Kelvin Dalrymple, Coordinator of the African Credit Ratings Initiative at AfriCatalyst, is spearheading efforts to empower African nations in managing their sovereign credit ratings. During the Kenya National Workshop on Credit Rating in Mombasa, he emphasized the critical need for countries to craft coherent national credit rating narratives to accurately reflect their economic realities.

• Dalrymple highlighted that sovereign ratings are shaped by credibility, consistency, and confidence, not just hard data.
• He advises countries to engage proactively with rating agencies, designating a lead agency like the Ministry of Finance or Central Bank for coordinated communication.
• The African Credit Ratings Initiative, supported by UNDP and the Government of Japan, is building institutional capacity and improving data transparency in African countries.