Citing Africa | Series 2

Citing Africa, Season 2 explores the role that knowledge and technology play in shaping economic and social development within African countries. 

Episodes explores digital technologies and data in agriculture and health, public investment in higher education, and the way in which certain ideas and biases become hegemonic within international organisations working in African countries. Overall, this second season looks beyond academic knowledge to consider how control over knowledge and technology shape economic and social development. Who has control over knowledge and technology, and increasingly the data that flows through value chains? Who has control over those skill based entry barriers that protect the competitive advantages of high income countries but also give them power to frame international norms and discussions over the economy and social development? Episodes explore these questions in particular sectors and industries, and will hopefully provoke interesting conversations among listeners.

Each episode features students from LSE International Development's 2020 cohort.

African development

african trade

In 2018, African Union members established the African Continental Free Trade Area in an effort to boost regional trade. They agreed to eliminate tariffs on most goods, liberalize the trade of services and address obstacles to trade between African countries. The African free trade agreement has since been ratified by 22 countries and is likely to take effect later this year. The IMF’s latest  Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa studies the potential impact of the agreement that will establish a market of 1.2 billion people with a combined GDP of US$2.5 trillion dollars. In this podcast, economists Reda Cherif and Geremia Palomba say this could be an economic game changer for the continent. Geremia Palomba is a Deputy Division Chief and Reda Cherif is a Senior Economist in IMF’s African Department.

African Continental Free Trade Area a Potential Game Changer

Over the last decade, the East African Community has enjoyed some of the fastest growth rates in the world. To continue on its growth path, IMF economists suggest the region can learn lessons from other countries which have enjoyed rapid development.

Keeping Up Growth in the East African Community

How does knowledge and technology shape economic and social development? We introduce season two which brings together investigative projects exploring the ways ideas and biases become hegemonic within international organisations working in African countries. The episode reflects on what progress has been made since season one towards reforming scholarly publishing, and how this might impact season two’s focus on ICTs in agriculture, health and development, and public investment in higher education.

Speakers: Dr Laura Mann, Tin El-Kadi, Syerammia Ohene

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 1: Introduction: how knowledge and technology shapes development

This episode explores how data is collected and used in African countries by discussing the power dynamics underpinning data practices. Joined by Kenyan researcher and policy analyst Nanjira Sambuli, working on digital equality, and Ugandan Phd scholar on online privacy Moses Namara, the episode discusses the critical role of the state in building regulations for data as a resource to promote development. It also examines the central role local expertise should play to enable socio-economic transformation that benefits African citizens.

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 2:  What does data extractivism mean for African development?

This episode discusses Market Information Systems (MIS) to understand whether they have managed to increase the bargaining power and economic security of rural farmers. We present two cases that argue although MIS platforms have evolved and demonstrated a capacity for adaptation, there is insufficient evidence to claim these platforms have significantly improved the bargaining power and welfare of rural citizens.

Speakers: Dr Simona Sala (Amanuel Kebede, Sara Zebdi and Jorich Loubser)

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 3: Bargaining power and market information systems in agriculture

This episode discusses how digital measurement technologies are used in health insurance for risk assessments and the implications for inclusive healthcare systems in Africa. We speak to scholar Dr Andrea Matwyshyn from Penn State University, whose research focuses on the internet of bodies and health technology, as well as to two International Development Master students from LSE. The debate will show that digital health data presents considerable risks for user’s privacy, equal access to health systems and asymmetric power dynamics.

Speakers: Dr Andrea Matwyshyn (Lou Aubay, Charles Rodwell and Victoria Grabenwoeger)

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 4: Digital tech and inclusive social policy

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) affect more than a billion people in developing countries, but they remained largely unnoticed by the international community until the the Sustainable Development Goals were drafted in 2015. Discussing why and how ideas ‘go viral’, we speak to LSE Professor Dr Ken Shadlen and NTD specialist at the SCI Foundation Yael Velleman to explore the power dynamics involved in global agenda-setting.

Speakers: Dr Ken Shadlen, Yael Velleman (Regina Guzman, Katie Bullman and Polly Lloyd-Healey)

NTDs on the Global Health Agenda

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 5: Neglected Tropical Diseases: the rise of a global health issue

Investissements publics et chômage des jeunes diplômés au Bénin.

Quelle est la cause du taux de chômage croissant chez les diplômés au Bénin ? À travers une série d'entretiens menés avec des étudiants universitaires et des enseignants, les faiblesses structurelles du système éducatif béninois sont analysées. En s'appuyant sur le cas du Bénin, l'épisode soutient que, en tant qu'externalité positive, l'éducation devrait être accessible à tous et devrait également faire l'objet de subventions publiques.

Speakers: Selena Chavez, Kayla Choun and Heloise Bertrand

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 6: Public investment and graduate underemployment in Benin

Financial inclusion has not become hegemonic because of its innate potential to improve livelihoods, but because it does not require a fundamental transformation of existing social structures. Instead, it drives the interests of major development actors. In this episode, we are joined by Julie Zollman from Tufts University to discuss financial inclusion and why it has gone viral as a solution for international development.


Speakers: Tao Platt, Jolien Thomas, Sam Cressey and Julie Zollman

Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 7: Explaining the hegemony of financial inclusion

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Citing Africa | Series 2, Ep 2: What does data extractivism mean for African development?

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