Papers by ARI
(Copies available on the Research & Policy section of this website)
Going Public: How Africa's integration can work for the poor
In the heyday of African nationalism, the continent's founding fathers plotted their vision of pan-African unity. The twin paths of closer political and economic integration appeared to them as the only means to achieve dignity prosperity and security. Today, closer integration between African states is once again a priority for the African Union and the regional institutions of southern, East and West Africa.
This panoramic survey investigates half a century of efforts to advance Africa's integration, often hamstrung by a surfeit of competing ambitions and lack of political will. In recent decades, significant economic growth in many countries has been characterised by starkly rising inequality and entrenched poverty. The authors argue, plainly and without jargon, that the process of cooperation between states needs new direction.
The overriding purpose of integration must be to reduce poverty. Macro-economic targets are important, but for too long policymakers have placed disproportionate emphasis o the creation of larger trading blocs. Priority for regional public goods, whether publicly or privately funded, is a more effective strategy. From pan-African infrastructure to common standards in law and politics, they are a proven means to foster growth - and to distribute its benefits more widely.
Kenya's Flying Vegetables: Small farmers and the 'food miles' debate
In this highly personal and keenly argued commentary, James Gikunju Muuru makes the first detailed response by an African smallholder to the controversy over 'food miles'. His account describes the serial feats of coordination, discipline, productivity and manual labour which make Kenyan horticulture competitive in global markets. For anyone who has ever asked how some of the poorest populations can reap the benefits of world trade, the example of James's four-acre plot in the Mwea district of Central Province is a compelling reply.
Nursing the Future: e-Learning and clinical care, in Kenya
Few tests of the new methods of e-learning can be more exacting than to improve standards of clinical care by hard-pressed nurses in Kenya's busy hospitals and clinics. But such is the ambition whihc drives the country's first nationwide e-learning programme for nurses, devised by the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF). In this candid and detailed account Angela Nguku chronicles the evolution of the e-learning programme. From her perspective as coordinator of the AMREF Virtual Nursing School in Nairobi, she charts both the obstacles - a shortage of qualified tutors, the scarcity of clinical placements - and the priorities to overcome them.
Think Small: The example of small grants, in Madagascar
In this Policy Voice, former British Ambassador to Madagascar Brian Donaldson argues that Britain should increase exisiting funding for small grants in developing countries, and commit to supporting independent small grants schemes in countries where it does not have a diplomatic mission. Based on his own experience of managing small grant schemes in Madagascar, he identifies four main advantages of this method of channeling money to the poor:
1. Value for money - the simple structure of small grants schemes ensures low administrative costs, and maximum spending on the ground.
2. Reactivity - small grant schemes are nimble. Unlike large aid agencies, they can react rapicly to local needs.
3. Ownership - projects are initiate, and managed by local communities.
4. Momentum - small grants create a positive dynamic in local communities.
Feeding Five Thousand: The case for indigenous crops, in Zimbabwe
In this Policy Voice, Chidara Muchineripi, a management consultant from Harare, argues that indigenous crops should play a more important role in African agriculture. Chidara, who is heir to the chieftainship of the semi-arid district of Gutu, built a new consensus amongst local people in favour of growing traditional crops, namely finger millet, pearl millet and sorghum.
Indigenous crops, he argues, have a number of advantages over the regions staple crop, maize. Most importantly, traditional crops adapt well to different climates and produce higher yields in regions of low rainfall. Seven villages in the Chinyika communities have been growing indigenous crops for the past three years. Over 5,000 people now have food adequate supplies and a steady cash income from the sale of their surplus crop.
Bunge Lenye Meno: A Parliament with Teeth for Tanzania
East Africa's most populous nation has been a beacon of political stability in a troubled region. Yet for most of Tanzania's post-independence history, ethnic and religious tolerance has been underpinned by the dominant govering party Chama Cha Mapinduzi. An unyielding political machine has resisted attempts to wrest influence from the ruling elite.
Until now. A cross-party group of activist parliamentarians has boldly asserted their constitutional role: the 'oversight' of government business, and the 'challenge function' of standing up to executive power. The unfolding contest to transform Bunge, Tanzania's National Assembly, is changing political life in ways which even the leading protagonists hardly believed possible.
In this candid and balanced report, three eminent parliamentarians describe their roles in these far-reaching reforms: from the first parliamentary committee of enquiry, to regular Prime Minister's Questions and fresh scrutiny of the foreign donors who contribute more than 40% of the government budget. In the struggle to create vigilant and accountable public institutions in Africa, Tanzania has set an important precedent.
Planting Ideas: How agricultural subsidies are working in Malawi
Malawi is the most densely populated country in southern Africa. Without affordable fertiliser and other inputs, small farmers have struggled to grow enough food from over-cultivated soils. But after successive food crises, the government of Malawi acted against the advice of donors and many international experts to introduce a home-grown subsidy programme for smallholder farmers.
In this balanced and timely study, Blessings Chinsinga and Aoiffe O'Brien examine how agricultural subsidies can be made to work for rural populations. Despite fears of a return to the pervasive corruption, cronyism and waste which led to the abolition of agricultural subsidies throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s and 1990s, Malawi has set an important precedent.
The authors argue - plainly, and without jargon - that it is possible to design an effective and efficient subsidy for small farmers. While more remains to be done, Malawi's innovative voucher-based programme has brought bumper maize harvests and stable prices. Many more rural communities, in Africa and across the developing world, could benefit if the lessons of this study are taken up by governments, donors and policy makers.
Books by ARI
The Day After Mugabe: Prospects for Change in Zimbabwe
Life expectancy in Zimbabwe is the lowest in the world, but Zimbabweans across the political spectrum insist the country can recover from its crisis. The Day After Mugabe collects the views of key actors, commentators and policy experts. The contributors unravel what has gone wrong, and identify priorities for a lasting recovery. Their analysis defines the issues which will determine Zimbabwe's future.
To download ARI research papers and briefing notes, please go the Research and Policy page and click on 'papers' in the left hand margin.
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