MRI 2025

The pastoral communities inhabiting the Eastern desert of Egypt serve as a cross-border actor with significant influence in bridging Egypt and the Horn of Africa beyond political considerations that associate the Red Sea communities with terrorist or pirate organizations. They played a crucial role in the transmission of African knowledge and material culture within the great African Sahara i.e. the Forty Day’s Caravan Route.
The research team has a founding understanding of pastoralists in Egypt’s South Red Sea region; however, climatic changes and increased government and investment involvement in the region are impacting the traditional pastoralist system’s ability to adapt to these changes and how do they perceive uncertainty according to their faith and rituals. Building on that, this project has twofold objectives in the Eastern Desert of Egypt: 1) what are the system properties of the ecosystem on which people and livestock survive, and 2) how the perception of uncertainty by different actors (pastoralists, state, corporates) frames this change?

The project’s design adopts ethnographic vision where pastoralists are in the centre of data collection process; thus, the project will employ a mixed-methods approach in collecting and analyzing data from villages in the Eastern desert of Egypt.

• Abeer Abazeed, Cairo University, Egypt (F)
• Mosaab El Zayyat, Independent researcher and Co-Founder- Research Coordinator Knowledge Sharing,  Initiative, Egypt (M)
• Howida Fouda, 6^th of October University, Egypt (F)

The primary objective of our project is to investigate the impact of energy transition in the global north on extraction areas in the global south. The project takes a “common man” approach to examine the interactions between local African communities, ecology and capital from the global north, which comes from mineral extraction and environmental conservation funding. By conducting comprehensive field studies and engaging with local stakeholders, we aim to develop actionable strategies to mitigate social conflicts and promote sustainable development. Understanding the relationships between people and their environment can help us solve various problems, including social conflict, environmental degradation and combating climate change. Using ecological principles, the project will generate knowledge to inform decisions about natural resource management and conservation practices for a sustainable future. It will specifically speak to issues such as wetlands, resource extraction and governance, social conflict, pollution in urban landscapes, and land degradation. The project will result in two academic articles titled: “Conservation for the Future? Environmental Reform and Meaning-Making in the Former Central African Federation (CAF)” and “‘The Green Transition,’ Mining and Social Conflict in Post-colonial Africa: The Cases of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, 2020-2024.”

• Mutale Tinamou Mazimba, University of the Free State, South Africa (F)
• Mathew Ruguwa, University of Zimbabwe (M)
• Mwayi Lusaka, Mzuzu University, Malawi (M)

The research project investigates how family names are attributed in the Dagara communities of Ghana and Burkina Faso in West Africa, and the implications of the family naming practices of these communities for the theory of generations. It is mentioned in the literature that the system of naming in African communities is diverse and complex and that it serves to express socio-cultural identity, lineage, group affiliation, religious beliefs, and many other values. For some scholars, the family naming practices performed by Africans, such as the Dagara people in Ghana and Burkina Faso, have been influenced by Western culture. Using an ethnographic approach and a purposeful sampling strategy, we intend to examine whether the way family names are attributed to Dagara children in present-day Ghana and Burkina Faso is endogenous or a colonial heritage, and how cross-border cultural transformations affect people in West Africa. This study is significant as it intends to contribute to the understanding of the Dagara people, their family naming conventions, and the broader West African naming traditions. It will also help trace the ancestry and genealogy, as well as the migration patterns of the Dagara of Ghana and Burkina, for family reunification.

• Alain Noindonmon Hien, University Lédéa Bernard Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso (M)
• Gérard Millogo, University Lédéa Bernard Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso (M)
• Faustina Aapagr Naapane, University of Ghana (F)

The escalating environmental crisis in Africa’s Lake Chad region, marked by drastic water body shrinkage and state fragility, forms the critical backdrop for this transdisciplinary research project. Confronting the complex interplay of hydropower development, urban transformation, and social equity, the study investigates how renewable energy initiatives reshape power relations, governance structures, and socio-environmental dynamics in this vulnerable basin. Central to the inquiry are four interconnected questions: How do hydropower projects redefine renewable energy politics in Africa? In what ways do urban systems adapt to environmental degradation and energy transitions? What roles do gender and generational diversity play? And crucially, how can the framework of a ‘just transition’ be operationalized amidst shrinking resources and state capacity?
Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research conducts comparative case studies across key urban centers—N’Djamena (Chad), Maiduguri (Nigeria), and peri-urban border communities. Methodologically, it integrates archival policy analysis, 40-50 stakeholder interviews, focus groups centering marginalized voices, GIS spatial mapping of urban and energy infrastructure changes, and representative household surveys. This triangulated design captures both macro-political processes and micro-level community experiences over a 16-month timeline. Findings will inform policies for inclusive urban governance, empower local communities, and contribute to pan-African dialogues on sustainable development.

• Temilade Sesan, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (F)
• Francis Dakyaga Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana (M)
• Nadege Tedongmo, University of Dschang, Cameroon (F)
• Pountougnigni Njuh Ludovic Boris, University of Ziguinchor, Senegal (M)
• Tobi Adewunmi, University of Illinois, USA (M)

This research project examines the role of infrastructure in shaping hydrosocial territories on Djerba Island, Tunisia. It specifically focuses on modern water infrastructures, such as desalination and wastewater recycling, which have been criticized by civil society due to concerns that include their environmental impact, water quality, and the privatization of resources. At the same time, the recent UNESCO World Heritage designation of Djerba highlights the significance of the island’s traditional water practices. The project addresses two key questions: 1) How do infrastructures that decouple water systems reshape territories and individual identities? 2) How do these modern infrastructures interact with traditional water practices, especially regarding water justice? By combining fieldwork, interviews, and discourse analysis, this project aims to enhance our understanding of water justice in Tunisia and the Global South. It investigates the relationship between modern and traditional systems within the context of evolving water governance.

• Kais Bouazzi Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain, Belgium) & Tunisian Water Observatory (Tunisia) (M)

The natural scientists have largely led the debate on climate change and action. In their endeavor, their narrative is characterized with the flagging of data on the trends since 1830s with demarcation between ‘pre-industrial’ period on the one hand and ‘industrial revolution’ period on the other. The central motif of this project is to present a nexus between culture (legitimate category of public action) and climate change as modern crisis not from a utilitarian meaning and import, but rather one of the realms of everyday life. We locate the question in the ontological Mijikenda representations that offer alternative reconfigurations of the intersecting processes of neoliberal socio-political rationalities and the emerging necropolitical order of power in the description and intervention that is called climate action. Making use of the notion of domesticated agency, the tentative line thought here is that the crisis that we call climate change at least in Africa and societies like the Mijikenda is about the planetary crisis on the one hand and culture crisis on another. In moving with both natural and social sciences analysis, domesticated agency attempts to offer a critical space for interrogating the complex and intersecting socio-economic and cultural forces underwriting continued climate change. Ultimately, its findings are likely to demonstrate how climate change and responsive actions are already entangled in the broader formations of politics, society, and culture, this research engages with the cultural representations.

• Akoth Steve Ouma, Tangaza University, Kenya (M)

Internal displacement presents significant global challenges with implications for sustainable development and human rights violations. Globally, the number of IDPs has increased by 49% in the last five years, driven by escalating and prolonged conflicts in Ethiopia, the DRC, Sudan, and Ukraine. Ethiopia’s history of state-building has been marred by violent conflicts and the challenges of creating a multiethnic state. Since government reform in 2018, there has been a rise in ethnic-related violence and subsequent displacement. While territorial and resource conflicts cause displacement for Oromos, Somalis, and other ethnic groups, Amhara IDPs are displaced due to the politicization of ethnic identity and politics against the Amhara ethnic group. Amharas are often targeted due to historical grievances, leading to ongoing violence, evictions, and incrimination. Amhara IDPs evicted from other regions and resettled in the Amhara region face livelihood insecurity and uncertainty about returning, integrating, or relocating. This study analyzes political and economic drivers of ethnic-based displacement and peacebuilding using political economy analysis. It employs a qualitative, phenomenological design to explore individual experiences. Data will be collected through interviews, focus groups, field observation, and literature review, and analyzed using thematic and narrative analysis to identify patterns in displacement, peacebuilding, and durable solutions.

• Getahun Fenta Kebede, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (M)

This study investigates the effects of transnational labour migration on family dynamics, with a specific focus on African migrant domestic workers from Uganda who have been employed in the Middle East. It seeks to understand how prolonged physical separation, altered family roles, and the flow of remittances shape family cohesion, parenting practices, emotional ties, and overall household welfare. Employing a qualitative methodology rooted in phenomenological design and informed by social constructivist theory, the research will explore the lived experiences of both migrant domestic workers and returnees. Particular attention will be given to how migration influences spousal relationships, parental responsibilities, and the psychological and social well-being of children left behind. The study will also examine the reintegration of returnees and the socio-cultural disruptions that may emerge due to extended periods abroad. Data will be collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving returnees and their family members. The findings are expected to enrich existing scholarship on migration and family studies, while offering practical insights for policymakers, civil society actors, and migration governance institutions. The research aims to inform interventions that mitigate the adverse social impacts of labour migration and enhance its developmental gains for migrant-sending communities.

• Florence Munyonyo Asiimwe, Kyambogo university, Uganda (F)

The project aims to investigate the underlying factors that shape economic diversification in resource-rich countries. These economies often face the difficult task of moving beyond dependence on commodities to build more resilient and inclusive growth pathways. Diversification typically involves expanding industrial capacity and developing early-stage manufacturing, but it also calls for a broader transformation of economic structures. In many African countries, and in other regions where natural resources are in abundance, this shift has proven especially difficult, with very few successful cases. Understanding what enables or constrains diversification in such contexts is central to this project’s research agenda. The questions driving the project are: Do natural resources intrinsically promote economic diversification? Under what conditions can resource rich economies diversify, and how can these conditions be created in Africa? The project will use a single country case study as a cautionary tale to explore these questions. It will mainly rely on qualitative primary data collected through interviews, supported by a small component of quantitative data in the form of descriptive statistics to help strengthen the analysis.

• Celso Monjane, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (M)

This study examines, compares and contrasts reparatory justice mechanisms used to address colonial legacies and promote historical rectification in Kenya and Uganda. It analyses and identifies the capacities and capabilities of state institutions to operationalize reparations to rectify systemic injustices from slavery, colonialism, and racial discrimination. The study is cognizant of the role of systemic injustices in shaping Africa’s socio-economic and political landscapes.
It is against this backdrop that Kenya’s progressive democratic context and Uganda’s constrained governance, provide adequate socio-political and legal ecosystems through which existing legal and policy frameworks, challenges like public perception, and parameters for resource allocation can be examined.
Using Kenya and Uganda as case studies, the study seeks to identify institutional gaps, hierarchies of operation and oppression, systems and processes impeding rectification, while proposing strategies to foster equitable governance and reconciliation. By integrating postcolonial theory and African epistemologies, the study highlights the integral role of state-led reparations in enhancing democratization, social cohesion, and economic transformation.
The project aligns with the African Union’s 2025 reparations theme, emphasizing justice for Africans and their diaspora. Outcomes are proposed to provide actionable frameworks advancing reparative justice to bridge historical fissures, empower marginalized communities, and promote inclusivity.

• Kathleen Anangwe, University of Nairobi, Kenya (F)
• Francis Owakah, University of Nairobi, Kenya (M)
• George Nyongesa, University of Nairobi, Kenya (M)

This interdisciplinary project examines how people live with and around the ruins of medieval Swahili city-states along the East African coast, focusing on sites in Tanzania and Kenya such as Kilwa, Kaole, Takwa, Gede, and Pate. Once thriving urban centers of Swahili civilization, they were connected through trade, culture, and architecture before their decline from the 17th century onward. Today, their remnants face pressures from industrial development, climate change, mass tourism, and urban expansion. Yet they also remain loci of memory, heritage, and imagination for nearby communities. The project team investigates how these communities perceive, contest, or integrate these ruins in their everyday lives amidst shifting spatial and socio-economic landscapes. They employ archival research, archaeological excavations (terrestrial and underwater), ethnographic mapping, and visual art methodologies to trace connections between past and present. Central to the project is the creation of physical and digital archives that document local engagements with the sites across time and space. By exploring both the enduring and contested meanings of these cities, the project challenges dominant narratives of decline and loss, while foregrounding local perspectives and cultural continuities.

• Chambi Chachage, Howard University, USA (M)
• Nancy Rushohora, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (F)
• Caeser Bita, National Museums of Kenya (M)
• Cecylia Mgombere, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (F)
• Rehema Chachage, Academy of Fine Art Vienna, Austria (F)

L’objectif de ce projet de recherche est d’étudier les changements sociaux et économiques induits par les aires protégées et conservées chez les communautés locales en Afrique avec le Burkina Faso et la Côte d’Ivoire comme exemples. L’étude contribuera à combler le gap théorique de la faible place de la question des impacts sociaux dans la littérature existante tout en éclairant les décideurs dans la mise en œuvre du nouveau cadre mondial de la biodiversité. Le contexte est celui d’une collaboration interuniversitaire (universités Joseph Ki-Zerbo de Ouagadougou avec 3 enseignants-chercheurs et Jean Lorougnon Guédé de Daloa avec 2 enseignants-chercheurs). Le projet impliquera des étudiant.e.s. Il couvrira quatre massifs forestiers parmi les importants au Burkina Faso (complexe PONASI et Forêt de Dinderesso) et en Côte d’Ivoire (Parc National de Taï et Forêt de Tanoe-Ehy). D’un budget d’environ 24 000 USD, il a une durée de 16 mois et produira deux articles scientifiques. La méthodologie est comparative et interdisciplinaire entre types de forêts et entre politiques nationales, elle sera mixte par la combinaison de techniques qualitatives et quantitatives. Formations, élaboration des outils, information des populations d’accueil, terrain, traitement, analyse des données, rédaction et publication des articles, rapportage seront les étapes d’exécution du projet.

• Augustin Pale, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Burkina Faso (M)
• Didié Armand Zadou Zidy, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé de Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire (M)
• Kouassi Bruno Kpangui, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé de Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire (M)
• Alexis Kabore, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Burkina Faso (M)

Les royaumes historiques du Baol et du Cayor avec comme capitales respectives, Lambaye et Mboul étaient situés au centre du Sénégal. Ils sont entrés en contact avec le monde occidental dès le XVe siècle et ont entretenu depuis lors un engagement soutenu et intense avec les Européens. Leur histoire très mouvementée est rythmée par les soubresauts des navigations transocéaniques et les échanges commerciaux de produits de traite dont la circulation et la consommation entraînent de profonds changements dans la vie quotidienne des sociétés avec d’importantes réverbérations contemporaines. À partir d’une approche pluri-méthodologique, ce projet de recherche examine ces transformations au Baol et au Cayor afin de documenter la spécificité de l’expérience atlantique et coloniale dans cette partie du Sénégal.

• Sidy Ndour, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal (M)

Ce projet de recherche explore les potentiels des « communs urbains » comme leviers d’un urbanisme et d’une architecture sensibles aux contextes socio-culturels et géographiques des sites d’intervention. Il vise à favoriser la coopération autour des espaces collectifs de la ville de Lomé (Togo), à travers une relecture des concepts d’urbanisme tactique, d’urbanisme transitoire, d’acupuncture urbaine et de pépinières urbaines.
Trois workpackages structurent le projet : (1) la cartographie d’initiatives urbaines, architecturales et d’art urbain existantes à Lomé ; (2) l’expérimentation et la valorisation de communs urbains (espaces partagés avec des actions collaboratives) ; (3) la construction d’un cadre de gouvernance urbaine inclusive et durable.
Sur le plan académique, le projet ambitionne d’enrichir les savoirs en urbanisme en analysant les dynamiques citoyennes dans le contexte ouest-africain.
D’un point de vue opérationnel, les résultats attendus fourniront des outils concrets pour la planification urbaine, tout en démontrant, à travers des actions pilotes, la capacité d’intervention participative à réactiver des espaces délaissés et à renforcer la cohésion sociale.
Les expérimentations menées dans le cadre du projet serviront de modèles d’action reproductibles, pour des villes africaines en transition.

• Hassane Mahamat Hemchi, Ecole Africaine aux Métiers de l’Architecture et de l’Urbanisme (EAMAU), Togo (M)
• Guy-Hermann Mawussé Padenou, Ecole Africaine aux Métiers de l’Architecture et de l’Urbanisme (EAMAU), Togo (M)
• Monica Coralli, Ecole Africaine aux Métiers de l’Architecture et de l’Urbanisme (EAMAU), Togo (F)
• Léopold Carios Goutsop, Ecole Africaine aux Métiers de l’Architecture et de l’Urbanisme (EAMAU), Togo (M)
• Abdou Kailou Djibo, Ecole Africaine aux Métiers de l’Architecture et de l’Urbanisme (EAMAU), Togo (M)

Exploitant une approche socio-anthropologique, cette motivée par le destin « misérable » connu en République démocratique du Congo par les documents ou données documentaires appelés Les Archives se veut un examen des faits démontrant l’enracinement d’une réalité de crise de culture stratégique dans ce pays. Crise perceptible à travers les attitudes des autorités politiques et des citoyens ordinaires vis-à-vis de ces lieux de mémoire à utilité sociale et politique (ou stratégique) non moins déconcertante. Les autorités, sans penser intelligemment à cette utilité, n’accorde que légèrement leur attention aux Archives. Ils relèguent les structures chargées de les gérer à l’exemple de l’Institut des Archives Nationales du Congo, au bas de l’échelle de leur catégorisation (les laissant fonctionner avec des infrastructures inadaptées, des budgets dérisoires…) sans savoir qu’ils peuvent en avoir besoin comme ce fut le cas en 2007 lorsque le pays devait recourir aux Archives du Musée de Tervuren en Belgique pour faire face à un conflit frontalier avec l’Angola. Chez les citoyens, s’occuper des Archives est perçu comme méprisant alors qu’une fois devenus scientifiques certains sont souvent obligés d’aller à l’étranger pour enrichir leur documentation. Ces données appellent une analyse profonde, visée ici, pour une compréhension et des perspectives nouvelles.

• Jean Liyongo Empengele, Université de Kinshasa, RDC (M)

La formalisation des droits fonciers dans les zones de ressources partagées au Bénin, au Burkina Faso et au Niger se heurte à des résistances complexes. Ces résistances sont le reflet de tensions entre les logiques coutumières enracinées et les politiques foncières modernes, souvent imposées dans des contextes institutionnels fragiles. Elles affectent directement la sécurité foncière, en particulier celle des femmes, et contribuent à l’augmentation des conflits liés à l’accès aux ressources naturelles. Les dispositifs de formalisation, bien que porteurs de promesses, fragilisent parfois les systèmes endogènes de gestion des communs, notamment chez les pasteurs et les producteurs ruraux.
Ce projet vise à analyser les dynamiques de résistance à la formalisation des droits fonciers et à identifier des formes d’hybridation entre normes coutumières et dispositifs modernes. Il s’appuie sur une méthodologie qualitative et participative, combinant observations ethnographiques, cartographie et analyses comparatives. L’objectif est de mieux comprendre l’impact des héritages coloniaux et postcoloniaux sur la gouvernance foncière actuelle, de documenter les arrangements locaux existants et d’explorer des voies de co-construction normative plus inclusives. À terme, la recherche contribuera à imaginer des politiques foncières plus équitables, capables de réduire les conflits et de sécuriser durablement les droits fonciers dans les espaces soudano-sahéliens.

• Fabrice Vidaley Tekou, LADICom Laboratory of the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin (M)
• Bala Wenceslas Sanou, Impact Research Institute, Burkina-Faso (M)
• Marthe Diarra, Institute for Research in Human Sciences (IRSH) of Abdou Moumouni University, Niger (F)

O projecto de pesquisa tem como propósito compreender como é que os processos de descentralização e de desconcentração ocorrem ao nível municipal e em que medida têm contribuído para alcançar a política de descentralização e de autarquias locais. O foco da pesquisa é verificar de que maneira a política de descentralização concorre para a melhoria dos serviços públicos locais, assim como para a qualidade de vida dos cidadãos, promovendo práticas inclusivas de governação transparente.
A partir de quatro variáveis procuramos compreender como isso ocorre nos três países considerando: 1. Forma de designação dos membros das autarquias: mediante processos eleitorais livres e transparentes, ou nomeação central; 2. Formas de envolvimento e participação direta dos cidadãos na tomada de decisões estratégicas através de (orçamento participativo, consultas comunitárias, referendum, assembleias municipais), permitindo capacidade de fiscalização das políticas públicas locais por parte dos cidadãos, reforçando a governação local; 3. Participação ativa das mulheres na vida pública local; 4. A presença de uma mídia independente local pode concorrer para eficácia da informação e fiscalização da ação do município, contribuindo para a qualidade dos serviços públicos locais.

• Gilson Lázaro, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Angola (M)
• Laura Nhaueleque, Instituto Superior Dom Bosco, Mozambique (F)
• Luca Bussotti, Universidade Técnica de Moçambique (M)

Este estudo tem como objetivo geral compreender os principais fatores que têm motivado o fenómeno da migração internacional dos jovens guineenses e as suas implicações nos aspectos políticos, sociais, ambientais e económicos.
Desdobram-se deste objetivo geral os seguintes objetivos específicos: investigar as percepções e motivações dos jovens guineenses sobre a migração internacional; explorar as barreiras e oportunidades enfrentadas pelos jovens e compreender como as barreiras e oportunidades vivenciadas pelos participantes influenciam as suas vidas do ponto de vista social, económico e político.
Como estrutura do estudo será utilizado o Estudo de caso como metodologia de pesquisa permitindo assim investigar a migração, os fatores motivacionais e as implicações de forma aprofundada organizando e reunindo informações de forma a preservar a sua essência. Para o presente estudo será feito uma pesquisa qualitativa sobre os principais fatores que tem motivado a migração dos jovens guineenses na faixa etária a partir de 18 anos até 35 anos de idade, na cidade de Bissau, Guiné-Bissau. Também será utilizada a pesquisa quantitativa com auxílio de um questionário estruturado composto por perguntas padronizadas e pré-determinadas permitindo assim explicar e quantificar quais são os principais fatores que tem motivado a migração entre os jovens guineenses.

• Banjaqui Nhaga, Instituto Guineense de Pesquisa Aplicada Para O Desenvolvimento (IGPAD), Guinea Bissau (M)
• Boaventura Rodrigues Vaz Horta Santy, Instituto Guineense de Pesquisa Aplicada Para O Desenvolvimento (IGPAD), Guinea Bissau (M)
• Jamila Lemuela do Nascimento Nhaga Bathy, Instituto Guineense de Pesquisa Aplicada Para O Desenvolvimento (IGPAD), Guinea Bissau (F)
• Vanito Ianium Vieira Cá, Instituto Guineense de Pesquisa Aplicada Para O Desenvolvimento (IGPAD), Guinea Bissau (M)
• Sueli Helena Rocha Lopes Santy, Instituto Guineense de Pesquisa Aplicada Para O Desenvolvimento (IGPAD), Guinea Bissau (F)

In this research project titled “Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) and Democratic Governance: Cyberbullying Against Women in Politics in Nigeria and South Africa”, the researchers seek to examine the emergence of online gender-based violence (OGBV) and its implications regarding democratic participation. It also lays emphasis on the growing number of instances of cyberbullying against women in politics in both nations, in the form of abuse, harassment, threats and defamation over social media, such as Twitter and Facebook. Based on feminist and social constructionist theories, the study explores the extent to which deep-rooted patriarchal conventions and online cultures overlap to discriminate against women in political arenas.
The researchers seek to investigate the forms, content and tone of OGBV, the attitudes and experiences of women in politics and their coping mechanisms. It will take the form of a mixed-methods study–quantitative survey, in-depth interviews, and content analysis, in six Nigerian states and nine South African provinces, and involve 1,172 female political actors.
Within a 16-month timeframe, this study aims to offer policy recommendations as well as publish a scholarly book. The proposed budget of $24,470 will contribute towards inclusive governance through the advocacy of rendering safe online spaces, legislative change, and cultural change to those spaces, which would lead to increased political voice and democratic resilience.

• Kehinde Oyesomi, Covenant University, Nigeria (F)
• Afolayan Georgianna Aluko, Covenant University, Nigeria (F)
• Karabo Gloria Mohapanele, University of Fort Hare, South Africa (F)
• Gloria Eneh, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria (F)
• Noluthando Phungula, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa (F)

The Kenya government has embarked on an Affordable Housing Project (AHP) in both urban and rural areas. However, past AHPs have not succeeded in urban areas where housing needs are greatest, thereby failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. Individuals avoid relocation as it disrupts social networks, preferring to settle close to trusted networks (Mwangi, 2015). Social norms and weaker financial muscle constrain women’s access to land ownership, inheritance rights and housing finance (Chiwetu, 2024). Being the first time rural areas are targeted for AHP, this research aims to examine how cultural and socio-economic environments influence consumer choices.
The research is anchored in the Stakeholder Engagement Theory which advocates for a cooperative environment that enhances participation of all parties, emphasizing the importance of consultation with intended beneficiaries for successful project uptake (Bobae, 2024 & Rigon, 2022). Whereas communities vary in the characteristics that bear on project choices (Mohamed & Otieno, 2017), the AHP adopts a one-size-fits all model. Quantitative and qualitative techniques will be used with youth and adults in three rural counties of western Kenya. Characteristics and perspectives across age-groups and genders will be compared alongside content analysis of attitudes towards the commodification of public land.

• Josephine Atieno Ochiel, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenya (F)
• Bernadette Sabuni, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenya (F)
• Joyce Alusa Onzere, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenya (F)
• Ummilkheri Abdullahi Ali, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenya (F)

Analyses of the migration and mobility of African health workers are still dominated by the narratives of destination countries. For decades, these narratives have guided public policy implementation. However, the scholarly literature remains silent on the initiatives of countries of origin and the experiences of African health professionals. This research aims to address this gap. First, it integrates the migration of African health professionals into the broader phenomenon of “mobilities,” which provides a more accurate representation of the issue. Second, it gives health professionals and authorities a voice to better understand the dynamics of the migration of African health professionals out of Africa. Finally, it questions the policies implemented by public authorities to address these mobilities. Using a comparative approach with cases from The Gambia and Senegal and a qualitative methodology, this research will analyze scientific literature, public policy data, and interviews. The resulting knowledge will enable us to propose a new interpretation of the migration of health workers and formulate effective public policies for countries experiencing a shortage of health workers on the continent.

• Angèle Flora Mendy, Université Gaston Berger Saint Louis, Senegal (F)
• Tatiana Mbengue, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal (F)
• Sadio Ba Gning, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal (F)
• Fatoumata Bah, Head of Gambia School of Nursing and Midwifery (F)

Mining is a vital economic sector for many low- and middle-income countries, including Rwanda, where it significantly contributes around 3% to the country’s GDP. Despite Rwanda’s global recognition for gender equality, women remain underrepresented in mining—only 11.4% of the workforce and 16% of mining business owners are women. Barriers include gender-based violence, cultural norms, unequal pay, and limited leadership roles. A feminist political ecology (FPE) approach highlights how mining activities intensify existing gender inequalities and environmental harm, disproportionately affecting women and vulnerable communities.
This study aims to assess the role of women in ecological prevention and the socio-economic benefits they derive from mining. Three hypotheses are proposed: women’s leadership enhances ecological resilience, mineral extraction can empower women economically, and female activists promote environmental equity. The research will be conducted in Rwanda’s Muhanga, Rulindo, and Rutsiro districts using a mixed-methods cross-sectional design. Data will be collected through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations. Quantitative data will be analyzed with STATA, and qualitative data with NVIVO. The study seeks to inform gender-sensitive mining policies in Rwanda, addressing environmental sustainability and the empowerment of women within the sector. Ethical approval will be secured before data collection.

• Liberata Mukamana, University of Rwanda (F)
• Alice Mukasekuru, University of Rwanda (F)
• Josephine Mutesi,  University of Rwanda (F)
• Gilbert Shyaka, University of Rwanda (M)

The global resettlement of Indigenous peoples as a result of conservation and development efforts threatens human rights, property rights, and preservation of cultural heritage. This research aims to investigate the resettlement of Maasai from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Msomera Village in Tanzania. The resettlement aimed to minimize human-wildlife conflicts and enhance environmental conservation. However, the scheme has drawn national and international attention over its impacts on Indigenous rights. The study examines how Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is implemented as well as efforts to safeguard cultural identity, access to basic services, and compensation mechanisms. The study will employ a mixed-method approach to assess resettlement compliance with human rights standards, specifically in relation to land, identity, and participatory rights. Guided by Political Ecology, Social Justice and Indigenous Rights Theory, the research will explore perspectives from Maasai communities, state and non-state actors. The findings will guide relocation plans that respect human rights, support conservation and social justice while advancing Sustainable Development Goals 10, 11, 13, 16, and 17.

• Agnes Gisbert Kapinga, Tengeru Institute of Community Development, Tanzania (F)
• Molly Ochuka Achien, Bomet University College, Kenya (F)
• Rose Kiwia, Tengeru Institute of Community Development, Tanzania (F)

In spite of one century of creativity, pioneer women’s music that is largely traditional lacks documentation, promotion, and linking with urban audiences in East Africa. This suggests the need for researching into, documenting and analyzing this musical genre by women, with a practical re-configuring of marketing strategies, relations, and institutions that can commodify music as a cultural product. The three traditional female singers under study are:- Bi Kidude, a legendary of Tanzanian taarab music, in coastal Swahili; Annet Nandujja , a Ugandan singing traditional folk music from Buganda; and Susan Owiyo , a representative of the contemporary generation that is re-branding the rural label for younger, urban audiences.Narrative inquiry will be used to trace the 3 profiles, biographies and the discographies, how they have impacted younger generations of singers and their adaptations to modern audience. The researchers will apply the Critical Semiotic Analysis,(Genosko, 2016) to the dynamics of performing and trans-languaging (Swahili/Luo-Luganda/Luganda slang) and the Critical Discourse Analysis theory (Janks 2000),to assess song samples, identify the rich semantics embedded in cultural contexts and semiotic resources contributing to their identity and power struggles as women.

• Edith Natukunda Togboa, Makerere University, Uganda (F)
• Zilpah Ombijah, University of  Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania (F)
• Everlyn Kisembe Moi University, Kenya (F)

This project examines the impact of structural change on women’s employment by taking into account the moderating role of the informal sector in three sub-Saharan African countries: Cameroon, Senegal, and Togo. The study investigates how sectoral shifts in countries affect labor market opportunities for women, with particular attention to the informal sector’s role as a space of both vulnerability and resilience. This study uses a longitudinal research design in Cameroon, Senegal, and Togo for the period 1993 to 2021. We prefer a longitudinal research design because it can identify the trend of variables over extended periods. As an econometric strategy, we use time series analysis in assessing country-by-country relationships. We apply the Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL) technique for individual countries during the estimation process. ARDL is the preferred model because it corrects for endogeneity and serial correlation and is applied regardless of the order of integration of variables. Findings from the study will inform inclusive labor market policies and contribute to ongoing academic and policy discussions around gendered development and structural change on the continent.

• Patricia Tchawa Yomi, University of Douala, Cameroon (F)
• Amy Ka, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Sénégal (F)
• Djinta Litaaba-Akila, University of Lomé, Togo (F)

The severe deforestation, water pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and extinction of wildlife in the recent past call for concerted efforts at policy formulation and implementation geared to preserve the environment. Historically, women played an essential role in forest preservation as custodians of indigenous environmental conservation, sacred ritual guardianship, managers of food and medicinal products, and leaders in community governance. This was severely altered through the imposition of patriarchal European policies, which simply relegated women to biological and nurturing roles. This project seeks to investigate the complex changes in social relations of gender and class in forest degradation and protection in colonial and postcolonial Ghana and Nigeria. The project will further analyse ways in which gender-blind forest policies and reforms impact or shaped women’s involvement in forest degradation, protection and management efforts made by women to ensure economic and ecological sustainability in West Africa. To achieve this objective, an interdisciplinary qualitative research design is adopted, which will rely on the use of in-depth interviews (IDIs), key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), archival data, newspapers, and policy documents. The project seeks to establish that weak gender(less) policy frameworks negatively influence or impact women’s involvement in forestry activities.

• Titilope Olusegun Olalere, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria (F)
• Eugenia Ama Breba Anderson, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana (F)
• Oluwaseun Foluso Phillips, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria (F)

Les systèmes alimentaires africains, longtemps fondés sur des pratiques endogènes transmises de génération en génération, sont aujourd’hui confrontés à une domination croissante des modèles alimentaires industrialisés et importés. En Afrique de l’Ouest, et particulièrement au Bénin, cette transformation se traduit par une dépendance accrue aux importations, une perte de diversité alimentaire locale, et des impacts négatifs sur la santé, l’économie rurale et la souveraineté alimentaire. Face à cette situation, cette recherche vise à comprendre comment les pratiques alimentaires traditionnelles résistent, s’adaptent ou se réinventent dans un contexte de pressions globales.
L’étude adoptera une approche mixte, mobilisant à la fois des données qualitatives (entretiens, observations) et quantitatives (enquêtes, statistiques de consommation). Elle analysera la coexistence des systèmes alimentaires, leurs impacts nutritionnels, économiques, culturels et sanitaires, et mettra en lumière les mécanismes de résilience des pratiques endogènes : stratégies d’adaptation, innovations culinaires, transmissions intergénérationnelles et dynamiques communautaires.
Les résultats attendus contribueront à identifier les leviers culturels, sociaux, économiques et politiques nécessaires au renforcement de la résilience alimentaire. Ils nourriront également une réflexion sur la souveraineté alimentaire, la durabilité des systèmes locaux et les politiques publiques de soutien aux filières traditionnelles.

• Marcelle Aholou, Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin (F)
• Audrey Hemadou, Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin (F)
• Isabelle Adjoua Kassa, Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin (F)

Cette étude analyse la situation des femmes travaillant dans la collecte des déchets au Maroc, un secteur marqué par la précarité et historiquement dominé par les hommes. Malgré leur rôle essentiel dans l’économie circulaire et le développement durable, ces femmes subissent une absence de protection sociale et juridique, des conditions de travail pénibles et des discriminations liées au genre. Face à ces défis, l’étude vise à comprendre les facteurs qui poussent ces femmes à intégrer ce secteur, les obstacles rencontrés et les stratégies d’autonomisation, notamment via les coopératives et associations. S’appuyant sur un cadre théorique mobilisant l’autonomisation, le féminisme marxiste et la justice sociale, la recherche adopte une méthodologie mixte mobilisant des logiciels de traitement des données (Atlas.ti et SPSS) : des groupes de discussion et entretiens qualitatifs dans trois villes, ainsi qu’une enquête quantitative auprès de 150 femmes. L’objectif est de fournir une analyse approfondie des réalités vécues dans la collecte informelle des déchets et d’identifier des leviers pour améliorer leurs conditions de travail, notamment dans le cadre d’associations ou de coopératives, en étudiant les conditions de formalisation et les obstacles objectives et subjectives pour une intégration inclusive sur le marché de travail. L’étude entend également combler un vide académique et proposer des recommandations concrètes aux décideurs pour favoriser l’égalité des sexes et l’intégration économique des femmes dans ce secteur informel, contribuant ainsi aux objectifs de développement durable.

• Saarra Boutahar, Université Sultane Moulay, Maroc (F)
• Fidae El Hassouni, Université Ibn Tofail, Maroc (F)
• Nadia Saaidi, Laboratoire recherches et Etudes culturelles et sociales (LaRECS), Maroc (F)