By Eyob Balcha Gebremariam
There might be more than two, but I want to focus on these two blind spots, both in the scholarly debate and in the policy domains of “equitable partnerships”. The first is the dominance of the “development frame”. Unless we question the funding of research partnerships through development assistance, our efforts to achieve equity and justice will remain below par.
Continue reading “The Two Blind Spots of the ‘Equitable Partnerships’ Debate”
By Jabulile Happyness Mzimela and Inocent Moyo
The Natal Colonial government initiated the establishment of protected areas in the Drakensberg in 1903, drawing on Eurocentric conservation models that sidelined Indigenous knowledge systems and governance structures. These approaches laid the foundation for the exclusion of Indigenous communities from decision-making over lands they have inhabited for generations. Such exclusions have had material consequences, contributing to marginalisation and the erosion of livelihoods.
Continue reading “Unlocking the Benefits from Conservation? Indigenous Youth and Entrepreneurship in Drakensberg Park”
By Devika Dutt
Calls to decolonise Development Studies have gained increasing visibility across universities, research institutes, and policy spaces. Yet despite its growing popularity, decolonisation is often treated as a loosely defined aspiration rather than a substantive intellectual and political project. In many cases, it is reduced to efforts to diversify reading lists or improve representation within existing frameworks. While such initiatives are important in their own right, they do not address the deeper structural and epistemic foundations of the field.
Continue reading “Decolonising Development Studies: Why It Matters”
By Jiayi Wang and Mengjie Xu
When COP30 ended in the Amazonian city of Belém, much of the global media focus stayed locked on a familiar question: would the final agreement clearly call for the “phasing out of fossil fuels”? The newly created Belém Action Mechanism (BAM) — the first formal attempt to place workers, communities and unions inside climate governance — looked like a breakthrough. Yet behind the scenes, many negotiators shared the same concern: without new funding, clear responsibility and binding rules, BAM may become more symbol than protection.
Continue reading “COP30 and Just Transition in the South: Who Will Pay the Social Price?”
By Keetie Roelen
“You need a new vacuum cleaner? Can you prove that your current one is really broken?”
This was the response Hanny received from the welfare office in the Dutch city of Tilburg when she asked them for support with replacing her broken appliance. More precisely, it was the response following her second request, after her first appeal was met with the suggestion that she could use a broom to sweep her floors.
Continue reading “Why We Need Empathy to Tackle Poverty”
