Trust me, sovereign risk ratings are way more complicated than that. They do involve a ridiculous amount of data, for starters. There isn't that much space for politics etc - happy to see if I can find an old template or methodology guide if you really want to know (and trust me, you don't. I was on the brink of flinging myself out of the 7th floor). <br>
<br>I've worked for a bunch of the usual suspects in the country risk analysis industry, ranked countries on a number of criteria etc, and any analyst worth his/her salt will not spend much time on this FB ranking. As an analyst, you basically read whatever you can get your hands on and you quickly discard that which makes little sense. Analysts are analysts because they know the countries and regions they cover, so they have some sound judgement on what makes sense and what doesn't.� <br>
<br>All of which is a non-ICT discussion, so I'll stop here, but I'm happy to pursue this one on one on email if anyone wants to know more. <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 21 June 2012 18:37, Ali Hussein <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke" target="_blank">ali@hussein.me.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Andrea</div><div><br></div><div>I beg to disagree. They may not necessarily look at Foreign Policy Magazine Rankings but you can't deny the fact that biased reporting and rankings like this do have a certain influence on analysts. Unless you are telling me we as human beings are not influenced by a bit of 'desktop researching'? My question would be to what extent do these kind of reports influence analysts?�</div>
<div class="im"><div><br><div>Ali Hussein</div><div><br></div><div>+254 773/713 601113</div><div><br></div><div>Sent from my�iPhone�</div></div></div><div><div class="h5"><div><br>On Jun 21, 2012, at 6:28 PM, Andrea Bohnstedt <<a href="mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com" target="_blank">andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>No, I can assure you, sovereign risk ratings are not determined by Foreign Policy magazine rankings. I've done a few in my past life at GI and they were usually *far* more tedious than skipping through shallow-ish Foreign Policy mag articles, and involved snooze-making amounts of balance of payment data and stuff. <br>
<br>I also think the ranking is off. But as a country risk analyst, I suspect the FP ranking doesn't matter much anyway. Anyone who's serious about an investment will not rely on this as a yard stick, anyone who's not serious isn't, ummm, serious anyway. <br>
<br>Have a lovely Thursday evening, everyone! <br><br>Andrea <br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 21 June 2012 17:52, Ali Hussein <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke" target="_blank">ali@hussein.me.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Now we are being punished for our hospitality? Surely...<br>
<br>
Having said that me thinks we shouldn't expend our energies on something so obviously biased. Thing is though is that we are caught between a rock and hard place as these rankings sometimes determine our financial rankings in matters of sovereign debt etc. unfortunately it's still true that who pays the piper calls the tune!<br>
<br>
Ali Hussein<br>
<br>
+254 773/713 601113<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPhone�<br>
<br>
On Jun 21, 2012, at 2:43 PM, Adam Peake <<a href="mailto:ajp@glocom.ac.jp" target="_blank">ajp@glocom.ac.jp</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Short explanation of Kenya's position according to Foreign Policy:<br>
> <<a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/18/postcards_from_hell_2012?page=0,16" target="_blank">http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/06/18/postcards_from_hell_2012?page=0,16</a>><br>
><br>
> A problem Kenya carries that many other countries do not are the<br>
> refugee camps along the northern borders, and then there's the<br>
> problems of unstable neighbours. But such a ranking, without<br>
> explanation is ridiculous.<br>
><br>
> Adam<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 8:19 PM, Francis Hook <<a href="mailto:francis.hook@gmail.com" target="_blank">francis.hook@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>> Interestingly Ethiopia is ranked 16th (somehow its missing on the<br>
>> wikipedia link but is on the other link) - one better than Kenya.<br>
>><br>
>> Recently they banned VoiP and attached a prison sentence to anyone<br>
>> caught using a VoIP app. � There IT indicators are among the lowest in<br>
>> Africa ergo access to information , implicit freedom to<br>
>> "associate/assemble" electronically, ICT for development, �share<br>
>> ideas, ability to politick online, etc are severely constrained - at<br>
>> least in so far as social and political environments go. � Anyone who<br>
>> has tried to open shop in Ethiopia will tell you its not plain<br>
>> sailing. �Dissent is not allowed. etc etc.<br>
>><br>
>> And they are one better than Kenya?<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> On 21 June 2012 14:03, Francis Hook <<a href="mailto:francis.hook@gmail.com" target="_blank">francis.hook@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>>> Thanks Kivuva,<br>
>>> On that note about NGOs (and perception), its sad to note that these<br>
>>> have increasingly become a form of creating self-employment - both by<br>
>>> foreigners and Kenyans alike. � Pick a cause, shed light on how bad<br>
>>> things are (even if they are not really that bad) and start passing<br>
>>> around the cup.<br>
>>><br>
>>> I recall there was a time the govt sought to regulate (audit?) NGOs<br>
>>> and their activities - (and avoid duplicated efforts, wastage of<br>
>>> resources, etc). I think at the time were some rumblings about why the<br>
>>> govt should do this - if I am not mistaken it was mainly because<br>
>>> certain NGOs "addressing" democracy, civic education, human rights,<br>
>>> etc were drawing fire (or the govt's wrath) for whatever reasons and I<br>
>>> think part of the political class that that time, who perhaps had<br>
>>> vested interests, supported such NGOs activities and the whole move<br>
>>> amounted to nought.<br>
>>><br>
>>> I'd like to think that since 2003 the democracy has grown, healthcare<br>
>>> more widely available, women's/Children's/human rights are better,<br>
>>> malaria/AIDs on the decline, agricultural practices better, etc. � Of<br>
>>> course I do not have a yardstick but just by living in our society I<br>
>>> have seen changes. Most certainly things are better than 10 years ago.<br>
>>> Thus such NGOs should have whittled down to a handful and perceptions<br>
>>> of Kenya should be different already. Ironically this ranking must<br>
>>> mean the NGOs work has amounted to nothing :-)<br>
>>><br>
>>> Having said that I admit there are indeed NGOs doing sterling jobs in<br>
>>> Kenya and we need to support them. �But for the most part, and I make<br>
>>> no apology about this, many of them are simply busy bodies that muddy<br>
>>> the waters, distort the facts (or focus on the negative ones), stir<br>
>>> controversy (in NGO-ese: "foster open dialogue") etc and strive to<br>
>>> remain relevant in order to secure funding. �In so doing they must<br>
>>> continue to paint a negative picture of Kenya.<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> On 21 June 2012 13:16, Kivuva <<a href="mailto:Kivuva@transworldafrica.com" target="_blank">Kivuva@transworldafrica.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>>>> Francis,<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> Thank you for bringing this up. I think the ratings are more to do with<br>
>>>> perception than reality. Most of the negative that make us rank so poorly is<br>
>>>> our own creation. What about thousands of NGOs taking pictures of slums,<br>
>>>> drought and starving children then run to western donors begging for cash to<br>
>>>> "HELP" the poor they "REPRESENT"! This has ruined the developing world's<br>
>>>> image beyond measure. Our own PRESS is also a major problem. I don't see<br>
>>>> western country publish widely sensationalizing �their homeless, street<br>
>>>> gangs, mafia, and grand grand corruption, as we do ours.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> In recent times, I have seen our leaders, including PS Ndemo insist on<br>
>>>> positive reporting from our media. That is the direction we should seek. If<br>
>>>> we instill cockiness in the direction of �narcissism, then the west will<br>
>>>> stop taking us for granted.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> Self Love<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> On 21 June 2012 10:47, Francis Hook <<a href="mailto:francis.hook@gmail.com" target="_blank">francis.hook@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Apologies this is not mainstream ICT but at the periphery some ICT<br>
>>>>> aspects need to be considered as well...(open access to information,<br>
>>>>> ICT enabling democracy/choice/transparency, ICT in corruption, etc) .<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> This index is by the US group Fund for Peace. � I wonder what metrics<br>
>>>>> they are using or how they are weighting the values of the 13 indices<br>
>>>>> they use.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Kenya is ranked 16th...that's just 15 steps away from Somalia (???),<br>
>>>>> 14 from DRC and shares the "teens" positions with Pakistan, Nigeria,<br>
>>>>> Niger among others. The lower the �score, the more "failed" a state<br>
>>>>> is.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Anyway....the links:<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> 1 - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Failed_States_Index" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Failed_States_Index</a><br>
>>>>> (updated with 2012 Index)<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> 2 - <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/failed_states_index_2012_interactive" target="_blank">http://www.foreignpolicy.com/failed_states_index_2012_interactive</a><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Personally I don't think Kenya should rate that poorly out of a 177 or<br>
>>>>> so countries...I suspect some of the 13 indices are weighted more<br>
>>>>> heavy than others (corruption, criminality, political situation etc) -<br>
>>>>> and if such were removed from the index, just for the sake of seeing<br>
>>>>> how it shifts the rankings, I'd like to think some EU countries would<br>
>>>>> be in the top 50 at least....social unrest, steep economic decline,<br>
>>>>> slum creation (US - housing/mortgage crisis has seen more people<br>
>>>>> living in the streets in the last couple of years than in the last<br>
>>>>> half a century), Wall Street demos, etc, ...."Suspension or arbitrary<br>
>>>>> application of law" (Guantano Bay still open for business, The<br>
>>>>> Patriots Act).<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> And "Intervention of external political agents" - I think in Africa's<br>
>>>>> case these "political agents" are usually from (or supported/fronted)<br>
>>>>> by some developing countries that would want to nurture certain<br>
>>>>> regimes in order to reap some economic gain...but that's an argument<br>
>>>>> for another day.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> I'm also surprised the use of the adjective "primitive" by Korean<br>
>>>>> Airlines, to describe Kenyans, elicited more reactions than this lowly<br>
>>>>> ranking...should we get all hot and bothered about what is likely an<br>
>>>>> issue of translation or summon our national pride and repudiate this<br>
>>>>> "failed" states index?<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Rgds<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> --<br>
>>>>> Francis Hook<br>
>>>>> +254 733 504561<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>>> <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>>> <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldafrica.com" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldafrica.com</a><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform<br>
>>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and<br>
>>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT<br>
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors<br>
>>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,<br>
>>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do<br>
>>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> --<br>
>>>> ______________________<br>
>>>> Mwendwa Kivuva<br>
>>>> For<br>
>>>> Business Development<br>
>>>> Transworld Computer Channels<br>
>>>> Cel: 0722402248<br>
>>>> <a href="http://twitter.com/lordmwesh" target="_blank">twitter.com/lordmwesh</a><br>
>>>> <a href="http://www.transworldAfrica.com" target="_blank">www.transworldAfrica.com</a> �| Fluent in computing<br>
>>>> <a href="http://kenya.or.ke" target="_blank">kenya.or.ke</a> | The Kenya we know<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>>>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>>>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>>>> <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at<br>
>>>> <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/francis.hook%40gmail.com" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/francis.hook%40gmail.com</a><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for<br>
>>>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and<br>
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT<br>
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors<br>
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,<br>
>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do<br>
>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> --<br>
>>> Francis Hook<br>
>>> +254 733 504561<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> --<br>
>> Francis Hook<br>
>> +254 733 504561<br>
>><br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
>> kictanet mailing list<br>
>> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
>> <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
>><br>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ajp%40glocom.ac.jp" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ajp%40glocom.ac.jp</a><br>
>><br>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
>><br>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> kictanet mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
> <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
><br>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com</a><br>
><br>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
><br>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
<br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40ratio-magazine.com" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40ratio-magazine.com</a><br>
<br>
The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
<br>
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.</blockquote>
</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Andrea Bohnstedt</span></a><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Publisher</span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">+254 720 960 322 </span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ratio-magazine.com" target="_blank">www.ratio-magazine.com</a></span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<a href="http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Find/post East Africa careers</span></a><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><a style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" href="http://www.ratio-magazine.com/businessevents/index.php" target="_blank">Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events</a><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"></span><br><br>
</div></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Andrea Bohnstedt</span></a><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Publisher</span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">+254 720 960 322 </span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ratio-magazine.com" target="_blank">www.ratio-magazine.com</a></span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Find/post East Africa careers</span></a><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<a style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" href="http://www.ratio-magazine.com/businessevents/index.php" target="_blank">Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events</a><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">
<br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"></span><br><br>