2013 will be critical for Kenya. In addition to general elections, Eric Aligula says, Kenya's security challenges and implementing the new constitution are likely to drive the policy dialogue next year. In support of this year's Foresight Africa, Anne Kamau recently interviewed scholars from five leading think tanks in Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda, asking them to identify the biggest challenges facing their respective countries in the year ahead, and how these issues will likely impact relations with the United States and the welfare of their citizens.

Kenya has been identified in recent times as one of the countries to watch in Africa as far as technology and innovation goes. Dubbed the 'Silicon Savanna', Kenya is rising fast as a technology powerhouse on the African continent and more so in Sub-Saharan Africa. Joining ABN’s Godfrey Mutizwa for a look at innovation in Kenya is Samuel Gichuru, Director of Nairobi Incubation Laboratory.

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Forum for the Future did a webinar all about their Horizons sustainability for innovation tool.

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For the third year running, ICMM hosted two sustainable development sessions at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa.

Mark Cutifani, AngloGold Ashanti CEO opened proceedings with a keynote address entitled 'Mining's contribution to sustainable development'.

The included the following speakers: Roosevelt Jayjay (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative), Emmanuel Kuyole (Revenue Watch Institute), Xolani Mkhwanazi (BHP Billiton) and Greg Thompson (Transparency International, Australia).

Interactive panel discussion on mining's economic contribution to sustainable development featuring: , Joyce Aryee (Communications and Management Consultant), Roger Baxter (Chamber of Mines of South Africa), Rafael Benke (Vale) - Remarks, Philip Daniel (International Monetary Fund) and May Hermanus (University of the Witwatersrand).

Leading asset management firms discussed how environmental, social and governance factors link to a company's long term profitability. Moderated by ICMM's Aidan Davy, the panel featured: Abdul Davids (Kagiso Asset Management), Jon Duncan (Old Mutual Investment Group), Malcolm Gray (Investec Asset Management Ltd) and Carron Howard (Cadiz Asset Management).

'Investing in Mining Indaba' is the largest mining event in Africa and the world's largest mining investment conference. At this year's conference the World Bank and World Gold Council hosted 'Gold for Development'. The key note panel session discussed the important role gold can play in communities and the socio-economic benefits large scale mining can bring.

Addressing the inaugural Mining Lekgotla in Johannesburg, Sibiya said that the interest of South Africa and its people needed to be the foremost consideration in all things.