The Gambia
The river, regional trade, agriculture and tourism.
Sahel in Full · Matteo Arellano
Co-creating the future of the Sahel.
Economic analysis, local enterprise, energy, technology and culture across the Sahel and connected West Africa.
I bring financial and technical analysis together with research and firsthand experience to explore what meaningful investment and development could look like.
Economic research
How markets work, where investment might help, and what can prevent a project from succeeding.
Research library ↗Country perspectives
Explore seven countries through their economies, institutions, resources and people.
Explore countries ↗Field experience
Real photographs, conversations, videos and observations alongside the data.
About my work ↗Areas of interest
Choose a subject to explore its research, countries and related articles.
01020304050607
Energy
Power systems, solar, electricity access and investment.
Technology
Digital infrastructure, payments, connectivity and startups.
Economic Development & Analysis
Growth, jobs, business conditions, public finance and investment.
Commodities
Food systems, agriculture, mining and value chains.
Geopolitics
Institutions, security, diplomacy and cross-border trade.
Culture & Migration
Art, music, identity, movement and everyday life.
Sustainability
Water, land, climate adaptation and durable livelihoods.
Young and growing populations increase the need for jobs, energy, food systems, transport, housing and financial services. Better access can also make local businesses more productive.
The region has substantial assets: solar resources; gold, uranium, iron ore and phosphates in different countries; and agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The challenge is converting those assets into durable local value.
That requires viable business models, affordable services, reliable institutions and partnerships with the people who know these markets best.
Research starting points: UN population projections ↗ and IEA energy financing ↗.Countries
Starting in The Gambia and following the region's economic and cultural connections.
Senegal
Ports, trade corridors, business and culture.
Mauritania
Trade routes, fisheries, minerals and renewable energy.
Photo: François COLIN · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Mali
Agriculture, energy, mining and historic trade.
Photo: JM · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Burkina Faso
Agriculture, enterprise, energy and local markets.
Photo: Masséni Héma · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Niger
Water, solar energy, livestock and regional commerce.
Photo: Aminucrus · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Chad
Livestock, agriculture, oil and transport links.
Photo: David Stanley · Wikimedia Commons ↗The Gambia is covered because of its connections with the Sahel; geographically it lies south of the core Sahelian belt.
Research library
Reports worth reading, followed by original analyses and video essays as they are published.
World Bank · 2026The Gambia Economic UpdateRead report ↗UNCTAD · 2024Investment Policy Review — The GambiaRead report ↗United Nations · 2024World Population ProspectsRead report ↗
Open the full library ↗
About Matteo
Finance, technology and a strong interest in development economics.
I studied finance and have worked in financial analysis, restructuring, digital products and business development. I am particularly interested in startups, investment and the practical conditions behind economic growth.
Sahel in Full brings that background into a place for research, conversations and collaboration.
About me ↗Working on something in the region?
I'm interested in hearing from founders, researchers, investors, businesses and people with relevant local experience.