Diving into a “treasure trove” on the roots of inequality, poverty, and deprivation in Africa
The first school of the Cluster of Research Excellence in Inequalities, Poverty, and Deprivation (CoRE IPD) was “akin to an economics treasure trove” according to one participant; while another student felt that “summarising the experience in just a paragraph is quite difficult, a page or two would do”.
The school, held in mid-July, gave around 40 early career researchers the opportunity to delve into the roots of inequality, poverty, and deprivation in Africa from a multidisciplinary base.
The course outline indeed reads like a treasure trove for emerging researchers interested in the continent’s growth and development: From exploring pre-colonial inequality in sub-Saharan Africa to the impact of colonialism on inequality in region; touching on the interactions of growth, poverty, social mobility, and inequality in Africa; discussing gender equality and social change, and financial inclusion of women as part of the broader impact of such inclusion on sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa; to measuring the deprivations of poverty, using international poverty measurements, and practical sessions on data and methods for measuring African poverty; and gaining an understanding of experimental evaluation methods, structural change and poverty reduction, and the role of institutions in creating inequalities and injustices alongside the role of democracy as one such institution that can contribute to a just society.
The team of lecturers – all from the CoRE IPD partner universities – was made up of esteemed scholars from Ghana, Kenya, the Netherlands, and South Africa.
The school, which spanned five days of learning and networking, was hosted by the University of Nairobi, home to the ACEIR’s Kenya node at the Department of Economics and Development Studies.
The sessions were flexible by allowing for paper presentations by participants. On the last day, a postgraduate researcher and two students respectively had the opportunity to present their work.
The programme included the official launch of the CoRE IPD as one of the 20 research clusters of top researchers from African and European universities to work together on societal and scientific challenges. ACEIR’s three partner universities are the African partners in the Cluster.
Reflections from the host and participants
"ACEIR’s Kenya node and our department were honoured to host a very successful inaugural CoRE IPD summer school. The participants from Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, and South Africa showed great interest in the content taught and were of the opinion that more such summer schools would be beneficial. We are grateful for funding from ACEIR, the University of Groningen, and the University of Nairobi’s Women Economic Empowerment Hub and individual participants. I believe that the CoRE IPD summer schools can provide additional avenues for enhancing learning; showcasing research by both students and staff; and collaborating and building networks for students across Africa and Europe."
Prof. Damiano K. Manda, ACEIR Kenya node convenor, Department of Economics and Development Studies, University of Nairobi
"Summarising the experience during summer school in just a paragraph is quite difficult, a page or two would do. Everything was excellently planned and executed, the facilitators were well-prepared and equipped. Considering the fact that academically I am not from an economic background, but I was able to understand the lectures and see the nexus between food science and inequalities, poverty, and deprivation in Africa; it is a clear indication that the facilitators delivered. Another highlight was the networking bit, I was able to meet students from other countries such as Ghana, and South Africa as well as those from Kenya. Did I mention that I learned a new skill, conducting data analysis using Stata? I am so glad I was part of the first cohort, and I look forward to being part of the future summer schools."
Linet Thuku, Department of Food Science Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi.
"My first summer school experience was deeply enriching; it was akin to an economics treasure trove. The speakers, facilitators had a rich reservoir of knowledge and expertise in their respective fields and topics that was truly an eye opener to most of us if not all. The summer school offered us an opportunity to extend our web of network with economists from Benin, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Netherlands. I am really grateful I was part of 2024 summer school. Looking forward to 2025 edition."
Okaka Ambwaya, Department of Economics and Development Studies, University of Nairobi.