Opinion

Why we should stop talking about ‘desertification’

A great new book has just been published called 'The End of Desertification? Disputing Environmental Change in the Drylands', available at a shocking price from Springer.

Ian Scoones

A New Urban Agenda for creating safe and secure cities?

The New Urban Agenda is the outcome document that will be agreed upon at the Habitat III conference in Quito later this year. This blog explores how well the document is picking up on the key challenges of tackling urban violence.

Jaideep Gupte

Using evidence to transform nutrition

Last week the IDS and IFPRI Short Course Transforming Nutrition: Ideas, Policy and Outcomes 2016 addressed the biggest nutrition challenges. We interviewed participants on the lessons that they will take back and put into practice.

Landmarks: how to get up close and personal with nature

Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane is a must-read for anyone interested in sustainability and language. Each chapter focuses on one or two authors who've made deep impressions on Macfarlane through their writing about the natural world.

Citizen voice, agency and accountability in a post-Brexit era

IDS's Becky Faith shares her observations on the Citizen, Voice and Accountability stream of discussions at the IDS 50th anniversary conference.

Becky Faith

Institutions and the reinvention of democracy – from local to global

IDS's Rachel Godfrey-Wood shares highlights from the Institutions and Democracy stream of discussions at the IDS 50th anniversary conference.

Inequality and inclusion in the new era of capital

IDS's Violet Barasa shares highlights from the Inequality and Inclusion stream of discussions at the IDS 50th anniversary conference.

Violet Barasa

How to move beyond technology in ‘Sustainable Intensification’

Sustainable Intensification (SI) promises more food from the same amount of land, while minimizing pressure on the environment. In Sub-Saharan Africa, considerable research and effort has been put into achieving it - but without the expected success.

Unlocking the potential of the states, markets and society trio

IDS's Amrita Saha reflects on the Finance and Business stream of discussions at the IDS 50th anniversary conference.

Amrita Saha

Embracing the multiple pathways towards accelerating sustainability

IDS's Ramy Hanna reflects on the Accelerating Sustainability stream of discussions at the IDS 50th Anniversary Conference.

Ramy Hanna

#Hashtag activism: will it make a difference in Zimbabwe?

Fed up with the mainstream parties, in Zimbabwe people have been taking to social media to express their demands, Ian Scoones blogs about #ThisFlag movement.

Ian Scoones

Give and you shall receive? Taxation and fiscal contracts in Africa

Rhiannon McCluskey