Reciprocity, Mutuality, and Shared Expectations: The Role of Informal Institutions in Social Protection in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
M Kpessa-Whyte
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Informal Institutions ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Institutional Practices ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Incentive Structures ◽  
Sub Saharan

Contemporary research in institutional analysis shows that institutions, broadly defined to include rules, policy, laws, conventions, shared expectations, and repeated practices, are instrumental in shaping human behaviour. This insight raises questions for understanding the dynamics of social care and protection in African countries where formal and informal institutions interact and compete in an environment characterized by two publics. Analytically, African countries reflect the notions of modern state, however due to their inability to connect with majority of the population informal rules practices that derived their logic of appropriateness and legitimacy from familial and kinship relationships have become essential institutional rules that mediate interaction and social exchange in social protection and beyond. The overbearing influence of informal institutional practices is however often ignored in the scholarly analysis of development and policies in the region, and this is due partly to a narrow focus on formal institutional reforms and a penchant for perceiving informality as deviant behaviour. This paper discusses the interface between informal institutions and social protection in Africa and draws attention to the role such institutions play in shaping the incentive structures and choices of political actors and citizens as well as the implications of informality in sub-Saharan African countries for broader socio-economic transformation.

scholarly journals The Need for the Right Socio-Economic and Cultural Fit in the COVID-19 Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: Examining Demographic, Economic Political, Health, and Socio-Cultural Differentials in COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Renzaho
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Peace Building ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Tax Regimes ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Political Health

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread quickly across the globe with devastating effects on the global economy as well as the regional and societies’ socio-economic fabrics and the way of life for vast populations. The nonhomogeneous continent faces local contextual complexities that require locally relevant and culturally appropriate COVID-19 interventions. This paper examines demographic, economic, political, health, and socio-cultural differentials in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. The health systems need to be strengthened through extending the health workforce by mobilizing and engaging the diaspora, and implementing the International Health Regulations (2005) core capacities. In the absence of adequate social protection and welfare programs targeting the poor during the pandemic, sub-Saharan African countries need to put in place flexible but effective policies and legislation approaches that harness and formalise the informal trade and remove supply chain barriers. This could include strengthening cross-border trade facilities such as adequate pro-poor, gender-sensitive, and streamlined cross-border customs, tax regimes, and information flow. The emphasis should be on cross-border infrastructure that not only facilitates trade through efficient border administration but can also effectively manage cross-border health threats. There is an urgent need to strengthen social protection systems to make them responsive to crises, and embed them within human rights-based approaches to better support vulnerable populations and enact health and social security benefits. The COVI-19 response needs to adhere to the well-established ‘do no harm’ principle to prevent further damage or suffering as a result of the pandemic and examined through local lenses to inform peace-building initiatives that may yield long-term gains in the post-COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Three Sectoral Policies in Ethiopia’s Structural Transformation

2019 ◽  
pp. 872-884
Author(s):  
Carlos Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Structural Transformation ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Economic Sector ◽  
Success Story ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Development Path ◽  
Development Trajectory

Ethiopia’s stellar growth performance, guided by amicable development planning, has created a common and shared agenda for economic transformation that has fostered better social outcomes in poverty, universal education, child health, and combating AIDS. This chapter attempts to explore the interest and fascination surrounding the Ethiopian development path, beginning with a consideration of the policy innovations that underpin the experience. It identifies the similarities that connect lessons from three disparate sectoral perspectives—industrialization, social protection/food security, and the success story of Ethiopian Airlines—underlining the pivotal role of coherence, ambition, and innovation in Ethiopia’s development trajectory. Central to these characteristics is the notion that structural transformation is an aggregate of socio-economic sector successes and its potential replicability by other African countries.

scholarly journals Urban data and definitions in sub-Saharan Africa: Mismatches between the pace of urbanisation and employment and livelihood change

Urban Studies ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 965-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Potts
Keyword(s):  
Census Data ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Urban Hierarchy ◽  
Urban Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Data

Differing definitions of ‘urban’ settlements can make comparative analysis of trends in urbanisation difficult. Definitions used by many African countries include small settlements which may not exhibit the degree of labour specialisation away from agriculture that economic theories about urbanisation presume. This may mean there is a mismatch if urban data are presumed by decision-makers to be proxies for structural economic transformation. After examining these definitional issues this paper provides five illustrative African case studies based on detailed analysis of census and agricultural employment data. It finds that for Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Mali in situ urbanisation of settlements at the bottom of the urban hierarchy has played a significant part in recent urbanisation processes. In Rwanda complex boundary changes have also contributed to a very significant redefinition of previously rural people as ‘urban’ yet overall the urbanisation level did not increase between 2002 and 2012. Significant employment in agriculture is found within small, and some larger, urban centres in all these countries. It is shown that these issues tend to be disregarded in analyses of urban trends for these countries which often present a more positive narrative of urban economic change than the census data support. These examples are contrasted with Botswana, where in situ urbanisation has also occurred but in this case driven by real occupational change. The paper concludes that the impact of definitions on apparent trends in urbanisation in Africa needs to be understood given the significance attached to these trends by policy makers.

7. Combating poverty

2018 ◽  
pp. 103-128
Author(s):  
Philip N. Jefferson
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Social Safety Nets ◽  
Social Protection Systems

Although poverty reduction has not occurred as fast as anyone would like, we know a considerable amount about what is helpful in the struggle against poverty. We also know a lot about what is not helpful. What seems to reduce poverty? What does not? Why have countries in East Asia and the Pacific excelled in poverty reduction, while sub-Saharan African countries and many developed countries have not? ‘Combating poverty’ considers the role of economic growth and inequality, the role of governance and institutions, markets and trade, social safety nets and social protection systems, infrastructure, foreign aid, the treatment of women and girls, and evaluation of the policies and programmes that reduce poverty.

scholarly journals Elections, Legitimacy, and Democratic Consolidation in Southern Africa Lessons from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-89
Author(s):  
Hangala Siachiwena ◽  
Chris Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Democratic Consolidation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Electoral Process ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Satisfaction With Democracy ◽  
Political Reforms ◽  
Sub Saharan

Regular elections are now the norm across most of sub-Saharan Africa, but repeated elections have not guaranteed the consolidation of democracy. Election legitimacy is crucial for democratisation. When losing political actors and their supporters are not satisfied with the electoral process, there is potential for growing political tensions. Fraudulent or controversial elections fail to confer legitimacy on the winners, and undermine the integrity of elections and democracy. Drawing on Afrobarometer data and media accounts, this paper focuses on the most recent elections held in three southern African countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. We show that when citizens believe that elections were not free and fair, there is a decline in their satisfaction with democracy and the trust they have in institutions such as electoral commissions and courts of law. The absence of political reforms to address disputed election outcomes increases the likelihood that future elections will not be contested fairly. This sets countries on a path of democratic decline rather than consolidation.

scholarly journals Youth and Women Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Nina Grishina
Keyword(s):  
Informal Economy ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Tropical Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan

The article discusses the possibility of implementing some African countries one of the main directions of overcoming absolute poverty − employment of able-bodied population, improving the efficiency of labor. It is emphasized that the employability of youth and women played an important role in poverty reduction. The focus is on the fact that in the informal economy of Tropical Africa that the vast majority of young people and women find work. The few jobs that are created for employees in the formal sector of the economy are primarily held by men. Thus, women in Tropical Africa tend to work in unprotected employment. At the same time, the high economic activity of women in the region could be a positive factor in accelerating economic growth if productivity and working conditions improved. The author shares the opinion of sociologists, who believe that the problem of women’s employment is directly related to the opportunities of women in education. It is emphasized that in many countries of the region, the economic activity of these groups of population is influenced by traditional norms of behavior. There are many options for programs to improve the labor market and the social protection system. The preference for a programme depends on the specific circumstances, social priorities and financial capacity of the African country concerned. Examples of interaction between international structures, individual countries of the world and African organizations in solving the problem of employment of youth and women of the continent are given.

The Economic Transformation Database (ETD): content, sources, and methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaaitzen de Vries ◽  
Linda Arfelt ◽  
Dorothea Drees ◽  
Mareike Godemann ◽  
Calumn Hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
North African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan

This note introduces the GGDC/UNU-WIDER Economic Transformation Database (ETD), which provides time series of employment and real and nominal value added by 12 sectors in 51 countries for the period 1990–2018. The ETD includes 20 Asian, 9 Latin American, 4 Middle-East and North African, and 18 sub-Saharan African countries at varying levels of economic development. The ETD is constructed on the basis of an in-depth investigation of the availability and usability of statistical sources on a country-by-country basis. The ETD provides researchers with data to analyse the variety and determinants of structural transformation and supports policies aimed at sustained growth and poverty reduction.

STRATEGY OF LIBERALIZATION AND PROBLEMS OF STATE REGULATION OF AZERBAIJAN ECONOMY

2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-151
Author(s):  
G. Z. Yuzbashieva ◽  
A. M. Mustafayev ◽  
R. A. Imanov
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Sectoral Development ◽  
Market Relations

The indicators that determine the change in the macroeconomic situation in the economy of Azerbaijan in 2010–2017, as well as the conditions for increasing the effectiveness of state intervention in solving economic problems are analyzed. It is noted that it is not the size of the public sector that becomes important, but its qualitative component (management and redistribution of resources and revenues, coordination of government intervention in economic relations). The main reasons limiting economic growth are identified, and the mechanisms for overcoming them are disclosed, since economic growth is of particular importance in the transformational period of state development. It substantiates the assertion that the forms and methods of state regulation should be the result of a reasonable combination of the private and public sectors of the economy to more effectively achieve the goal of economic development of the country and increase the welfare of the population. To this end, it is advisable to limit the actions of market forces and find a rational ratio of market and government measures that stimulate economic growth and development.It is shown that in the near future the development of the economy of Azerbaijan should be focused on the transition to the integration of various models of economic transformation; at the same time, “attraction of investments” should be carried out by methods of stimulating consumption, and the concept of a socially oriented economy, which the state also implements, should prevail, thereby ensuring social protection of the population and at the same time developing market relations. Disproportions in regional and sectoral development are also noted, which are the result of an ineffective distribution of goods produced, inadequate investment in human capital, a low level of coordination and stimulation of economic growth and development.

Crowdsourcing Covid-19 signals in sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging digital contributor networks for participatory surveillance of Covid-19 symptoms and deaths (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi A Erondu ◽  
Sagal A Ali ◽  
Mohamed Ali ◽  
Schadrac C Agbla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, underreporting of cases and deaths has been attributed to various factors including, weak disease surveillance, low health-seeking behaviour of flu like symptoms, and stigma of Covid-19. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spread mimics transmission patterns of other countries across the world. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way research can be conducted and in light of restrictions on travel and risks to in-person data collection, innovative approaches to collecting data must be considered. Nearly 50% of Africa’s population is a unique mobile subscriber and it is one of the fastest growing smart-phone marketplaces in the world; hence, mobile phone platforms should be considered to monitor Covid-19 trends in the community. OBJECTIVE We demonstrate the use of digital contributor platforms to survey individuals about cases of flu-like symptoms and instances of unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. METHODS Rapid cross-sectional survey of individuals with severe flu and pneumonia symptoms and unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe RESULTS Using a non-health specific information platform, we found COVID-19 signals in five African countries, specifically: •Across countries, nearly half of the respondents (n=739) knew someone who had severe flu or pneumonia symptoms in recent months. •One in three respondents from Somalia and one in five from Zimbabwe respondents said they knew more than five people recently displaying flu and/or pneumonia symptoms. •In Somalia there were signals that a large number of people might be dying outside of health facilities, specifically in their homes or in IDP or refugee camps. CONCLUSIONS Existing digital contributor platforms with local networks are a non-traditional data source that can provide information from the community to supplement traditional government surveillance systems and academic surveys. We demonstrate that using these distributor networks to for community surveys can provide periodic information on rumours but could also be used to capture local sentiment to inform public health decision-making; for example, these insights could be useful to inform strategies to increase confidence in Covid19 vaccine. As Covid-19 continues to spread somewhat silently across sub-Saharan Africa, regional and national public health entities should consider expanding event-based surveillance sources to include these systems.

Managing African Urbanization in the Context of Environmental Change

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaib Lwasa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Urbanization Rate ◽  
Development And Management

Africa’s urbanization rate has increased steadily over the past three decades and is reported to be faster than in any other region in the world . It is estimated that by 2030, over half of the African population will be living in urban areas . But the nature of Africa’s urbanization and subsequent form of cities is yet to be critically analyzed in the context of city authorities’ readiness to address the challenges . Evidence is also suggesting that urbanization in African countries is increasingly associated with the high economic growth that has been observed in the last two decades . Both underlying and proximate drivers are responsible for the urbanization, and these include population dynamics, economic growth, legislative designation, increasing densities in rural centers, as well as the growth of mega cities such as Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa, that are extending to form urban corridors . With the opportunities of urbanization in Sub–Saharan Africa, there are also challenges in the development and management of these cities . Those challenges include provision of social services, sustainable economic development, housing development, urban governance, spatial development guidance and environmental management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction . The challenge involves dealing with the development and infrastructure deficit, in addition to required adaption to and mitigation of climate change . This paper examines the current state of urban management in Africa .

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