Between the Lines

Social protection features in numerous country policies and development agency strategies, as well as in several Sustainable Development Goals. However, following more than two decades of considerable expansion in policies, programmes, and research, the sector finds itself at a crossroads. In this podcast Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, IDS Research Fellow and one of the editors of the recent IDS Bulletin Reimagining Social Protection is in conversation with social protection experts Charis Reid (International Labour Organization), Jeremy Seekings (University of Cape Town) and Maria Kuss (UNICEF).Drawing on key insights and lessons, they speak on why Social Protection is such an important issue in development, particularly in the Global South. Given that Social protection coverage recently passed 50 percent for the first time, but almost half the world’s population, (some 3.8 billion people) still have no access, what needs to be prioritised to ensure that we do not lose momentum on increasing social protection coverage globally? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast we look at the research findings from the IDS-partnered project The 24-Hour Risk City: A Framework for Thinking About Building Infrastructures of Climate Repair in Nairobi and Karachi. The project aims to investigate, explore and understand the relationship between urban change and intensifying climate impacts as this generates new cycles of “24-hour risks” in the urban global south.Chairing the podcast is Joe Mulligan, Executive Director and Founding Principal, Kounkuey Design Initiative. In the podcast he talks to researchers: Nirmal Riaz, Senior Research Associate, Karachi Urban Lab at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and Christine Wandera, Senior Community Associate, Kounkuey Design Initiative.The guests talk about the how research from Nairobi and Karachi points to the opportunities to build resilient infrastructures in ways that strengthen and support community networks for the future.Related publication.The 24-Hour Risk City: A Framework for Thinking About Building Infrastructures of Climate Repair in Nairobi and Karachi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast we look at an ‘accompanied’ approach to sustaining poverty reduction through long-term research. It focuses on work undertaken by the IDS-hosted Chronic Poverty Advisory Network (CPAN) in Zambia, and draws on insights from the project’s funder – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partners from the World Bank and researchers in Zambia.Leading the podcast is Vidya Diwakar, Deputy Director of the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network. In the podcast she talks to:Joseph Simbaya, a Research Fellow and Director of the Institute of Economic and Social Research at the University of Zambia who talks about the project research findings and what was the problem this piece of research was trying to solve.Makda Abebe, Senior social protection specialist at the World Bank about her earlier work with FCDO especially in Ethiopia and Zambia. Makda talks on what makes this type of long-term collaboration around poverty reduction evidence and policy engagement worth it and how can it best be replicated, if it is sufficiently valuable?Leah Gaffney, Social Development Advisor, FCDO. Leah talks on what she values most in this research and how can this knowledge about poverty dynamics be used to shape development thinking? The three speakers all offer a different slant on the benefits of being with a project for a long period of time, speaking from their point of view as either a researcher, project partner or funder. This podcast is essential listening on how we can learn from long-term research funding for creating a more sustainable and equitable world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast IDS Research Officer Catherine Grant from the IDS-led Pandemic Preparedness project talks to Paul Richards an anthropologist with over forty-five years' experience of living and working in West Africa and author of the book Ebola: How a People’s Science Helped End an Epidemic. In the podcast and drawing on extensive first-hand experiences in Sierra Leone, Paul and Catherine discuss that the international community’s panicky response failed to take account of local expertise and common sense.Crucially, they discuss that the humanitarian response to the disease was most effective in those areas where it supported these initiatives and that it hampered recovery when it ignored or disregarded local knowledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, Andy Sumner, Professor of International Development at Kings College London and President of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) interviews Professor Melissa Leach who leaves IDS after 33 years. This includes the last decade of her being the Director of IDS.In the conversation Melissa talks about: What her main research and policy contributions have been and how have these evolved over the yearsHow has development studies changed over her time at IDS?And what does she see as the main opportunities and challenges for the future in an uncertain world?This podcast is a must-listen for people interested in how development studies has changed over the last 30 years and how we re-cast development studies for future generations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, Dominic Glover (IDS Research Fellow) interviews Professor Rachel Wynberg (University of Cape Town) about her new book: African Perspectives on Agroecology: Why farmer-led seed and knowledge systems matter. In the podcast they discuss the critical voices of African farmers, activists, scientists, scholars, and policymakers whose viewpoints combine to articulate a shared and dynamic vision of a world where agriculture is productive, diverse, and sustainable; where different ways of seeing and knowing are respected; and where seed and food systems are in the hands of farmers and local communities.This podcast is a must-listen to students, policymakers and researchers interested in local-led expertise on Agroecology and farming systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uncertainties of all sorts – environmental, market-based and political – are on the rise, as the world faces climate and environmental change. In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, Rashmi Singh, interviews Professor Ian Scoones from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) whose book: Pastoralism, Uncertainty and Development – makes the case that recognising how pastoralists make productive use of variability and embrace uncertainty is central to understanding how pastoral systems in marginal dryland and montane systems work.  They argue that learning lessons from pastoralists is therefore important for all of us, as well as ensuring that development efforts are more effective across the world’s rangelands, where millions of pastoralists live. This podcast offers wider lessons for rethinking development policy and practice for today’s uncertain, turbulent world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast Jigyasa Agarwal, a development practitioner and recent graduate of the Institute of Development Studies, interviews three students from the University of Sussex whom despite coming from diverse socio economic and cultural backgrounds, what unites them is their struggle for accessibility. We interview Dan from the UK who identifies themselves as a non-binary person, Hamza from Nigeria who identifies as a man, and Diksha from India who identifies herself as a woman. This episode intends to open an avenue for discussions around disability and accessibility in a larger context of gender and development. Our guests shed light on their personal journey as disabled people and their fights for accessibility in academic and social spaces. They talk about their own country contexts and experiences of education ranging from childhood to the present day and offer solutions on what practical steps could be made for a more inclusive society.This podcast is an important listen for development practitioners, higher education institutions and anyone with an interest on how we can make development studies more inclusive when it comes to people with disabilities.Please noteThis podcast contains powerful testimonies of lived-in experiences from our guests which maybe triggering for some of our listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Research Fellow Peter Taylor, interviews Dirk-Jan Koch Chief Science Officer of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and author of the book: Foreign Aid and Its Unintended Consequences. They provide a clear overview of what side effects to anticipate when planning, executing, and evaluating aid.This podcast is an important listen for students new to development and particularly for development practitioners and policymakers alike as they embark on future aid strategies that are meant to benefit in-country recipients.About the intervieweeDirk-Jan Koch is Chief Science Officer of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is Special Professor of International Trade & Development Cooperation at Radboud University, the Netherlands. Views expressed in this book do not represent the official views of these institutions. About the interviewerPeter Taylor is Director of Research at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). Previously he was Director, Strategic Development, at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada where he was responsible for leading IDRC’s strategic planning processes.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Research Fellow Deepta Chopra, interviews author Dinah Hannaford whose latest book: Aid and the Help: International Development and the Transnational Extraction of Care looks at this issue of domestic workers and their relationships with development agencies.  The podcast examines how domestic labour is cheaply hired by aid workers posted overseas – this opens the opportunity to assess the multiple ways that the "giving" industry of development can be an extractive industry as well.  This discussion provides a unique angle to examining the paid care work that domestic workers do, and highlights how this paid care work is devalued, even by aid workers who work in development organisations – and how this is linked to the devaluation of ‘care’ as work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Much has been written about industrialisation and the growth of economies transforming people’s lives, but little is written about how industrialisation can transform ethnicity within countries.In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Research Fellow Max Gallien, interviews Elliot D. Green about his book: Industrialisation and Assimilation: Understanding Ethnic Change in the Modern World.The podcast explains how and why ethnicity changes across time, showing that, by altering the basis of economic production from land to labour and removing people from the rural life, industrialisation makes societies more ethnically homogenous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast Guardian environment correspondent Damien Gayle interviews IDS Research Fellows Lars Otto Naess and Amber Huff. In the interview Damien talks to Lars and Amber about their recent IDS Bulletin ‘Reframing Climate and Environmental Justice' which explores the ‘blind spots’ in dominant mainstream approaches to climate and environmental justice.They argue that approaches share a tendency to place growth, not ecology, nor climate, and certainly not justice, at the heart of the international policy agenda.This podcast is essential listening for all of those studying and working on environmental and climate concerns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Research Fellow Stephen Thompson and IDS Research Officer Mariah Cannon interview pioneering Researcher Robert Chambers.For years, international development has traditionally been dominated by ‘experts’ in the global North telling ‘poor people’ in the global South how their lives could be improved. Robert’s writing and thinking, however revolutionised the discipline, inspiring both participatory processes and a more inclusive practice.This podcast is released to coincide with publication of the recent archive collection of the IDS Bulletin which a celebration of Robert’s contribution to the journal over the last five decades.In the interview Robert talks about the importance of workshops and talking to people to further research ideas; How his work has changed from focusing on rural development to more urban development. He also talks about his early time in Kenya in the late 1950’s and going back four years ago to see how much has changed with regards to technology and connectivity.This interview is a fascinating insight into Robert’s career, his publishing legacy with the IDS Bulletin and a history lesson on how development research has evolved over the last 50 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, Jigyasa Agarwal – a journalist, development practitioner and current master's student at IDS – interviews IDS Alumni Naimat Zafary. In this personal and powerful account, Naimat, talks about his journey to becoming a Master’s Student at IDS after he – along with his family – was evacuated from Kabul Airport on the 24 August 2021 when the Taliban took over.Naimat talks about being offered a Chevening Scholarships to study at IDS, his journey to get out of Kabul Airport through chaotic scenes, and his time at IDS and his new home in the United Kingdom here in Sussex. Finally, Naimat talks about how education is key for Afghanistan and his hopes for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Fellow Lars Otto Naess interviews Dr Neil McCulloch about his new book: Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies: The politics of saving the planet. In the podcast Neil discuss that fossil fuel subsidies are killing both people and the planet, because they encourage the excessive consumption of fossil fuels – which exacerbate pollution and climate change and waste huge sums that could be used far better.Neil lays out a new agenda for action on fossil fuel subsidies, showing how a better understanding of the underlying political incentives can lead to more effective approaches to tackling this major global problem.This podcast is essential listening for all studying and researching climate change, green transformations and climate justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital deception is the new face of information warfare. Social media has been weaponised by states and commercial entities alike, as bots and trolls proliferate and users are left to navigate an info-demic of fake news and disinformation. In this episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Fellow Tony Roberts interviews Marc Jones, Assistant Professor of Middle East Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar. Marc is author of the book: ­­Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East: Deception, Disinformation and Social Media. The book looks to unpick a global web of shadowy actors in the service of digital rights in the Middle East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Between the Lines, Michael Woolcock, Lead Social Scientist in the World Bank's Development Research Group, interviews Professor Mariz Tadros, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies.Mariz is editor of the book: What About Us? Global Perspectives on Redressing Religious Inequalities.Produced by the IDS-led Coalition Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID), the book explores how we can make religious equality a reality for those on the margins of society and politics.This book is about the individual and collective struggles of the religiously marginalised to be recognised and their inequalities, religious or otherwise, redressed. It is also about the efforts of civil society, governments, multilateral actors, and scholars to promote freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) whatever shape they take.This podcast is essential listening for all studying and researching religious inequalities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Between the Lines, Priya Raghavan, Post-Doctoral Researcher in the IDS Governance Cluster, interviews Nicky Falkof, Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. Priya is part of the IDS project Sustaining Power for Women’s Rights, which works with women’s movements in South Asia to study and help develop strategies against backlash. Nicky is co-editor of the book: Intimacy and injury: In the wake of #MeToo in India and South Africa.Through the lens of the #MeToo moment, this book and podcast tracks histories of feminist’s organising in both countries, while also revealing how newer strategies extended or limited these struggles. Intimacy and injury is a timely mapping of a shifting political field around gender-based violence in the global south. This book and podcast is essential reading and listening for all studying and researching gender issues, especially in relation to questions of gendered violence.https://shows.acast.com/between-the-lines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Between the Lines, IDS Fellows, Dominic Glover and Lidia Cabral interview Glenn Davies Stone, Research Professor of Environmental Science at Sweet Briar College, Virginia.Glenn is author of the book: The Agricultural Dilemma: How Not to Feed the World.In the book and podcast, the author questions everything we think we know about the current state of agriculture and how to, or perhaps more importantly how not to, feed a world with a growing population. This podcast and book is essential listening for all studying and researching food production and agriculture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Between the Lines, IDS Director of Research, Peter Taylor interviews Anke Schwittay, Professor of Anthropology and Global Development at the University of Sussex. Anke is author of the book: Creative Universities: Reimagining Education for Global Challenges and Alternative Futures.In the book and podcast, Anke Schwittay argues that, in order to inspire and equip students to generate better responses to global challenges, we need a pedagogy that develops their imagination, creativity, emotional sensibilities and practical capabilities.Presenting concrete ideas for the reimagination of higher education, this podcast is an essential listen for both educators and students in any field studying global challenges.About the authorAnke Schwittay is Professor of Anthropology and Global Development at the University of Sussex. Further information about her work can be found at www.creativeuniversities.comAbout the interviewerPeter Taylor is Director of Research at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). Previously he was Director, Strategic Development, at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada where he was responsible for leading IDRC’s strategic planning processes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.