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Who needs to reconcile with whom? : the conflict’s complexity in northern Mali calls for tailored solutions
No full textWhile negotiations are taking place in Algiers, some observers insist on the need for reconciliation between Northern Mali and the rest of the country and particularly between Tuareg and other Malians. But the Tuareg are a minority in Northern Mali and most of them did not support the rebels. So who needs to be reconciled with whom? And what economic solutions will counteract conflict? This Policy Note argues that not only exclusion underlies the conflict, but also a lack of economic opportunities
Looking back, looking ahead : land, agriculture and society in East Africa : a festschrift for Kjell Havnevik
No full textIs Africa rising? Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa experience remarkable growth. Afro-optimists claim that an economic transformation is imminent, while critics argue that growth is mainly in the extractive sectors, with little improvement being noted among the rural and urban poor. This collection of essays focuses on East Africa, with an emphasis on Tanzania. It is published as Professor Kjell Havnevik retires from the Nordic Africa Institute. He has carried out research, taught and supervised students, and participated in policy debates on agriculture, the environment and development policies in Africa. In this volume, authors review the challenges that agricultural producers have faced in the past and risk facing today and tomorrow; customary and individual land tenure regimes; the character of current growth; and policy dialogue between the donor community and the Tanzanian government. Several contributions converge on the drive for large-scale land acquisitions, their potential and shortcomings, as well as on the policy alternative – investment in small-scale farming. The book also includes essays on religion and education. In addressing all these development issues, these essays are a fitting tribute to the work of Kjell Havnevik, his colleagues and students.Contents: Introduction / Michael Ståhl -- Reflections on the unravelling of the Tanzanian peasantry, 1975–2015 / Deborah Fahy Bryceson -- Land cannot give birth to new land / Stig Holmqvist -- Small-scale and large-scale agriculture: Tanzanian experiences / Andrew Coulson -- The rise and fall of the Paris Agenda in Tanzania: A study in trust and mistrust / Bertil Odén -- Promoting gender equality on land issues in Tanzania: How far have we come? / Aida Isinika and Anna Kikwa -- Land grabbing in Africa – a variety of primitive accumulation / Rune Skarstein -- Adjust or change? The debate on African economic structures / Mats Hårsmar -- Private or customary – whither land tenure in East Africa? / Opira Otto and Michael Ståhl -- Consolidating land use in Rwanda: Inclusive and sustainable rural development and lessons from Tanzania / Herman Musahara -- Large-scale land acquisitions in Tanzania and Ethiopia: A comparative perspective / Atakilte Beyene -- Witchcraft, witch killings and Christianity: The works of religion and parallel cosmologies in Tanzania / Terje Oestigaard -- Language, knowledge, development and the framing of common destiny in contemporary Ethiopia: some reflections / Tekeste Negash -- Land reform, natural resources governance and food security: Message from and to Africa and beyond / Prosper Matondi -- About the contributors -- Kjell Havnevik – curriculum vitae and major publications </p
Dammed divinities : the water powers at Bujagali Falls, Uganda
No full textThe damming of Bujagali Falls, located only 8 kilometers north of the historic source of the White Nile or the outlet of Lake Victoria, has been seen as one of the most controversial dams in modern times. In 2012, the dam was eventually inaugurated after years of anti-dam opposition and delays. A unique aspect of the controversies was the river spirit Budhagaali living in the falls blocking the dam and opposing the destruction of the waterfalls. This spirits embodies a particular healer – Jaja Bujagali, but he was bypassed by another healer who conducted no less than three grandiose appeasement and relocation ceremonies for the Budhagaali spirit clearing the way for the dam. Why has this particular dam been so controversial? How can a water spirit block a nearly billion dollar dam? What was the ritual drama behind the construction of the dam and is it possible to move a spirit? And what happened to Budhagaali and the indigenous religion after the falls were flooded and can a river spirit be drowned in its own element – water
The Materiality of Affect in North Africa : Politics in Flux
No full textReport from the workshop 'The Materiality of affect in North Africa: Politics in Flux, held in New York October 2014 and co-organised by the Nordic Africa Institute (Sweden) and New York University's Department of Performance Studies (United States).Text in English and Arabic.Contents: Summary -- List of participants -- Presentation of Abstracts, Biographies, and Discussion – Day I -- Presentation of Abstracts, Biographies, and Discussion – Day II -- Abstracts and biographies of additional researchers in the network -- Summary of Discussions -- Outcomes -- References -- Programme</p
The Role of Food Banks in Food Security in Uganda : the Case of the Hunger Project Food Bank, Mbale Epicentre
No full textThis study addresses the role the food bank plays in food security, sustainable livelihoods and building resilience to climate change among smallholder farmers in Uganda, and in particular eastern Uganda. Currently, it is difficult to measure the socioeconomic impact of the food bank on smallholder farmers in eastern Uganda due to the difficulty of isolating its contribution from that of interrelated programmes and farmer activities. It is, however, evident that the food bank plays a significant role in improving the smallholder farmers’ food production and incomes. The food bank is actively engaged in training smallholder farmers in modern farming methods, providing improved seeds and safe storage facilities for farmers’ produce, helping farmers to diversify their livelihood sources and providing climate-related information. Prolonged drought and lack of access to sufficient seeds of good quality are the main sources of food insecurity among smallholder farmers. Distance from the food bank and lack of access to information are among the other factors that affected many farmers’ ability to participate in food bank activities. Community ownership of the food bank is still lacking, and this is a long term threat to the sustainability of the project. There is therefore an urgent need to establish community-managed food banks at lower levels that ensure community ownership; equitably distribute benefits among target farmers; encourage seed-saving among farmers; initiate community-supported agriculture programmes to improve access to farm credit; and invest in rainwater harvesting for irrigation.Contents: 1. Introduction -- 2. Study area: Uganda, background information -- 3. Sustainability and sustainable development - 4. Food security in Uganda: General overview -- 5. The food bank and food security -- 6. Sources of food and seed security -- 7. Conclusion -- References</p
African conflicts, development and regional organisations in the post-Cold War international system : the annual Claude Ake memorial lecture : Uppsala, Sweden 30 January 2014
No full textA number of recent studies have expressed optimism about the constant decrease in armed conflicts around the world. The prognosis for Africa does not reflect the same optimism. Poverty reduction, transparent and accountable governance and citizen satisfaction with the delivery of public goods and service have shown no sign of significant improvement. In this lecture, Victor Adetula examines the performance of Africa’s regional organisations in ensuring peace and security on the continent. In doing this, he draws attention to the need for national and regional actors to pay attention to good governance and development as part of their efforts to operate effective collective security systems and conflict resolution mechanisms without ignoring the essence of the global context
Ebola: accurate information prevents rumours and panic : educating leaders is one measure - along with distributing soap
No full textThe Ebola epidemic in West Africa is unprecedented in its scope. This Policy Note stresses the importance of knowledge of social factors in preventing the spread of the fatal disease. There are similarities with the previous HIV/AIDS epidemic. Traditional healers and heads of households are key players for health experts to target in protecting people against infection. Normal funeral services are one source of infection. A very basic preventive measure is providing families with soap
Reformed cocoa market benefits Liberian farmers : but watch out for new forms of market power and elite capture
No full textThe business environment for smallholder cocoa farmers in Liberia has improved. Game-changing efforts by the government have increased competition among cocoa buyers and led to higher producer prices. Farmers are also encouraged by new investors to improve the quality of cocoa, for which they earn more. In addition, famers organisations have strengthened their bargaining power. However, policy-makers must be alert to a possible backlash if competion is not ensured, and from elite capture of farmers’ organisations
Regionalising African civil societies : lessons, opportunities and constraints
No full textReport from the workshop 'Regionalising African civil societies : lessons, opportunities and constraints', held in Uppsala, Sweden in October 2014 and co-organised by the Nordic Africa Institute (Sweden), the West Africa Civil Society Institute (Ghana) and the Department of Human Geography at Stockholm University (Sweden).Contents: Foreword -- Introduction -- Regional integration and opportunities and constraints for civil society -- Everyday urban struggles: transnational networks and relations -- Concluding discussion -- References -- Appendix 1: Participants and titles of papers -- Appendix 2: Concept Note and Call for Papers -- Appendix 3: Programme</p
Democracy or one-party system : political development in the Sudan after the 2015 election
No full textIn June, Al-Bashir, Sudan's leader since 1989, was sworn in for another five years as president. Few if any experts had expected any other outcome of the 2015 election. But will the 71 year old ex-military leader, who is accused by the ICC of war crimes in Darfur, continue his initiatives for national dialogue and overcome the country's major economic and security hurdles