As a result of increased interest in women’ s development, microfinance has received considerable attention. Microfinance is seen by some as an effective way of giving women the chance to come out...Show moreAs a result of increased interest in women’ s development, microfinance has received considerable attention. Microfinance is seen by some as an effective way of giving women the chance to come out of poverty and empower themselves. Microfinance is heavily criticized by others since they believe it does not do any good to impoverished women. This study investigates whether microfinance contributes to women’s empowerment in Tanzania through a case study on BRAC Tanzania. This research has found that BRAC’s microfinance projects contribute to the empowerment of a selected group of Tanzanian women.Show less
Today around 2.5 billion people remain unbanked or underbanked, meaning they lack access to basic services such as checking accounts and loans. In addition, social entrepreneurs desperately need...Show moreToday around 2.5 billion people remain unbanked or underbanked, meaning they lack access to basic services such as checking accounts and loans. In addition, social entrepreneurs desperately need sustainable financial vehicles to stimulate economic growth from the bottom-up in underdeveloped countries. How to bring financial services to the doorstep of the poor has hence always been a question at the forefront of the global development industry. Since its inception in the 1970’s, the modern concept of microfinance has consequently drawn much attention to itself. At times, its pioneer father Muhammad Yunus has even been hailed as having invented the solution which would ultimately end global poverty. This thesis first examines microfinance in Kenya and evaluates its respective effectiveness in stimulating social entrepreneurship. It then includes social venture capital as a possible alternative to traditional impact investment tools and ultimately hints at a new combined direction in financing Africa.Show less
An explorative thesis that seeks to understand the extent to which foreign investment leads to economic development in Kenya. Using the Dutch floricultural sector present in Kenya as a case study,...Show moreAn explorative thesis that seeks to understand the extent to which foreign investment leads to economic development in Kenya. Using the Dutch floricultural sector present in Kenya as a case study, its effects on the Kenyan economy in terms of employment, wages, technology transfer and tax revenues are analyzed. While the sector contributes significantly in terms of employment and would arguably not exist without foreign investment, it has thus far failed to significantly improve the lives of its' employees, lead to technology transfers or raise additional tax revenues.Show less
This thesis outlines constraints and challenges faced by informal workers in Kenya. Informal workers in relation to authorities are highlighted by particularly investigating legalities concerning...Show moreThis thesis outlines constraints and challenges faced by informal workers in Kenya. Informal workers in relation to authorities are highlighted by particularly investigating legalities concerning informal workers. Whereas the informal economy Jua Kali, is adopted in the development plans as the Kenya Vision and is argued to have the potential to drive inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty, actual regulations show the opposite of inclusion. The Nairobi City Council is restrictive towards street vendors in the urban environment and authorities are abusive towards hawkers. Obtaining a licence is costly, time consuming, and legislation of licencing is contradictory; these legalities result in many street vendors choosing informality. The similar is observed for the small-scale business sector. Legislatory problems regarding the access to finance, education, courts, and instutional problems within ministery coordination result in the increase of workers preferring employment in informality.Show less
This thesis concerns the developments in the Western Sahara after the Spanish withdrawal of colonial authority. It takes into account the extertion of influence of non-African nations in the Cold...Show moreThis thesis concerns the developments in the Western Sahara after the Spanish withdrawal of colonial authority. It takes into account the extertion of influence of non-African nations in the Cold War context and especially elaborates on the approach of the Organization of African Unity in order to solve this dispute. The analysis moreover includes relevant transcripts of diplomatic meetings between Henry Kissinger and other important political figures in the years after the conflict´s emergence, which undermine the international significance.Show less
Even though Zimbabwe has regular elections, the country is often regarded as an authoritarian regime. In this research, Zimbabwe's results in the EIU index of democracy are analyzed. The main...Show moreEven though Zimbabwe has regular elections, the country is often regarded as an authoritarian regime. In this research, Zimbabwe's results in the EIU index of democracy are analyzed. The main question to answer is to what extent is Zimbabwe democratic or authoritarian and how does the media influence this image of Zimbabwe.Show less
The DRC has been a conflict-ridden country since pre-colonial times, it is paradoxical that a country so rich in natural resources remains so poor and underdeveloped. This thesis attempts to...Show moreThe DRC has been a conflict-ridden country since pre-colonial times, it is paradoxical that a country so rich in natural resources remains so poor and underdeveloped. This thesis attempts to discover whether the modern, industrialised countries play any role in the perpetuation of the conflict situation in the DRC regarding the exploitation of 'Coltan' which is a widely used mineral for the manufacturing of smartphones and other electronic devices. The historical legacies of the DRC will be explored, an analysis of the conflict situation in the eastern provinces of the DRC will be provided and the commodity chain of coltan will be discussed.Show less
This thesis utilizes a comparative perspective in analyzing the perceived differences between how people with albinism (PWA) are treated in Benin, Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo ...Show moreThis thesis utilizes a comparative perspective in analyzing the perceived differences between how people with albinism (PWA) are treated in Benin, Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, by examining the variables of ethno-religious composition and socio-economic conditions in the countries. This research has shown that although the differences might be small, they are of crucial importance in how a PWA is perceived in these countries and how these notions have changed over time; from PWA being revered in pre-colonial Yorubaland and the old Kongo Kingdom, to today’s experiences of stigma and discrimination in name-calling, mutilations, and killings. Similarly, a stark contrast also exists amongst some of the countries – from PWA in Benin being revered, to PWA fearing for their lives in Tanzania due to a higher demand for PWA body parts to be used in witchcraft. Tanzania is also the African country that has garnered the most international attention for its treatment of PWA, and although the government and the state attempt to limit the extreme discrimination, it continues to persist. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that the problems of stigma and discrimination as experienced by PWA are not limited to Tanzania, but exist all over the African continent.Show less
Diamonds have played a crucial part in Namibia’s development to become a growing and stable country (Cleveland 6). This thesis will examine the positive impact of the Namibian diamond industry on...Show moreDiamonds have played a crucial part in Namibia’s development to become a growing and stable country (Cleveland 6). This thesis will examine the positive impact of the Namibian diamond industry on the economical and political development of the country since independence. Unlike many other African states rich in natural resources, Namibia was able to enjoy a stable development since its independence. It is thus considered to be one of the few success stories regarding economic growth in Africa (Cleveland 2,6). This thesis hypothesizes that resource rich states benefit from political stability as it leads to economic growth and prosperity. In support of this hypothesis, the paper gives first an overview of the topic, before providing a detailed analysis of possible reasons, including on the basis of historic, political, and economic parameters.Show less
This thesis looks at the effects that the UDI, the Second Chimurenga and the Lancaster House Agreement (LHA) have had on Zimbabwe and the current official government discourse by assessing the...Show moreThis thesis looks at the effects that the UDI, the Second Chimurenga and the Lancaster House Agreement (LHA) have had on Zimbabwe and the current official government discourse by assessing the historical documents and various speeches by President Robert Mugabe. This thesis explores how the new Zimbabwean elite class was formed by the Chimurenga and what effect this had on the political economy, in terms of land and resource distribution, the race dynamics and nation-building under black majority rule. It stresses the importance of taking a more nuanced approach than simply blaming either Mugabe or the colonial past for the current social, political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. At 36 years old, Zimbabwe is such a young state that much remains to be researched and discussed, not only for the sake of scholarship but also to better understand the struggles that the average Zimbabwean faces and to move away from Western-led development aid towards more effective and self-sufficient grassroots and projects.Show less
The way people dress in Africa is often overlooked and interpreted as traditional or fixed. Nevertheless, interaction between the African ways of dressing and western styles of fashion has occurred...Show moreThe way people dress in Africa is often overlooked and interpreted as traditional or fixed. Nevertheless, interaction between the African ways of dressing and western styles of fashion has occurred over time increasingly. Especially during colonialism, the influence of the western styles of dressing had on the Africans has increased. As a result of this, the African ways of dressing have changed among many different areas on the continent. In all the various regions of the continent the ways of dressing have developed in different directions and with the colonial influences the changes have been developing via several roads as well. Therefore, each case has its own answers and reasons for why people dress the way they do and its own reasons to reject or embrace the western styles of dressing. Within the following pages the political and cultural reasons for people to embrace or reject the western ways of dressing will be examined.Show less
Diving into the history of the character and spread of Kiswahili, I examine how power structures in society have influenced the character and spread of Kiswahili in Tanzania. I focus on the early...Show moreDiving into the history of the character and spread of Kiswahili, I examine how power structures in society have influenced the character and spread of Kiswahili in Tanzania. I focus on the early independence period because Kiswahili was nationalised during this period and because the manner in which this was done and legitimised remains underresearched. Using the Gramscian concept hegemony as the success of the ruling class to construct a worldview that is accepted throughout society which naturalizes power relationships between different social groups, I argue that the ideology through which Kiswahili was nationalised in Tanzania shaped the discourse on Kiswahili in a way that naturalizes the power structures in society, thereby implicitly justifying the choice of Kiswahili as the national language. Upon independence, TANU formed the state and shaped the nation. They were the new ruling class and as such tried to establish hegemony. Analysing Ujamaa ideology and the discourse on Kiswahili, I explain how this discourse subverted the issue of ethnic languages and power relations in Tanzania. The mythical elements of these discourses are deconstructed by juxtaposing them with historical realities. By debunking the ideological assumptions on which knowledge about Kiswahili was produced, I simultaneously call into question the epistemological value of research published in the journal Kiswahili.Show less
This paper aims at analysing how these two periods of Somalia’s recent history influenced and laid the foundations for rivalries between different factions within the country, which eventually...Show moreThis paper aims at analysing how these two periods of Somalia’s recent history influenced and laid the foundations for rivalries between different factions within the country, which eventually exploded in an excruciating conflict. Firstly, the aim of this paper is to assess how and why the Italian administration of Somalia was overall a failure, and to which extent it was harmful for the future of the country as a whole. Indeed, the targets that the United Nations demanded Italy to achieve within a decade were out of reach for a newborn country that was still struggling with mending the wounds of the Second World War. Hence, there will be in-depth focus on the structural flaws that characterised the establishment of the Italian administration and it mistakes on a social and political level once operational in the country. Secondly, this thesis will analyse the societal structure of Somalia, which is for the vast majority based on clan divisions (Paolo Tripodi 361). The objective of this section to examine how such divisions played a crucial role in combination with the policies implemented by the colonial and post-colonial administrations, which proved to lack any specific knowledge of the “very complex system of clan families” (Richard Dowden 97). Thirdly, this paper will aim at analysing the influence of Siad Barre’s regime, and how the policies he attempted to implement acted as gunpowder for a perfectly mixed explosive machineryShow less
An analysis of the economic partnerships that both the European Union and China have on the African Continent and whether or not those partnerships are beneficial for Africa.
As the second most-traded commodity in the world, coffee is an essential part of world trade. In 2002 a crisis hit the global coffee sector and prices hit their lowest point in a century. As the...Show moreAs the second most-traded commodity in the world, coffee is an essential part of world trade. In 2002 a crisis hit the global coffee sector and prices hit their lowest point in a century. As the birthplace of coffee, and home to some of the most unique varieties of coffee, Ethiopia was hit hard by this crisis. Since then many reforms have taken place in Ethiopia's coffee sector in order to improve its standing within the global coffee trade, however in order to understand the success of these reforms and the potential for more to be done, it is essential to truly understand the value chain of Ethiopia's coffee. This thesis is an analysis of Ethiopia's coffee sector, and provides an insight into some of the ways in which Ethiopia may be able to capitalise from the rarity and quality of its coffee varieties.Show less
