Africa – Catalyst

A Struggle For Acceptance: The Lingering Impacts of Colonialism on the LGBQT+ Community in Africa

April 8, 2021April 9, 20215 min read Emily Duecker

The current restrictions on both the rights and protections of the LGBTQ+ community as seen with the closing of the centre in Ghana only contribute to a climate of intolerance and enforces colonial-era ideas on the norms of sexuality.

Interview with Celia Benhocine

April 6, 2021April 5, 20212 min read The Catalyst Editorial Board

The Catalyst team met with Celia Benhocine to discuss her upcoming article “Renewed Civil War in Libya: Assessing Potential Outcomes” in the upcoming Spring 2021 edition of Chrysalis.

Rwanda’s Latest Revolution: Fueling Inclusive Development Through Technology

March 28, 2021March 28, 20214 min read Joel Sawmadal

It seems, overall, that the reminder of Rwanda’s scarring past has been a uniting force in the strive for a stronger nation. Recent popular initiatives have aimed to provide solutions to societal problems that previously restricted well-being

Candid – Episode 3: Agricultural Inequality Freestyle

March 23, 2021March 23, 20211 min read Alexander Taurozzi

Join us for episode 3 of the Candid podcast. Jasmine and Alex discuss the world of agricultural inequality, delving into methods to develop better societal and technological practices for increasing the involvement of women in agriculture.

Tackling Poverty Through Cash Transfers

March 3, 2021March 2, 20216 min read Sofia Mikton

Even if cash transfers are not the 'holy grail' cashionistas have made them out to be, they are certainly an effective short-term solution, and a step-forward in providing those living in extreme poverty with greater agency over their livelihoods.

A Look at the Impact of Period Poverty on Girls in Kenya

February 26, 2021February 28, 20216 min read Claudia Velimirovic

Girls in Kenya will miss about four days of school each month, or an average of 20% of the school year, because they are on their period. Across the globe, period shame and period poverty contributes to health complications, humiliation, poor access to employment, and other challenges for women.

The Tigray Crisis in Ethiopia: What You Need to Know

February 25, 2021February 25, 20214 min read Penni Tenzin

It has now been just over three months since the federal government’s military offence, but the Tigray crisis is far from over. With the lack of humanitarian aid, the future of the Tigrayan citizenry remains in the dark as they bear the brunt of the conflict.

Reorienting Discussions of Political and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

February 22, 2021February 22, 20217 min read Maeve Williams

Binary terms, such as Afro-optimism and Afro-pessimism, have been inverted and simplistic terminology has been discarded altogether - and rightly so. African nations deserve the complexity of language and diligence of examination which other nations have received for so long.

A Look at the Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity

February 10, 2021February 10, 20215 min read Jasmine Acharya

Approximately 60-80% of the world’s food is grown by women, but women farmers are consistently seen to be less productive than male farmers. On top of continuing to tackle institutional barriers, it is important to encourage the implementation of policy solutions that could help close this gap. The empowerment of women farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa has the power to greatly improve productivity in the agricultural industry, helping engender positive spillover effects such as improving GDP, increasing food security and lowering overall poverty.

The Hazards of Disconnectedness in Climate Change Adaptation Discourse

February 5, 2021March 14, 20217 min read Melanie Baume

As Global North countries have taken the lead in instituting climate change policy and conceptualizing adaptation, their politics have not taken into consideration local and indigenous sources of information when shaping concepts like vulnerability and adaptation.