Poverty & Inequality Initiative - PII

26/03/2024

The Wealth Data Science Summer/Winter School (WeDSS) shall take place July 1-12, 2024 (to be confirmed) on two campuses at Constructor University in Bremen, Germany, and the African Center of Excellence for Inequality Research (ACEIR) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Both campuses will....

03/07/2020

SALDRU is delighted to announce the launch of a new book, Migrant Labour After Apartheid, produced by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), and edited by SALDRU’s own Emeritus Professor Francis Wilson, in partnership with SALDRU friends Leslie Bank (HSRC) and Dorrit Posel (Wits University). Research used in the book was supported by SALDRU’s Research Project on Employment, Income Distribution, and Inclusive Growth (REDI3x3), which ran from 2012 – 2018 Read more: https://www.saldru.uct.ac.za/2020/06/29/launch-of-new-book-migrant-labour-after-apartheid/

29/05/2020

This coming Monday, 1 June, an opportunity to get insight on inequality in life-time earnings in South Africa. Please register to receive webinar details.

‼️Webinar on earnings inequality in South Africa‼️
Join us on Monday, 1 June at 17:00 CET for a discussion of this research undertaken as part of our work in South Africa. The webinar is the second in a series of weekly presentations on research aimed at understanding and addressing inequalities in developing and emerging countries. This body of work has been undertaken by funded by the European Commission and AFD - Agence Française de Développement. The researchers who authored this paper are based at the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town University of Cape Town Register to receive webinar log-in details: https://mailchi.mp/7839d6f3fc3a/earnings-inequality-in-sa-webinar-12443759

Stats SA Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance International Budget Partnership South Africa
ISSER UG School of Economics - University of Nairobi
Academic Division - University of Nairobi DataFirst Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Poverty Stoplight South Africa SPII Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute Fight Inequality Alliance Black Sash African Monitor

22/04/2020

Exactly three weeks prior to last night's announcement of economic and social measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, our colleagues at the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town published an article in The Conversation Africa that proposed exactly what the President has announced: Make use of the social grants system to reach the maximum number of unemployed and informal sector households in South Africa. In particular, temporarily top up the Child Support Grant. Well done to the SALDRU team, and to those at the Children's Institute, University of Cape Town, The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) and many other social partners who supported the proposal. The close to R3 000 per child that will reach 6 thousand households in the coming six months, alongside smaller top-ups to other grants, are bound to make a big contribution to food security and other necessities during these difficult economic times.

Several grant increases and initiatives to address hunger and financial distress were announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday night.

16/04/2020

How to help the unemployed and informal sector workers during COVID-19 lockdown and its aftermath? Experts from UCT's Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, the Children's Institute, University of Cape Town, and many others believe a short-term increase in the amount of a social grant - the Child Support Grant in particular - will be most effective. Why?
1. On top of the impending health crisis, we are on the edge of a serious economic, humanitarian and security crisis. Jobs are being lost, the informal sector is caving, households are destitute, people are starving, looting has started.
2. We urgently need to support vulnerable households to offset loss of earnings, to ensure that people can eat, and to demonstrate that the government is looking after the nation. We cannot shut down the economy and leave people to starve.
3. Food parcels are not the main solution – they can be used to fill gaps, but they cannot reach the scale required. They are already at risk being looted. Supplies are sourced from large chain stores, benefiting private sector and undermining small local economies and informal sector.
4. The solution is to get cash into households as quickly as possible. It needs to be a substantial amount of cash. It needs to reach the poorest households, including those where income will have been severely impacted by the lockdown – i.e. those affected by unemployment and the decimation of the informal sector. This cash injection will also help to support the informal economy and stimulate local economies.
5. The only way to reach large numbers of poor households quickly and reliably is to use the existing grant infrastructure. It is tried-and-tested, has very low administrative costs compared to other options, and can be implemented immediately, from the beginning of May.

*Five reasons why it needs to be the CSG*
1. The CSG has the biggest reach of all grants. It goes to 12.8 million children in nearly 6 million households. (That’s nearly a third of all households in South Africa.) It would be possible, for example, to transfer R40bn to these households within 6 months, and without risk of leakage.
2. The CSG reaches the poorest households. It is the only grant with a low means test, whereas other grants like the old age pension and disability grant are not only for the poor – they are not explicitly pro-poor.
3. The CSG is the most effective way of reaching the informal sector. Although it is targeted to children, the CSG reaches 80% of vulnerable informal worker household members (whereas the old age pension only reaches 28% of the informal sector).
4. The CSG is an effective way of reaching unemployed adults. Working age adults who are unemployed, have lost jobs or are in low-paying precarious jobs are more likely to be living with children than with pensioners. (Many more live with neither children nor pensioners, and this will be an important gap to address after the initial CSG intervention is in place.)
5. The CSG is generally well spent, on essential goods. Multiple studies show that the grant is spent widely. The Department of Social Development’s own research showed that it was spent on 5 main items: food, education, clothing, health and transport. Poor households are generally careful with their money, and will be even more careful in this time of economic crisis.

In summary: it would be fine to top up all the grants, but if it comes to a choice, then the CSG is the one to prioritise. The CSG has the best chance of reaching the right households at the scale needed.

In support of this call, sign this online petition to the President: https://bit.ly/TopUpCSG

UNICEF South Africa .ZA Black Sash Cindi - Children in Distress Network Equal Education Equal Education Law Centre Rural Health Advocacy Project National Association of Child Care Workers - NACCW Section27 Institute for Economic Justice Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health Bulungula Incubator SA Civil Society for Women's, Adolescents' and Children's Health Umduduzi - Hospice Care for Children amandla.mobi The Teddy Bear Clinic South Africa Jelly Beanz Preschools 4 Africa AECYC Association for the education and care of young children/ VVOS Oxfam South Africa Ilifa Labantwana Child Welfare South Africa Nal'ibali The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) Protective Behaviours Southern Africa Cotlands Motheo Training Institute Trust

17/02/2020

Historical inequalities and social division undermine cohesion and sow seeds of instability. How can Africa build a future where ethnic and other differences are a strength, a driver of growth and development, rather than sources of division and instability? On 20 Feb @ 3 pm we are discussing this book, which delivers a comprehensive study of that question through an exploration of the continent's divided histories to understand where Africans stand now, and to reflect on how they might now work towards a more trusting society. A partnership between the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town the University of Cape Town, and JICA - Japan International Cooperation Agency. Dr Stanley Henkeman, Executive Director of Institute for Justice and Reconciliation will deliver the keynote address titled "Social Cohesion in South Africa – Past, Present and Future". Programme: http://bit.ly/Divided_Pasts

05/02/2020

Best wishes to our colleagues at the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research for next week's important gathering to discuss strategies and interventions to reduce inequality in South Africa. More details 👇

To take the important insights from the recently released "Inequality Trends in South Africa" report further, we are hosting a stakeholder engagement next week to learn more about the findings. Importantly, the event is an opportunity for government, academia, civil society, labour unions and international organisations to hold constructive conversations on strategies to tackle the country's monumental inequality challenges. The event is bringing together speakers from, among others, The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa; National Treasury; Oxfam South Africa; the Development Bank of Southern Africa; City of Cape Town, South African Cities Network, the National Labour and Economic Development Institute; Equal Education; Gender Links and members of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council from the The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and Wits Business School. Our partners are StatsSA, AFD - Agence Française de Développement and the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town University of Cape Town There are still a few seats available - see RSVP details at https://aceir.org.za/news/events/

24/10/2019

Yesterday's SDG seminar, hosted by Africancentreforcities Urbanafrica, was inspiring as we heard from the director of African Monitor, Namhla Mniki-Mangaliso about citizen-centred development processes. Of particular interest to the is how African Monitor's citizen-generated data are filling the gaps on second and third tier data for the SDG monitoring process. These data illuminate how people's experiences of government services can be off mark from what is read into first tier data. For example: In Senegal, education is free, thus contributing to SDG 4 first target: "By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes." But, the citizen-generated data that African Monitor supports showed that almost 31% of Senegalese surveyed reported they can't afford the associated costs of "fee education", such as school uniforms, stationary, etc. Children's Institute, University of Cape Town Sylvia Croese

21/10/2019

"Citizen-centric approaches to achieving the SDGs in Africa: reflections from practice" is the topic of this month's SDG seminar, hosted by our colleagues at the Africancentreforcities Urbanafrica. The presenter is Namhla Mniki, director of the Africa Monitor. 12h30 - 14h00, UCT upper campus. All are welcome.

Namhla Mniki will present Citizen-centric approaches to achieving the SDGs in Africa: reflections from practice on 23 October, from 12:30 to 14:00 as part of ACC’s on-going SDG Seminar series. Namhla Mniki is a global development strategist leading African Monitor, an entity working to eradicate p...

19/10/2019

This exciting new inter/trans-disciplinary MPhil degree programme at the University of Cape Town offers innovative ways of understanding problems of injustice and inequality from a non-elitist stance. It is a full-time two-year Master’s programme in collaboration with the Poverty & Inequality Initiative. Applications to be made online: http://www.sociology.uct.ac.za/mphiltoji

19/10/2019

Are you a change-maker who fights inequality; an activist, movement-builder, researcher or civil society professional working in fields such as labour and grassroots organising, environmental justice, women’s, minority and migrant rights, community wealth-building, and economic and social rights? Or in the areas of global care chains; elites, wealth and tax justice; and spatial inequalities and the future of work? Then this opportunity to apply for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity programme might be for you! Applications close this coming week, 22 October: afsee.atlanticfellows.org/apply The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance Children's Institute, University of Cape Town Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) Africancentreforcities Urbanafrica

Apply for the 2020-21 cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity, a funded programme for change-makers from around the world, hosted at London School of Economics and Political Science.

17/10/2019

Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – an annual opportunity that is endorsed by the United Nations to promote dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities, and society at large. We invite you to watch this short video that gives a remarkable insight into what it means to be living under conditions of great poverty in South Africa. These stories, filmed in Thembisa in Gauteng province, were collected for the “Towards Carnegie3: Strategies to Overcome Poverty and Inequality in South Africa” conference hosted by University of Cape Town in 2012. A shortlist of individual stories can be viewed at: https://www.mandelainitiative.org.za/story-tent-videos.html Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town Leave No SA Youth Behind African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) Poverty Stoplight South Africa

Snippets of Tembisa residents’ stories of living in poverty and inequality in South Africa, and their resilience to create a better life. The Story Tent shor...

10/10/2019

Our next seminar, in partnership with the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research, focuses on climate policy and poverty reduction. Dr Britta Rennkamp from UCT's African Climate & Development Initiative will present on the trade-offs between climate policy and poverty reduction, including renewable energy policy, carbon pricing and carbon budgets. You will learn about South Africa's climate policy in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 30 October from 13h00 - 14h00. RSVPs are essential: http://bit.ly/Climate-poverty-SDGs

04/10/2019

The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population - IUSSP, Poverty and Inequality is inviting economists, demographers, economic demographers, sociologist, and scholars from other related disciplines to submit their research on the interactions between population dynamics, poverty and inequality. For more information: https://iussp.org/en/2nd-iussp-population-poverty-and-inequality-research-conference African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town Children's Institute, University of Cape Town Murray Leibbrandt AFD - Agence Française de Développement

02/10/2019

Our latest newsletter features research on women's economic contributions through unpaid care work in South Africa. The study is part of the Counting Women’s Work Project which involves research teams from around the world to bring into perspective the economic lives of women and girls more comprehensively. UCT’s Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) has been driving the South African contribution under the leadership of its deputy-director, Morné Oosthuizen. The country team’s findings on South Africa’s gendered economy and household economies make for interesting reading. University of Cape Town Children's Institute, University of Cape Town Sonke Gender Justice Gender Links Crystal Orderson

Dear friends This issue of news from the PII community has a somewhat gendered angle given the recent focus on gender inequality and the continued and increasing outcry against violence against women and children. Specifically, read about:  

01/10/2019

Our colleagues at the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town are leading this ambitious and much-needed undertaking: designing a programme of support for South Africa's young people who are not in employment, education or training; targetting specifically those aged 15 - 24 years. More about the movement for a for youth in an informative online bulletin.

Young people who are nearing the end of their school careers, or who have completed school recently, are in a precarious phase of their lives. This time of transition between adolescence and young adulthood is when they need ongoing and comprehensive support to help them make sense of the pathways that lead from school to work, further education or training opportunities. But, many of South Africa’s youth in this group – aged 15 to 24 years – are at risk of long-term disconnect from such personal development: Almost one in three in this group are not in employment, education or training (NEET). The plight of NEET youth, and the need for better mechanisms of support to them, has seen the rise of a movement for a Basic Package of Support for the country’s young people by concerned academics, government departments and youth development organisations. We tell the story of this movement here: http://bit.ly/BPS-bulletin-1 Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) DGMT Children's Institute, University of Cape Town LINC Fellowship Activate Change Drivers Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator AfricaTikkun Department Of Labour Department of Social Development National Department of Health (South Africa) DBE SA DHET

01/10/2019

Calling all journalists: Our colleagues at the Children's Institute, University of Cape Town is facilitating yet another great opportunity for to engage closely with experts in against . One travel sponsorship is available. Interested? Read this article on the first workshop to spur action for registration: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/813/191129.html Deadline is 4 Oct.

25/09/2019

We are looking forward to today's presentation, at our monthly seminar, by Prof. Linda-Gail Bekker from the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre based at UCT Faculty of Health Sciences. Join us at 12.30 for a spot of lunch before starting at 13h00. Level 4, seminar room. NACOSA University of Cape Town

Our next seminar on Wed, 25 Sept., in partnership with the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research continues the dialogue on the SDGs. In particular, Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being. The presenter is Prof. Linda-gail Bekker from the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation and Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences. She will present the key findings from the international commission convened by the International AIDS Society and The Lancet to assess the future of the HIV response in the context of a more integrated approach to health. Prof. Bekker was the co-chair of this commission which investigated both the successes and shortcomings of the HIV response and the lessons that this experience holds for the broader effort to achieve the ambitious health targets in Sustainable Development Goal 3. She will also address key steps that have been taken since its release in 2018 to consult global stakeholders and strategise on practical steps for implementation. RSVPs are essential: http://bit.ly/Health-SDG-seminar