“Where you live shouldn’t determine whether you live…” -Bono
ONE Stubborn Thing: Of the 20 countries with the greatest incidence of child mortality, all are in Africa.
ONE Stubborn Thing
ONE Stubborn Thing is a publication by Ambassador Mark Green (ret.), President and CEO of ONE, focused on global leadership, development, the fight for investments that create economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa.
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Not Just Numbers
ONE Stubborn Thing + a Moment of Clarity: At the 2026 International AIDS Conference, attendees learned that HIV-related deaths in Africa fell below 400,000 in 2024.
“To Share A Tunic With Him Who Has None”
Remarks from the International Religious Freedom Summit North Africa
More Than Transactions: Trade Across Africa
One Stubborn Thing: In 2003, China was the largest trading partner for 18 African countries. It's now the top partner for 52.
Africa is Losing Its Health Care Talent
ONE Stubborn Thing: On average, 500 nurses leave Ghana each month to work in the West.
ONE Stubborn Thing
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” —John Adams
“We’re Here Too!”
Stubborn Thing: Seventy percent of African countries have never received an official US presidential visit.
Putting the Final Frontier to Work
A Zipline Drone Takes Off in Kisumu Kenya
Different Approaches to Africa
Stubborn Thing: Türkiye’s President Erdogan has made more than 50 visits to 30 different African countries.
A Railroad to Nowhere and a Debt That Keeps Going
Stubborn Thing: Each year, Kenya spends $1 billion just to service its debt to China for a railway project that is still hundreds of kilometers short of its intended destination.
Tools of Assistance, Tools of Influence
Stubborn Thing: Under its recently finalized health compact with the US, Nigeria will receive $2.1 billion in assistance over 5 years. At the same time, Nigeria’s bilateral debt with China stands at a
Fertilizers and Critical Minerals
Stubborn Thing: When people hear the term “critical minerals,” the digital economy and its growing hunger for rare earths, lithium, and cobalt usually comes to mind. The Middle East conflict’s growing
Stubborn Things, Stubborn Thought: Thinking Through Development’s Crossroads Moment
Part Three: Looking Ahead
Stubborn Things, Stubborn Thought: Thinking Through Development’s Crossroads Moment
Part Two: Oh, the Changes We’ve Seen
Stubborn Things, Stubborn Thought: Thinking Through Development’s Crossroads Moment
Part One: Recognizing the Moment
A Stubborn Thing and a Moment Along the Way: Continuing American Compassion
Stubborn Thing: 32 African countries spend more on debt service than they do on basic health.
Seeing Africa Beyond the Headlines—and Stereotypes
EXCERPTS OF RECENT AFRICAN “STUBBORN THINGS” (and other assorted tales)
Critical Minerals, Critical MINDS
Stubborn Thing: The world’s first widely used mobile money service was invented in Africa.
Commodities and Development: It All Depends…
Stubborn Thing: Over 80% of the world's “least developed countries” are commodity dependent.
Just what is “Stubborn Things?”
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” —John Adams