Managing operational risk in African nations

Operational risk management in Africa demands a specific set of models and practices, tailored for the unique demands of the region. Banks that try and shoehorn their global risk procedures into a localised context are encountering difficulties. Gail Mwamba reports

Risk officers at global banks are increasingly adding visits to African cities to their travel plans, as banks search for ways to tap into the continent's growth. After years of being referred to as the ‘dark continent', Africa is now seen as one of the last frontiers for generating returns, particularly as a large part of the western world is weighed down by lacklustre growth thanks to the credit