East African Scenarios Stories
As part of the East African Scenarios Project, the Scenarios Stories offer a compelling narrative exploration of the region's potential futures. They are used by leadership and executive groups, communities and individuals to imagine, rehearse and refine important strategic decisions. The unique feature of scenario stories is that they represent futures that might have to be faced, regardless of preferences. The stories tend neither to be about unattainable utopias nor are they irredeemably apocalyptic.
They are founded on solid, wideranging research and thus seek to combine an understanding of current trends and patterns with informed anticipation of likely events and other relevant variables to explore possible future outcomes.
Three Fables of the Future
- ‘I want to be a Star’ is a story about the seduction of beauty and wealth. It tells of an East Africa that is so spellbound by the promise of her natural beauty and resource wealth that she welcomes all suitors and relinquishes to themall control over her destiny. By 2040, she is deeply disappointed.
- In ‘I want a Visa’ East Africa’s executive elite,motivated by enlightened selfinterest, deploys its intellectual skills and state power to deliver development through the coordinated execution of what appears to be a visionary and progressive strategy. In 2040, it discovers that confidence in its ability to control outcomes has its limits.
- The third story, 'Usiniharakishe' (Don’t rush me!) explores ordinary East Africans’ struggle to retain and reclaim control over their most local assets – land, water, trees, creativity – in an effort to shape their own futures. By 2040, success is by no means assured as small units grapple with and risk being overwhelmed by the big challenges.
The East African Scenarios Research Compendium contains 10 research papers unravelling the trends, patterns and driving forces in four thematic areas that were identified as being critical to understanding the region's future.
This report aims to spark a national debate on inequality in Kenya, highlighting that economic growth alone is not enough to eradicate poverty without a focus on equity in public policy.
The State of East Africa Report 2006: Trends, Tensions and Contradictions - The Leadership Challenge
This first edition in the series The State of East Africa Report is a compilation and comparative analysis of facts and figures on Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with the aim of informing the general public about the current status of the region and its potential future prospects.
This second edition in the series The State of East Africa Report explores the themes of identity, social influences, and informal structures, aiming to uncover the underlying dynamics shaping East African society and regional integration.
This State of East Africa Report 2008 presents a snapshot of the status of the region's water, food production, and energy resources.
The State of East Africa 2012 report builds on its 2006 predecessor by analyzing key social, economic, political, and environmental trends in the region, providing insightful data-driven comparisons across countries, and encouraging informed discussion on the region's future integration and development.
The State of East Africa 2013, as a follow-up to the State of East Africa 2012 and part of the State of East Africa report series, seeks to examine the trends that have taken place in the context of inequality and equity across time in the region.
This eight edition in the series The State of East Africa Report provides a comprehensive analysis of inequalities in the region, exploring the political economy, ethical foundations, and intergenerational impacts, supported by data and expert insights to propose policy solutions for equitable regional development.