Economically, Africa has been growing apace according to Donald Kaberuka, the president of the African Development Bank. But socially the continent is still struggling. The north African uprisings show that now, more than ever, it is time to focus on what Africans actually want.

Hit hard during the financial crisis, the Romanian government was the first in the EU to successfully complete an International Monetary Fund loan programme, without even needing to draw the whole loan. Secretary of state for finance Bogdan Dragoi explains his government’s strategy.

Egypt continues to be blighted by internal turmoil, but new prime minister Essam Sharaf says the future is bright, in spite of the challenges.

Not every country needs stronger, better capitalised banks. Gord Nixon, chief executive of the Royal Bank of Canada, explains why this is the case for Canada.

Sir David King, former chief scientific advisor to the UK government, believes the UK's policy-makers and financiers fail to support its promising low-carbon sector. The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, which he heads, is working to change that.

The Chilean government has ambitious plans to double growth and – ultimately – eradicate poverty, all while contending with currency appreciation.

Dr Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International, says upcoming legislation could give competitors the upper hand and force the bank out of the EU.