British Somalis and FGM: ‘everybody is a suspect – you are guilty until proven innocent’

shutterstock/Monkey Business Images March 18, 2020 9.42am GMT Saffron Karlsen, University of Bristol; Christina Pantazis, University of Bristol; Magda Mogilnicka, University of Bristol, and Natasha Carver, University of Bristol Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), whereby the female genitals are deliberately injured or changed for non-medical reasons, is considered by the UN to be a “global concern”.Continue reading “British Somalis and FGM: ‘everybody is a suspect – you are guilty until proven innocent’”

South Africa’s COVID-19 hunger relief efforts are working: why they must continue

A women receives bread at the ‘Hunger Has No Religion’ feeding scheme run by Muslims in Johannesburg, South Africa. EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook October 15, 2020 7.26am BST  Leila Patel, University of Johannesburg Since the year 2000, South Africa has made big strides in lowering levels of both child and adult hunger, as well as improving food securityContinue reading “South Africa’s COVID-19 hunger relief efforts are working: why they must continue”

Education and inequality in 2021: how to change the system

Students take their test outside due to their overcrowded class room in Kisumu, Kenya. YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images April 29, 2021 4.00pm BST Conrad Hughes, Université de Genève Since its earliest traces, at least 5,000 years ago, formal education – meaning an education centred on literacy and numeracy – has always been highly selective. AncientContinue reading “Education and inequality in 2021: how to change the system”

COVID-19: a new challenge for clean cooking progress in Kenya

Cooking on solid fuels exposes people to toxic pollutants. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images March 24, 2021 2.45pm GMT Suzanne Bartington, University of Birmingham; Jessie Pinchoff, Population Council, and William Robert Avis, University of Birmingham Over 90% of the 238 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa’s informal settlements, rely upon solid fuels for cooking, heating,Continue reading “COVID-19: a new challenge for clean cooking progress in Kenya”

Stereotypes about young jobless South Africans are wrong: what they’re really up to

Makeshift shops have mushroomed as people try to make ends meet amid South Africa’s excessive unemployment. Hobermunemployment. an Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images June 14, 2021 4.09pm BST Hannah J. Dawson, University of the Witwatersrand South Africa has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A whopping 63% of its young peopleContinue reading “Stereotypes about young jobless South Africans are wrong: what they’re really up to”

Smallholder farming is a proven path out of poverty, but climate change is changing the rules

October 29, 2021 By Enock Chikava In the 1990s, Zimbabwe had one dry year every five years. Now it is once every two years, and sometimes the dry years are back-to-back. I have been involved with smallholder agriculture my entire life. Along with my 10 siblings, I grew up on a small farm in Zimbabwe, whereContinue reading “Smallholder farming is a proven path out of poverty, but climate change is changing the rules”