Opinion

Opinion

75 years of independence for India and Pakistan

75 years ago, Britain ended its 200-year rule of India and the independent nations of Pakistan and India were born. IDS researcher Lyla Mehta who was born and raised in Bombay, India, reflects on this anniversary and today’s struggle for freedom and human rights for all. This partition was...

Lyla Mehta

15 August 2022

Opinion

Engaging with politics to improve social assistance in protracted crises

Effective social assistance in protracted crises is not only about technical capacities. Politics plays a key role – from the agendas of global actors operating at the interface of social protection and humanitarian assistance, to how (contested) governance at sub-national level and below...

Becky Carter & 2 others

15 August 2022

Opinion

Electricity and eligibility: Targeting cash transfers in Sri Lanka

How can a large scale cash transfer programme be established from scratch, quickly, and during a deep economic crisis? The Government of Sri Lanka faces that challenge.  New research reveals that the problem of selecting eligible households may be much less daunting than it appears. The answer...

Mick Moore

11 August 2022

Opinion

How can Afghanistan’s young adults escape poverty amid layered crises?

One year ago the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. This was preceded by existing multiple crises, including drought, Covid-19, and political insecurity, and all have affected the prospects for young women and men to develop pathways out of poverty. What happened to Afghanistan? After the...

Vidya Diwakar & 2 others

11 August 2022

Opinion

Learning about systemic change: a contribution analysis inspired approach

In this third blog in our series ‘Lessons on using Contribution Analysis for impact evaluation’ we give an example of how a contribution analysis inspired approach was used in a short four-month consultancy project. We supported the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in a...

Mieke Snijder

4 August 2022

Opinion

Masresha Taye on insurance for pastoralists in Ethiopia

Masresha Taye has been working with pastoralists and those involved in providing insurance in the Borana area, in southern Ethiopia. In this short video, he discusses insights from his doctoral research with PASTRES.

Ian Scoones

29 July 2022

Opinion

Pandemic perspectives: Why different voices and views matter

Global crises generate many questions which need to be answered, often very rapidly. The social science researchers who dedicate so much time, commitment and effort to addressing these questions are quite familiar with turbulence and uncertainty. Many are, by necessity, ready and willing to...

Peter Taylor

Paul Knipe

29 July 2022

Opinion

International trade for global sustainable development

Recent global events underscore the urgency of inclusive and sustainable global trade. The combination of climate change, Covid-19, and now military conflict, have disrupted supply chains, left supply short of demand, created an ominous food crisis, and demonstrated anew the importance of open...

James Bacchus

Amrita Saha

27 July 2022

Opinion

Refugee support in Pakistan lacks responsiveness to religious inequalities

It’s almost been a year since the Taliban swiftly regained power in Afghanistan, which led to a new exodus of refugees, many of whom sought refuge in neighbouring Pakistan. In this blog, Jennifer P. Eggert, Maryam Kanwer and Jaffer A. Mirza share insights and recommendations from their new...

Jennifer Philippa Eggert & 2 others

26 July 2022

Opinion

The changing face of urban agriculture in Zimbabwe

Over the last four weeks, the blog has explored the changing face of urban agriculture across our sites in Chikombedzi, Triangle/Hippo Valley, Maphisa, Masvingo, Chatsworth and Mvurwi. We have explored the growth of urban agriculture and its different forms (backyard, open space and titled) and...

Ian Scoones

25 July 2022

Opinion

Tigrayan farmers need urgent help to face a war-induced famine

The brutal war that broke out in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, has just entered its twentieth month. It has reportedly killed over 500,000 people and led to the systematic destruction and looting of the region’s vital social and economic infrastructures. The conflict has all but destroyed the...

Teklehaymanot G. Weldemichel & 3 others

21 July 2022

Opinion

Rethinking food banks: how crises are recasting food aid in the UK

New research from partners within the Food Equity Centre reveals the surprisingly positive effect Covid-19 had on the UK food aid sector – a development now proving critical as many more face food insecurity in today’s cost-of-living crisis. When we set out researching food insecurity...

Dr Ronald Ranta & 3 others

21 July 2022