XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 15-21, 2018)

196

Social Problems, Development and Policy in Africa I

RC09 Social Transformations and Sociology of Development (host committee)

Language: English

Development in Africa has been hampered by a myriad of problems, which have crippled the social structure of several African countries and stifled the catching up process with the West. Gender inequality, lack of decent jobs, corruption, religious and ethnic conflicts, food insecurity, HIV/AIDS, child malnutrition, and environmental degradation are persistent in many African countries. Although these social issues have received some attention from development and academic communities, it has translated into fewer functioning and transforming policies. Many countries are plagued with dormant policies and approaches for tackling these persistent and frequently multidimensional problems. The overall goal of this session is to stimulate a critical discussion by academics and social researchers on case studies, approaches, and best practices related to the problems mentioned and examine the public policy implications for these challenges. Particularly, this session will situate problems within the context of potential policy intervention strategies. Papers are invited from individuals who are working on such initiatives, especially those that center on poverty reduction, social development, gender mainstreaming, health, policy issues, livelihood strategies, and other mechanisms that seek to improve the overall quality of life in African communities.