http://www.wahenga.net/index.php Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:30:00 +0200 en develop@octoplus.co.za Copyright 2008 2008-07-14T06:30:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/what_happens_when_we_neglect_the_poor/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:30:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/what_happens_when_we_neglect_the_poor/#When:06:30:00Z Three quarters of the world’s “ultra poor” live in sub-Saharan Africa. That such a situation persists when world governments and development agencies around the world have endorsed and committed themselves to a Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to halve hunger by 2015 must raise serious concerns regarding competence, commitment and accountability. English, Malawi 2008-07-14T06:30:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/tailored_to_context_some_reflections_on_social_protection/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:42:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/tailored_to_context_some_reflections_on_social_protection/#When:11:42:00Z Although social protection (SP) is of the utmost importance in Africa, current debates are often overly simplistic, with a risk for SP to be added to the long list of "rapidly emerging-rapidly dismissed" development ideas. Indeed, real-world constraints and dilemmas faced by policy-makers should be faced more explicitly, including countries' different levels of capacities to institutionalise SP systems. Going beyond ‘agendas' and approaching SP in a more balanced way, where both opportunities and limitations are appropriately gauged in a context-specific fashion, may be an important step towards making SP better suited and more relevant to those who need it most. English 2008-04-17T11:42:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/can_hunger_be_addressed_in_isolation/ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/can_hunger_be_addressed_in_isolation/#When:09:00:00Z RHVP is now widely known in southern Africa and beyond by its acronym - very rarely do the personnel associated with the programme have to elaborate what it stands for - the Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme.  As RHVP approaches the end of a 3-year phase, it is time to stand back and take stock of progress and look to the future.  Is the programme name still appropriate?  I would argue that it's not - that a preoccupation with hunger as an outcome is constraining, and that it should actually be the Regional Vulnerability Programme. English 2008-04-08T09:00:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/the_role_of_ingos_in_the_new_social_protection_agenda_in_africa/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:34:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/the_role_of_ingos_in_the_new_social_protection_agenda_in_africa/#When:08:34:00Z The new social protection agenda in Africa is focused on national governments with an emphasis on the design and implementation of new policies and programmes. In fact, social protection in Africa can only be a reality if it is fully directed and implemented by national governments. The role of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) in this work to date has been highly variable, but there is increasing interest to engage. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the issues that are currently being faced by INGOs in their interaction with the new social protection agenda in Africa and to recommend a way forward.   2008-03-26T08:34:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/social_transfers_dont_let_the_best_be_the_enemy_of_the_good/ Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:01:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/social_transfers_dont_let_the_best_be_the_enemy_of_the_good/#When:11:01:00Z It is important that the inevitable (but often trivial) weaknesses of social protection programmes are not disproportionately exploited by their detractors English 2008-01-28T11:01:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/is_social_protection_in_southern_africa_at_a_crossroad/ Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:32:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/is_social_protection_in_southern_africa_at_a_crossroad/#When:07:32:00Z Why is the international community remaining silent on the subject of "cash instead of food"? Will food aid be replaced by alternative instruments that offer the prospect of drawing the poor and hungry out of the poverty trap and of stimulating much needed economic, employment and income growth within communities or will it just be "business as usual"? English 2007-06-26T07:32:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/comments_on_the_ipc/ Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:57:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/comments_on_the_ipc/#When:10:57:00Z While not ideal, the Integrated Food Security and Phase Classification (IPC) is an invaluable tool in integrating various food security analyses. English 2007-06-22T10:57:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/cash_instead_of_food/ Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:58:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/cash_instead_of_food/#When:10:58:00Z Reduced domestic harvests and high regional prices have adversely affected food security in Lesotho and Swaziland this year. A recent FAO/WFP assessment indicates that over 400,000 people in Swaziland are food insecure and will need 40,000 tonnes of food aid during the coming year. But is food aid the right response to this years crisis? Swaziland 2007-06-04T10:58:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/public_works_dont1/ Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:51:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/public_works_dont1/#When:07:51:00Z Public works are a popular social protection instrument throughout southern Africa. They can be effective as a response to transient or cyclical crises, by smoothing consumption and preventing the distress selling of assets. 2007-04-26T07:51:00+02:00 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/will_the_current_el_nino_trigger_pockets_of_drought/ Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:06:00 +0200 http://www.wahenga.net/index.php/views/comments_view/will_the_current_el_nino_trigger_pockets_of_drought/#When:09:06:00Z In the 2005/06 marketing year some 10 million people were estimated to be vulnerable and to require humanitarian assistance in the SADC region. English 2007-02-13T09:06:00+02:00