Published on 24 May 2021
Autocratic behaviour surged and democratic freedoms were excessively restricted during the pandemic last year – that is the finding of a new study monitoring civic space in Mozambique, Nigeria, and Pakistan, published by the Institute of Development Studies.
Researchers found that while restrictive measures to protect public health were necessary, Covid-19 was also used as a cover for curtailing offline and online freedoms integral to democratic debate and civic action, including implementing emergency measures without time limits, and silencing or eliminating critics.
The report ‘Navigating Civic Space in a Time of Covid’, by the Action for Empowerment and Accountability (A4EA) research programme, is based on a collaborative study that catalogued events through real-time research with civil society in three countries – Mozambique, Nigeria, and Pakistan – from June to December 2020.
Rural economic transformations in Africa are generating new opportunities to engage with agricultural value chains. However, many young people are said to be locked out of such opportunities because of limited access to farmland, which pushes them out of agriculture and rural areas, and/or hinders their autonomy. This framing of the ‘land problem’ imperfectly reflects rural young people’s livelihoods in much of sub-Saharan Africa, and therefore does not provide a solid basis for policy. Policy-relevant discussions must consider the diversity of rural contexts, broader land dynamics and more nuanced depictions of youth engagement with the rural economy.
Key messages
The idea that large numbers of young people in sub-Saharan Africa are stuck in waithood – trapped between childhood and adulthood – dominates international development policy discourse. The belief is that because there are no jobs, young people cannot attain social markers of adulthood. Waithood has proved itself to be a very attractive way to frame debates and promote youth employment interventions. But research challenges two aspects of the waithood story: that young people are inactive; and that work is the only route into adulthood. Caution and nuance are required to prevent waithood becoming another catchy term that does little to improve policy.
Youth and Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Time to Reset Policy | Institute of Development Studies ids.ac.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ids.ac.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
26 May 2021 12:00–13:30
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) will convene a global panel of experts on and from Bangladesh to explore the country’s trajectory from developing state to international powerhouse, poverty to economic success story. Against a backdrop of huge disruption caused by the Covid pandemic, we will ask how does the country sustain its growth momentum and deliver progressive development to benefit all? What potential do trends from collective action; arts led activism; and innovative city design have to reshape and secure the future of Bangladesh?
Hosted by IDS, the event will be moderated by IDS Fellow Sohela Nazneen and be designed to allow seven thought leaders to address one question relating to the theme of ‘Resilience and Growth’ in Bangladesh. The session will then move into a discussion and Q&A session with the audience.