Limbani Tambwari | Brandeis University (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Limbani Tambwari

South Sudan is a newly born country which gained its autonomy on September 11, 2011. Despite bein... more South Sudan is a newly born country which gained its autonomy on September 11, 2011. Despite being freshly established, gender relations in South Sudan are constructed by social, economic, political and environmental realities after decades of conflict (CARE, 2014). Its population is dominated by men, making 52 per cent of the population against 43 per cent for women in contrast to the global ratio of 51 per cent female and 49 per cent male (Ali, 2011). Women and girls makes the majority of the internally displaced to refuge as they would flee war infested areas with children while men remain behind. The impact has cascaded to Sudan education with women affected most. Only 27 percent of the adult population above the age of 15 is literate of which 40 per cent is of men compared to 16 per cent of women (World Bank, 2014).

Youth unemployment protuberance has become a global concern, with 73.4 million youth unemployed a... more Youth unemployment protuberance has become a global concern, with 73.4 million youth unemployed and an estimated youth unemployment increases from 12.3 per cent in 2011 to 12.4 per cent in 2012, 12.6 per cent in 2013 to a projected 12.8 per cent by 2018 with varying regional disparities (Lam, 2014, ILO, 2013). It was further estimated that at global level, the youth employment to population ratio has decreased from 44.2 per cent in 2008 to 42.3 per cent in 2013. The increasing youth unemployment has triggered global movements such as the Geneva 101 Session (2012) titled ‘The Youth Employment Crisis: A call for Action’’, The Millennium Summit, Youth Employment Network and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), goal number one, Extreme Poverty and Hunger Eradication with employment as a key indicator to reduce the youth unemployment epidemic (ILO, 2012, ILO, 2013). Similarly, unemployment is one of the major challenges confronting the young people in Zimbabwe today. Collected data indicates that Zimbabwe has a high youth population contributing to 70 per cent of the population and they are the hardest hit by unemployment. By 2014, the country had a total population of 15.6 million people, 77 per cent, consisted of children and youth below 35 years of age. Youth aged 15-34 years constituted 36 per cent of the national population and those aged between 15 -24 years were 20 per cent. The youth aged 15-34 years constitute 56 per cent of the economically active population (Country meters, 2015, Zimbabwe Country Report (ZCR), 2014).

Agriculture remains the most fundamental source of living. The world's 2.1 billion people living ... more Agriculture remains the most fundamental source of living. The world's 2.1 billion people living in rural areas depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Nevertheless, the impact of HIV/AIDS in the agricultural sector is difficult to ignore. Globally, 36 million people are infected with HIV virus, and 95 per cent of whom live in developing countries with 70 per cent depending solely on agriculture. Agriculture, particularly food production has been affected immensely by HIV/AIDS (FAO, 2001). It is further estimated that, in the 27 most affected countries in Africa, 7 million agricultural workers have died from AIDS and 16 million more deaths were expected in the next two decades thus decreasing the labor force by 10 to 26 per cent (FAO, 2001). Regrettably, the pervasiveness of the disease is on the increase and has become a threat to agriculture as it normally attacks economically active members of the families thus becoming of paramount importance for agriculture, economic and rural development. Similarly, by the end of year 2013, Zimbabwe had a total population of 13 million, with a population growth of 1.1 per cent and 70 per cent of the population living in the rural areas. Approximately, 7.5 million depends on agriculture for employment and an additional 1.5 million indirectly depends on agriculture through industries and services, using agriculture as a source for raw materials supply or market for industrial products they produce (Chenje et al, 1998). Agricultural sector contributes between 15 to 20 per cent of the country's GDP, also accounts for 40 to 50 per cent of the total annual export and 60 per cent of raw materials to agro based industries (NewsDay, 2013). For Zimbabwe to feed its self, 2.2 million tonnes of staple grain maize is needed for production. Generally, people living with HIV ranged between 1.3 to 1.4 million with adult aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate at 15 per cent. Furthermore, 1.2 million adults aged 15 and above are living with HIV, with 720 thousand women aged 15 upwards being HIV infected coupled by 64 thousand HIV related deaths leaving 890 thousand orphans aged 0 to 17 (UNAIDS, 2014). Rural areas continues to have the highest HIV prevalence, leading to worsening levels of chronic ill health and death affecting agriculture, rural development and the land reform effort. Considering that Zimbabwe is still implementation the Fast Track Land Reform Program to resolve landlessness and to improve agricultural productivity among the rural poor, the problem is that effective research on progressive undermining of rural agricultural development by HIV/AIDS has not been done (Poverty Reduction Forum, 2003). Furthermore, the detrimental impact that HIV/AIDS have on agricultural rural households' productive capacity has been underestimated with much research done focusing on land rights and tenure of security, The devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on these rural households and their livelihoods demands a rethinking of agriculture and rural development policies and practices. Also, the unavailability of information to addressing Zimbabwe HIV/AIDS challenges on agriculture has been a matter of concern for policy makers and future researchers. Failure to curb the disease in this sector will affect potential beneficiaries of the land reform who may get their farms taken away for underutilization, become less productive or disinvesting in land. However, this paper is designed to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on rural and agricultural development with intention to recommend policies strategies to address the challenges.

Youth unemployment has become a global phenomenon with developing countries governments diverting... more Youth unemployment has become a global phenomenon with developing countries governments diverting their efforts and resources to curb youth unemployment in line with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especilly goal number one, Extreme Poverty and Hunger Eradication with employment as a key indicator. According to International Labor Organization (ILO, 2013, pg. 3), globally, youth unemployment rate was estimated at 12.5 per cent in 2013 with 73 million youth unemployed. Informal employment among youth remained widespread and transitions to decent work are challenging. Between 2008 – 2012, youth unemployment rate increased to 24.9 per cent in developed countries and 18.1 percent in developing countries (ILO, 2013, pg. 4). A projection for 2016 portrays the rate to be above 17 per cent. Ghana (2013, pg. 14) postulated that youth make up 33 per cent of Ghana’s population of 22 million with high unemployment rate within the youth aged between 15 – 24 years at 25.6 per cent doubling that of 25 – 44 age groups. Nevertheless, Ghana has experienced economic growth, but the growth has not translated adequately into employment creation in the formal sector such that youth accounted for 14 per cent of the regular wage earners while the informal sector employs an estimated 22 per cent of youth (Ghana, 2012). Unavailability of information on solutions for addressing youth unemployment challenges has been a matter of concern for policy makers, civil societies, and international community. This project is designed to assess the current legal framework of Ghana towards youth unemployment reduction, reviews the current impact of youth unemployment and recommend the way forward with the explicit intention for the government and stakeholders to create employment opportunities for the youths.

South Sudan is a newly born country which gained its autonomy on September 11, 2011. Despite bein... more South Sudan is a newly born country which gained its autonomy on September 11, 2011. Despite being freshly established, gender relations in South Sudan are constructed by social, economic, political and environmental realities after decades of conflict (CARE, 2014). Its population is dominated by men, making 52 per cent of the population against 43 per cent for women in contrast to the global ratio of 51 per cent female and 49 per cent male (Ali, 2011). Women and girls makes the majority of the internally displaced to refuge as they would flee war infested areas with children while men remain behind. The impact has cascaded to Sudan education with women affected most. Only 27 percent of the adult population above the age of 15 is literate of which 40 per cent is of men compared to 16 per cent of women (World Bank, 2014).

Youth unemployment protuberance has become a global concern, with 73.4 million youth unemployed a... more Youth unemployment protuberance has become a global concern, with 73.4 million youth unemployed and an estimated youth unemployment increases from 12.3 per cent in 2011 to 12.4 per cent in 2012, 12.6 per cent in 2013 to a projected 12.8 per cent by 2018 with varying regional disparities (Lam, 2014, ILO, 2013). It was further estimated that at global level, the youth employment to population ratio has decreased from 44.2 per cent in 2008 to 42.3 per cent in 2013. The increasing youth unemployment has triggered global movements such as the Geneva 101 Session (2012) titled ‘The Youth Employment Crisis: A call for Action’’, The Millennium Summit, Youth Employment Network and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), goal number one, Extreme Poverty and Hunger Eradication with employment as a key indicator to reduce the youth unemployment epidemic (ILO, 2012, ILO, 2013). Similarly, unemployment is one of the major challenges confronting the young people in Zimbabwe today. Collected data indicates that Zimbabwe has a high youth population contributing to 70 per cent of the population and they are the hardest hit by unemployment. By 2014, the country had a total population of 15.6 million people, 77 per cent, consisted of children and youth below 35 years of age. Youth aged 15-34 years constituted 36 per cent of the national population and those aged between 15 -24 years were 20 per cent. The youth aged 15-34 years constitute 56 per cent of the economically active population (Country meters, 2015, Zimbabwe Country Report (ZCR), 2014).

Agriculture remains the most fundamental source of living. The world's 2.1 billion people living ... more Agriculture remains the most fundamental source of living. The world's 2.1 billion people living in rural areas depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Nevertheless, the impact of HIV/AIDS in the agricultural sector is difficult to ignore. Globally, 36 million people are infected with HIV virus, and 95 per cent of whom live in developing countries with 70 per cent depending solely on agriculture. Agriculture, particularly food production has been affected immensely by HIV/AIDS (FAO, 2001). It is further estimated that, in the 27 most affected countries in Africa, 7 million agricultural workers have died from AIDS and 16 million more deaths were expected in the next two decades thus decreasing the labor force by 10 to 26 per cent (FAO, 2001). Regrettably, the pervasiveness of the disease is on the increase and has become a threat to agriculture as it normally attacks economically active members of the families thus becoming of paramount importance for agriculture, economic and rural development. Similarly, by the end of year 2013, Zimbabwe had a total population of 13 million, with a population growth of 1.1 per cent and 70 per cent of the population living in the rural areas. Approximately, 7.5 million depends on agriculture for employment and an additional 1.5 million indirectly depends on agriculture through industries and services, using agriculture as a source for raw materials supply or market for industrial products they produce (Chenje et al, 1998). Agricultural sector contributes between 15 to 20 per cent of the country's GDP, also accounts for 40 to 50 per cent of the total annual export and 60 per cent of raw materials to agro based industries (NewsDay, 2013). For Zimbabwe to feed its self, 2.2 million tonnes of staple grain maize is needed for production. Generally, people living with HIV ranged between 1.3 to 1.4 million with adult aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate at 15 per cent. Furthermore, 1.2 million adults aged 15 and above are living with HIV, with 720 thousand women aged 15 upwards being HIV infected coupled by 64 thousand HIV related deaths leaving 890 thousand orphans aged 0 to 17 (UNAIDS, 2014). Rural areas continues to have the highest HIV prevalence, leading to worsening levels of chronic ill health and death affecting agriculture, rural development and the land reform effort. Considering that Zimbabwe is still implementation the Fast Track Land Reform Program to resolve landlessness and to improve agricultural productivity among the rural poor, the problem is that effective research on progressive undermining of rural agricultural development by HIV/AIDS has not been done (Poverty Reduction Forum, 2003). Furthermore, the detrimental impact that HIV/AIDS have on agricultural rural households' productive capacity has been underestimated with much research done focusing on land rights and tenure of security, The devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on these rural households and their livelihoods demands a rethinking of agriculture and rural development policies and practices. Also, the unavailability of information to addressing Zimbabwe HIV/AIDS challenges on agriculture has been a matter of concern for policy makers and future researchers. Failure to curb the disease in this sector will affect potential beneficiaries of the land reform who may get their farms taken away for underutilization, become less productive or disinvesting in land. However, this paper is designed to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on rural and agricultural development with intention to recommend policies strategies to address the challenges.

Youth unemployment has become a global phenomenon with developing countries governments diverting... more Youth unemployment has become a global phenomenon with developing countries governments diverting their efforts and resources to curb youth unemployment in line with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especilly goal number one, Extreme Poverty and Hunger Eradication with employment as a key indicator. According to International Labor Organization (ILO, 2013, pg. 3), globally, youth unemployment rate was estimated at 12.5 per cent in 2013 with 73 million youth unemployed. Informal employment among youth remained widespread and transitions to decent work are challenging. Between 2008 – 2012, youth unemployment rate increased to 24.9 per cent in developed countries and 18.1 percent in developing countries (ILO, 2013, pg. 4). A projection for 2016 portrays the rate to be above 17 per cent. Ghana (2013, pg. 14) postulated that youth make up 33 per cent of Ghana’s population of 22 million with high unemployment rate within the youth aged between 15 – 24 years at 25.6 per cent doubling that of 25 – 44 age groups. Nevertheless, Ghana has experienced economic growth, but the growth has not translated adequately into employment creation in the formal sector such that youth accounted for 14 per cent of the regular wage earners while the informal sector employs an estimated 22 per cent of youth (Ghana, 2012). Unavailability of information on solutions for addressing youth unemployment challenges has been a matter of concern for policy makers, civil societies, and international community. This project is designed to assess the current legal framework of Ghana towards youth unemployment reduction, reviews the current impact of youth unemployment and recommend the way forward with the explicit intention for the government and stakeholders to create employment opportunities for the youths.