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Migrant remittances : an overview of global and Swedish flows
No full textMigrant remittances – money and gifts sent to relatives back home – have attracted increasing international attention. The flow of remittances has become a major source of revenue for developing countries, exceeding the volume of aid. Three recent studies at Uppsala University bring this issue to light in the context of Sweden’s Policy for Global Development. Very little has so far been known about the flow of remittances from Sweden; official data indicate an amount exceeding 4 billion kronor in 2006. The real flows are most likely higher; Swedish and international studies estimate that real remittances are 30-50 per cent above the officially recorded amounts. Statistics Sweden (SCB) is recommended to enhance its records of remittances in terms of desirable scope and reliability, for instance regarding specification of the amounts remitted to different countries. Remittance flows from Sweden are linked to the remitters’ incomes and, hence, vary with the business cycle. Experience suggests that the ongoing world economic crisis will have a negative impact on remittance flows also from Sweden. It is suggested that enhanced knowledge in Sweden about available remittance services and their costs and measures to promote a better functioning remittance market could increase the net value of these money
The impact of common agricultural policy (CAP) reform on Africa-EU trade in food and agricultural products
No full textThis paper seeks to look at certain fundamental features of the EU food and agricultural sector adjustment process as it manifests itself through the reform of the CAP. It highlights the shift in policy tools, from price support for agricultural products to income support for EU farmers and the shift in policy emphasis from the quantity of agricultural products to the quality of food and agriculturalproducts. It reviews the implications of this policy shift for the EU’s diminishing tolerance of the use of trade policy tools as part of agricultural development policies in third countries. It highlights in passing the implications of these developments for the African food and agriculturalsectors, before drawing out some broad conclusions and recommendations
Sexual abuse survivors and the complex of traditional healing : (G)local prospects in the aftermath of an African war
No full textIn its efforts to assist post-conflict societies in africa the international aid community has acitvely promoted projects of psycho-social healing among people traumatized during wars and violent conflict. To a large degree these projects have been established in the tradtion of Western psychology. More recently, however, it has been realized in order to help survivors of war effectivley it is necessary to adapt projects and enhance “local” psycho-social healing. This policy report locates the structures – with local legitimacy – that are available to young people who experienced sexual abuse during the Sierra Leone civil war (1991–2002). To this end, this booklet discusses a healing complex that comprises a number of overlapping actors, including herbalists, Zoe Mammies (heads of the female secret societies), Mori-men (Muslim healers); Karamokos (Muslim teachers) and Christian pastors.CONTENTS1. Introduction2. Scope of the study2.1 Methods2.2 Research ethichs3. Limitations of the study4. War-related sexual abuse4.1 Quantitative findings4.2 Qualitative findings4.3 Turning a page? Sexual abuse in post-war reality5. Variations of traditional healing5.1 Notes on mental illness in Sierra Leone5.2 The healing complex6. Traditional healing of sexual abuse6.1 From the girls’ and young women’s perspective6.2 The herbalist6.3 The Karamoko and the Mori-man6.4 The Soweh mammy and female herbalist (Kuntumoi musu)6.5 Cleansing the bush6.6 The pastor6.7 Talking trauma – notes on counselling7. Findings and recommendations7.1 Social approaches towards the sexually abused7.2 Girls’ and young women’s practices related totraditional healing7.3 Findings on traditional healers7.4 RecommendationsAppendices</p
Causes and cures of oil-related Niger Delta conflicts
No full textNigeria’s political and economic fortunes and the country’s ability to play a stabilizing role in the African region partly depend on the resolution of the lingering Niger Delta conflict. The Niger Delta covers nine out of 36 states and 185 out of 774 local government areas of the Nigerian federation. It occupies a total land area of 75,000 square kilometers and is the world’s third largest wetlands. The 2006 Nigerian population census shows that 30 million out of the country’s 140 million people reside in the Niger Delta region. Nearly all of Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves are located in the region. Oil and gas have accounted for about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since 1990. Between 2000 and 2004, oil and gas accounted for 75 per cent of total government revenues and 97 per cent of foreign exchange. Apart from being vital to Nigeria’s fiscal viability, the Niger Delta is important to global energy security
EPAs and the post-Lisbon Implementation Status
No full textThe negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) between African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the European Union (EU) were launched in 2000. The talks are carried out in terms of the Cotonou Agreement, which seeks to replace the non-reciprocal export preferences ACP countries have had with the European Community (EC) with reciprocal free trade arrangements. These negotiations have been carried out on a regional basis since January 2008 in order to align the parties’ trade regime with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Accordingly, a number of ACP countries initialled Interim Economic Partnership Agreement texts at the end of 2007. The IEPAs are a stopgap measure meant to prevent trade disruptions while negotiations on fully fledged EPAs continue. The second stage of negotiations, which will include services, investment, competition and government procurement, is expected to lead to the conclusion of fully fledged EPAs. This policy note seeks to provide a brief overview of the implementation status of the EPAs in selected African regions. The paper also looks at the impact of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreements (IEPAs) on the countries that initialled them and provides recommendations on how to ensure that the eventual full EPA agreements promote the interests of African countries
HIV and Income Inequality: If there is a link, what does it tell us?
No full textThere is a striking variation in the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among countries and regions of the world, with a distinct geographical pattern. This paper explores the link between income inequality and HIV. It presents empirical evidence—a meta-study and additional cross-country regression results—that clearly support the argument that such a link exists. The interpretation of this link is an open issue. Four different hypotheses are discussed, each one pointing out a transit route from income inequality to HIV. The paper presents preliminary evidence on these routes and identifies potential areas for future research
Dynamics of post-conflict reconstruction and peace building in West Africa : between change and stability
No full textThis NAI Discussion Paper critically explores the concepts, norms and practices of reconstruction and peace building in post-conflict West Africa, drawing largely on the case of Liberia and Sierra Leone. It provides an up-to-date analysis and critique of the impact of the UN-led praxis and practice of peace building in the post-conflict states in the region. The material in this study covers the context of post-conflict reconstruction and peace building in West Africa; the evolution and analysis of the global peace building regime; the architecture of peace building in West Africa; the ‘un-making’ of peace building in Sierra Leone. It also interrogates the basic assumtions that underpin international peace building in Africa, noting that at best, it is designed to promote stability and security rather than a deeper and more sustainable popular and socially rooted peace.CONTENTS -- Abstract -- ForewordIntroduction -- Evolution of the Global Peace Building Regime -- Observations on Contemporary Peace Building -- The Architecture of Peace Building in West Africa -- Back to Praxis: The Un-making of Peace Building in Sierra Leone -- Conclusion -- Bibliograph
Knowledge, renewal and religion : repositioning and changing ideological and material circumstances among the Swahili on the East African coast
No full textIn the past decades religion has entered the political debate and is evoked in relation to a variety of events taking place around the world. Religion and religious differences, not political, economic or social, are claimed to be the cause rather than an expression of – or even a reaction to – ongoing problems. Islam and Christianity (or also Islam and Hinduism) are, in most cases, represented not only as opposed, but also as incommensurable worldviews, value systems and identities, where the one is threatening the existence of the other. Among the Swahili on the East-African Coast, this trend provokes questions related to whether we should approach what appear to be expressions of religious positioning in terms of renewal of previous understandings and relationships, or as a rephrasing of complex and conflictual matters that were always part of Swahili society. The papers in this book reveal that the Swahili are experiencing worsening economic, political and social conditions. Within these circumstances, Islam is invoked as a source of knowledge that not only explains the current state of life and living, but also gives directions on how to cope with and to change the situation for the better. Islam is both what reinforces Swahili identity and a particular way of life, and at the same time, given the current international climate, further marginalizes Swahili society and culture.CONTENTS -- Introduction/Kjersti Larsen -- Kilwa and the Swahili Towns: Reflections from an Archaeological Perspective/Felix Chami -- Towards a Paradigm of Swahili Religious Knowledge: Some Observations/Farouk Topan -- Royal Ancestors and Social Change in the Majunga Area: Northwest Madagascar 19th–20th Centuries/Marie Pierre Ballarin -- Societal Change and Swahili Spirit Possession/Linda L. Giles -- Contested Interpretations of Muslim Poetries, Legitimacy and Daily Life Polictics/Francesca Declich -- Siku ya Arafa and the Idd el-Hajj: Knowledge, Ritual and Renewal in Tanzania/Gerard C. van de Bruinhorst -- Narratives of Democracy and Dominance in Zanzibar/Greg Cameron -- Baraza as Markers of Time in Zanzibar/Roman Loimeier -- The Impact of Religious Knowledge and the Concept of Dini Wal Duniya in Urban Zanzibari Life-Style/Mohamed Ahmed Saleh -- Understanding Modernity/ies: The Idea of a Moral Community on Mafia Island, Tanzania/Pat Caplan -- The Role of Islam in the Political and Social Perceptions of the Waswahili of Lamu/Assibi A. Amidu -- “In the Olden Days We Kept Slaves”: Layers of Memory and Present Practices/Ulla Vuorela -- Wonders of the Exotic: Chinese Formula Medicines on the East African Coast/Elisabeth Hs
Les causes et les remèdes des conflits pétroliers du Delta du Niger
No full textLes fortunes économique et politique du Nigéria, et la capacité du pays à jouer un rôle stabilisant dans la région africaine, dépendent de la résolution du conflit qui persiste dans la zone du delta du Niger. Le delta couvre neuf états, sur un total de 36, et 185 des 774 gouvernements locaux de la fédération nigériane. Il occupe une étendue totale de 75,000 mètres carrés et constitue la troisième plus grande zone humide de la terre. Le recensement Nigérien de 2006 montreque 30 million d’habitants, sur une population total de 185 million, résident dans la région du delta du Niger. La quasi-totalité des réseaux de gaz et de pétrole du Nigéria sont situés dans la région. Depuis 1990, le pétrole et le gaz représentent environ 40% du produit intérieur brut (PIB). Entre 2000 et 2004, ces deux industries ont engendré 75% des revenus totales du gouvernement, et ont généré 97% des échanges commerciaux. En plus d´être essentiel à la viabilité financière du Nigéria, le delta du Niger est important pour la sécurité énergétique mondiale