News Archive - Latin America and Africa in the News

RAND researchers often write commentaries for publications on a variety of topics. This page lists commentaries and op-eds about or related to Latin America and Africa. For a complete list of commentaries and op-eds by RAND staff, visit the RAND Newsroom.

Family Planning Must Be Part of the Humanitarian Response in Africa's Conflict Zones
Jul 1, 2015

Worldwide, nearly 800 women die every day due to mostly preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. More than half of these deaths occur in fragile states torn by armed conflict and generalized violence.
After Attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait, West Must Do More to Fight Surge of Terrorist Attacks
Jun 29, 2015

The bloody terrorist attacks that left more than 50 people dead in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait are just the latest warnings that ISIS is turning its deadly campaign into a global enterprise. Stopping it will require an equally broad-based campaign.
Tunisia in the Crosshairs
Jun 22, 2015

The open-ended nature of the Islamic State group's threat against Tunisair suggests that it intends to target Tunisia for the long haul. The United States should counter the threats with steadfast and sustained cooperation and assistance.
Islamic State's Global Expansion
Jun 4, 2015

The radical Islamist group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, is now expanding in roughly a dozen countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia by exploiting local grievances, doling out money, and leveraging its battlefield successes.
What the Ebola Crisis Taught Us About Emergency Preparedness
Jun 4, 2015

The 2014 Ebola outbreak was the most severe of its kind. At the height of the crisis, 800 to 1,000 new cases were reported per week in Africa across the three most heavily affected countries. As of last week, there were only 12 confirmed cases. What must be done to prevent and mitigate future crises of this nature?
How to Solve the Mediterranean's Migrant Crisis
May 28, 2015

Destroying smugglers' vessels could contribute to reducing illegal migration and impact the business model that makes smuggling so profitable. But it won't stop smuggling altogether.
Achieving Peace in Northern Mali
May 1, 2015

What will it take to build durable peace in northern Mali? Successes and failures from past peace agreements can inform future efforts. There are also lessons to be gleaned from the stability of Niger, Mali's neighbor.
Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Africa's Infrastructure
Apr 27, 2015

Working with the World Bank, RAND researchers used robust decision methods to provide the first continent-wide evaluation of the potential effects of climate change on such investments. They also examined the potential impacts of climate change on five specific hydropower and irrigation projects.
What Does It Take to Rescue Migrants at Sea?
Apr 23, 2015

EU leaders gathered today for an emergency summit to discuss a concerted response to the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the Mediterranean Sea. As a former officer serving aboard an Italian Navy warship deployed in Operation Mare Nostrum in Nov. 2013, Giacomo Persi Paoli is well aware of the challenges.
China Is Not a Threat to U.S. National Security Interests in Africa
Apr 22, 2015

The United States should keep China's activities in Africa in perspective. While commercial competition is almost certain, there is little ground for geopolitical and ideological rivalry. The leaders of the two nations disagree about political norms, but both seek stability in Africa.
Addressing Risks in Security Sector Assistance to Africa's Fragile States
Apr 15, 2015

Those responsible for U.S. security sector assistance to the AFRICOM area of responsibility face a dilemma: The countries that are most in need of assistance are usually the ones least able to make positive use of it. Experts provide recommendations on how to better identify and mitigate the risks that accompany security sector assistance in Africa's fragile states.
Djibouti: Outpost of Stability in an Unstable Region
Apr 10, 2015

The collaborative role being played by the United States and Djibouti represents the kind of partnerships that are now required in the battle against terrorism, because little-known places like Djibouti are one arena where the battle could be won or lost.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Conditional Cash Transfers as a Development Mechanism
Mar 30, 2015

Conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs) are seen as particularly effective in low- and middle-income countries, but relatively little is known about the interface between the supply of services and program administration and specific human development outcomes. RAND Europe assessed the effectiveness of CCTs through a two-year grant from UK Economic Social Research Council and Department for International Development.
Paying People to Change Behavior in the UK: Lessons from Latin America
Mar 30, 2015

Policymakers in Western countries seeking new policy levers to tackle costly lifestyle behaviors in the age of austerity may do well to take up programs based on cash incentives. Recent analysis of conditional payment programs in Latin America highlights some useful lessons.
What's at Stake in Nigeria's Elections
Mar 27, 2015

Next to ethnic and religious predilections, security is by far the biggest issue for Nigerians in Saturday's election. For more than 50 years, since Nigeria's independence from British rule, its military has played an important role in peacekeeping across the continent. Paradoxically, the country has struggled with an insurgency within its own borders.