ci Gaba (Progress) Fund of Funds in West Africa has published a learning report on how to mobilize domestic pension-fund capital for small and medium-sized businesses. Enabled by Ci Gaba’s catalytic first loss provision, capacity building and technical assistance, Ghanaian pension funds invested USD 30…(Read more)
Earlier this year, longtime Jackson and Associates friend and colleague, Coleman Agyeyomah, was celebrated by Trent University for his nearly 30 years of hosting, training and mentoring Trent students in northern Ghana, providing powerful learning experiences that changed lives and influenced careers. As the university notes: “Global Justice and Development Studies at Trent offers a unique study abroad…(Read more)
In late April 2026, Colombia and the Netherlands will host a dynamic coalition of countries, civic organizations, researchers and businesses that will collectively plan the implementation of the world’s transition away from energy based on oil, gas and coal. A plurilateral initiative arising from last year’s COP 30 in Brazil, the Santa Marta conference will…(Read more)
Authored by Jackson and Associates Senior Associate Kizzann Sammy, two significant reports on strengthening the voices of women owners of micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the programs intended to help them were recently published by the Multi-Country Office of UN Women in the Caribbean. One study focuses on Antigua and Barbuda and…(Read more)
