Africa

The president of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (left), meets MIT President L. Rafael Reif (right), on Friday, April 7, at MIT. Sooroojdev Phokeer, the Mauritius ambassador to the U.S., stands in the background (center).

President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim visits MIT

A trained scientist, Gurib-Fakim discusses ways of strengthening ties with Institute.

April 10, 2017

MIT scientists have found that climate change will likely worsen drought conditions in parts of Africa, dramatically reshaping the production of maize throughout sub-Saharan Africa as global temperatures rise over the next century.

Climate change to worsen drought, diminish corn yields in Africa

Over the next century, southern Africa will see widespread decreases in maize production.

March 16, 2017

Researchers are systematically exploring a variety of alternative packaging materials and containers to see which work best, and most cost-effectively, at reducing losses in food aid. Pictured are food aid bags in a Texas warehouse.

Reducing spoilage in food aid shipments

Large-scale tests compare damage from insects and moisture using a variety of containers.

January 6, 2017

A new study estimates that, since 2008, access to mobile-money services — which allow users to store and exchange monetary values via mobile phone — increased daily per capita consumption levels of 194,000, or roughly 2 percent, of Kenyan households, lifting them out of extreme poverty (living on less than $1.25 per day).

Study: Mobile-money services lift Kenyans out of poverty

Greater access to services raises daily spending, especially among female-headed households.

December 8, 2016

MAX, a fledgling Nigerian startup, is trying to solve the problem of so-called “last-mile delivery” in cities where many people don’t have an address. Company co-founder Adetayo Bamiduro MBA ’15 will tell MAX’s story to a London audience at an upcoming MIT conference on entrepreneurship and finance in the developing world.

In London, extending MIT’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Five events build connections between industry, startups, governments, faculty members, and financiers.

December 5, 2016

Dust blowing through the Sahara Desert in 2012. Researchers have found that the plume was far less dusty between 5,000 and 11,000 years ago, containing only half the amount of dust that is transported today.

Saharan dust in the wind

Scientists find huge reduction in African dust plume led to stronger Saharan monsoons 11,000 years ago.

November 23, 2016

The TechCon conference, hosted by MIT and USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network from Nov. 10 - 12, convened researchers and innovators to collaborate on solving global issues.

At TechCon, science-based solutions for world issues

Innovators and researchers tackle global issues through actionable research and collaboration.

November 15, 2016

From engineer to urban planner

Grad student Billy Ndengeyingoma helps improve affordable-housing design in Africa.

September 25, 2016

MIT professor Hazel Sive, third from left, met with Tunisian professors who participated in the new MIT-Educator program on campus this summer. From left to right: Dr. Youssef Trifa; Dr. Hend Younsi Kaabachi; professor Hazel Sive; Dr. Dalila Haouas; Dr. Karim Naghmouchi; professor Amel Hamza-Chaffai; Dr. Karima Fadhlaoui; Dr. Mahfoudh Wijden; Julia Reynolds-Cuellar; Dr. Saoussen Benzarti; Dr. Nabi...

The teacher becomes the student

Ten Tunisian professors take part in MIT-Educator’s inaugural program to examine their higher-ed practices.

September 2, 2016

“A big strand in my work has been to think about the important ways in which social identity, especially racial and ethnic identities, become really important in thinking about policies and justice in distributive issues,” MIT political scientist Evan Lieberman says.

Democracy now

Political scientist Evan Lieberman studies ethnic identity and African politics.

June 14, 2016

Actor and filmmaker Matt Damon spoke with MIT News in MIT’s Building 3 before the 2016 Commencement ceremony.

Q&A: Matt Damon on making a difference in the world

It’s no act: MIT 2016 Commencement speaker reflects on the “fun” of his activism and philanthropy.

June 3, 2016

Former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala MCP ’78, PhD ’81 was the guest speaker at MIT’s 2016 Investiture of Doctoral Hoods.

At hooding ceremony, doctoral graduates urged to solve the world’s “toughest challenges”

Development leader Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala MCP ’78, PhD ’81 encourages graduates to tackle pressing issues.

June 2, 2016

MIT mechanical engineering student Marie Elimbi Moudio

Finding wonderland

Senior Marie Elimbi Moudio enters a “weird place” and discovers a world of possibility.

May 27, 2016

"The whole premise of our project is to harness the best science and innovation to bring education to the world’s most underresourced children," Cynthia Breazeal says. Pictured are students in Ethiopia.

Can technology help teach literacy in poor communities?

Project to provide children with tablets loaded with literacy apps reports encouraging results in Africa, U.S.

April 26, 2016

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to give address at 2016 Investiture of Doctoral Hoods

Nigerian economist and MIT alumna will be the guest speaker at the June 2 ceremony.