Mark Ashurst

Mark Ashurst is a Devex correspondent based in London. He was the founding director of the Africa Research Institute from 2006 to '10. Mark has written extensively on African issues, including for The Guardian, The Independent and South Africa's Mail & Guardian. He has appeared on BBC Radio, CNN, Al-Jazeera and other broadcasts, and was an Africa correspondent for the Financial Times, The Economist and Newsweek. He is the director and publisher of Black Cat Media.

Latest Articles

Value for money: Building the movement

over 13 years ago // Exclusive Feature: DfID

The donor community’s strategic emphasis on value-for-money cannot credibly be ascribed to individuals, but the U.K.’s Department for International Development Permanent Secretary Mark Lowcock is shaping the movement.

As the aid industry globalizes, contractors race to adapt

over 13 years ago // Exclusive Feature: Aid Implementers

In pursuit of donor diversification and scale, and to compete locally, development contractors make important business and strategic decisions.

For country systems, momentum but a rocky path

almost 14 years ago // Devex executive analysis

Many of the best minds in development firmly believe in the new mantra of “country systems,” yet the global development community’s focus on general budget support and sector support is more an evolutionary step than a revolutionary one.

Psst... The African Development Bank is Moving

over 14 years ago // The African Development Bank's New Confidence

After years of shuttle diplomacy, the African Development Bank’s business - and tone - is changing. Whether headquartered in Tunis or elsewhere, the bank may just be the West’s “best bet” in Africa, writes Mark Ashurst.

See all articles by Mark Ashurst