Training them to catch fish? Farmer education and training programmes in Uganda’s organic agricultural subsector

This policy brief explores the nature of training and education activities of civil society organisations and tertiary institutions in Uganda. An internet search of the training and education activities in organic agriculture in Uganda shows overwhelming indications of the hard work that is being put into educating and training Ugandans. Critical questions therefore arise: ‘What is driving these training and education programmes?’ ‘Who is running these programmes and what are their focus areas?’ and, ‘Qualitatively speaking, how effective are these programmes?’ Using the analogy of ‘train them to catch fish’, the policy brief grapples with answering these complex questions. Recommendations are made to both civil society and the Ugandan government on strategies to carry forward the process of growing the sector

Healthy migrants or health migrants? accounting for the health care utilisation patterns of Zimbabwean migrants living in South Africa

ABSTRACT Background: There is a long history of migration between Zimbabwe and South Africa. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the mix of Zimbabweans migrating to South Africa in search of better economic opportunities, fleeing political persecution, to pursue education. Little is known about the public health impact of this migration, the healthcare needs of the different categories of migrants, as well as their health-seeking strategies. The report aimed to explain the patterns of health care utilisation of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg. Methods: A descriptive exploratory research design was adopted in which two methods were applied. First was the use of existing quantitative data from a recently completed survey (RENEWAL 2008) in which Zimbabwean migrants were the prominent international migrant group (n=118). Second, follow-up qualitative in-depth interviews with four respondents, were conducted to explore in detail specific cases where respondents used a public healthcare facility or where they had to make a difficult decision due to illness in a foreign country. Results: The majority of Zimbabwean migrants do not seek healthcare in South Africa neither do they report “ever falling ill” after arriving in the country. Out of 118 respondents only 25 reported an illness incidence of which 17 sought help from different health service providers, 11 of them at a government health facility. None of them was denied on the basis of their legal status. Some of the users of healthcare services, were satisfied with the treatment they received. Conclusion: There is little evidence in the findings to support the hypothesis that legal status is a deterrent factor among migrants who seek treatment at government hospitals. Instead factors such as proximity of the healthcare facility to the respondent’s place of residence were the more important reasons in choosing a certain healthcare provider. Also the generally low utilisation tendencies could be attributed to the “healthy migrant hypothesis”. A survey with a larger sample size could establish more diverse patterns of health care utilisation among Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa

Cross-border mobility between South Africa and Zimbabwe: historical and contemporary trajectories of development in Musina, South Africa.

Research paper for Social Policy.Abstract available in PDF

Cashing-in on mobility: economic actors in the ‘cross- border shopping economy’.

Research paper for Social Policy.Abstract available in PDF

Accounting for the health care utilisation patterns of Zimbabwean migrants living in South Africa

Non-PRIFPRI5; GRP33; RENEWA

Movement of people and the right of residence and establishment: a focus on South Africa

This paper examines South Africa’s migration policy framework development and the initiatives undertaken on the basis of the commitments to the Abuja Treaty and successive African Union (AU) frameworks regarding the free movement of people in the region. As such the paper outlines South Africa’s compliance and contentions with the notion of free movement of people and how it tries to balance the dual roles of meeting the needs of its previously disadvantaged population at the same time as complying with principles of regional integration, which are important to its foreign policy. As will be shown in the paper, among other things, the country has been faced with implementation challenges in the enforcement of its migration policies to such an extent that non-state actors, such as communities, have resorted to violence against migrants due to perceptions that there has been an uncontrolled ‘influx’ of migrants resulting from lax law enforcement

The G20 and Building Global Governance for “Climate Refugees”

The global governance of displaced and trapped populations, forced migration and refugees is not prepared for the numbers likely to manifest under climate change. The Group of Twenty has a responsibility to prepare, push for reform and initiate annual reviews to enhance humanitarian responses to aid climate mobility. International policy and law build on the false assumption that displaced people and refugees can return to their place of origin when conditions improve, conflicts subside or homes are rebuilt. This cannot hold for many of those affected by climate change. Governance reform is needed to strengthen rights and obligations of peoples and governments in countries of origin, transit and destination, recognizing the special circumstances and needs of “climate refugees” or migrants