Episode 3

Even in poor areas in Africa there are signs of dynamic commerce - due to a large "informal" economy and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Is making these enterprises more formal – by paying taxes - the answer to lifting Africa out of poverty?

African academics are working on transforming ideas for improvement into practical, do-able projects that will change lives. Money is available.

And thanks to a billion dollars a year of debt relief, countries such as Nigeria are implementing a school-for-all plan - an attempt to educate people out of poverty.

Is tapping into a continent's optimism the key to Africa's future?