Rift Valley Institute
105 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago -The Rift Valley Institute is a non-profit research and training organization working with communities and institutions in Eastern and Central Africa. RVI programmes connect local knowledge to global information systems, aiming to modify development practice. They include field-based social research, support for indigenous educational institutions, in-country training courses and a digital library. www.riftvalley.net
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Local Governance in Somalia: an RVI-World Bank Urbanisation Roundtable Podcast
April 20, 2022 09:31 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MBThe 'Local Governance in Somalia' RVI podcast discusses devolution of power in Somalia in the context of rapid urbanisation. The podcast reflects on the 2021 World Bank Review, which aims to facilitate a more informed dialogue between the government, private sector, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders on a more comprehensive urban development strategy in Somalia. In the 3rd episode, Horn of Africa Programme Manager at the Rift Valley Institute- Hannah Stogdon- speaks w...
RVI 2022 Course Trailer
March 14, 2022 14:50 - 2 minutes - 135 MBThe RVI education programme aims to inform influential constituencies working in eastern and central Africa about the people and communities in the countries where they work. It consists of 2 main types of trainings; the Annual Field Courses on Sudan and South Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes; and bespoke courses tailored for a variety of international organisations. These courses provide a basis for an understanding of current political and developmental challenges within the...
Land in Somalia, an RVI-World Bank Urbanisation Roundtable Podcast
January 24, 2022 12:32 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MB'Land in Somalia' RVI podcast discusses land governance in Somalia in the context of rapid urbanisation. It looks at cities where both opportunities and challenges for Somalia’s development and prosperity are most acutely felt. The experts debate how to manage and reduce the risks Somali cities face so that they can increase their potential to provide livelihoods and deliver services in a way that is more inclusive and accessible for all. In the second episode,Horn of Africa Programme Manage...
Governance in Somalia, an RVI-WB Urbanisation Roundtable
January 18, 2022 12:40 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBThis RVI podcast discusses Governance in Somalia in the context of rapid urbanisation. It looks at cities where both opportunities and challenges for Somalia’s development and prosperity are most acutely felt. The experts debate how to manage and reduce the risks Somali cities face so that they can increase their potential to provide livelihoods and deliver services in a way that is more inclusive and accessible for all. In this first episode of two, Horn of Africa Programme Manager at the R...
Book Launch: When Peace Kills Politics
January 05, 2022 15:11 - 1 hour - 94.3 MBOver the past two decades, the Horn and Eastern Africa Region have witnessed a proliferation of peace-making and peace-building processes as a means of democratisation. A wealth and power sharing governance arrangements designed and upheld by regional and international institutions often saw the transfer of political decision-making away from the local and national level, consolidating them instead in the hands of belligerent elites and a global technocratic class of experts. How have these f...
Understanding The Coup In Khartoum; Drivers, Latest Developments and Consequences for Sudan
December 10, 2021 07:08 - 1 hour - 74.1 MBThis podcast recording of an RVI forum on Sudan's political developments discusses the current situation following the military coup, whether a military dictatorship is inevitable and the possible implications of it on domestic affairs and international support.
What Are The Alternatives To Elections?
October 27, 2021 12:59 - 23 minutes - 16.6 MBOver the past year, countries across the East Africa region have held elections to elect leaders at various levels. These polls have been accompanied by complaints over irregularities, violence and a general lack of credibility. In Uganda and Tanzania, disputed polls and allegations of rigging by incumbents were followed by brutal crackdowns on democratic freedoms. In Ethiopia, despite the AU’s election observer mission declaring the twice-postponed election “orderly, peaceful and credible”, ...
1. Are Elections Even Necessary
October 27, 2021 12:52 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBOver the past year, countries across the East Africa region have held elections to elect leaders at various levels. These polls have been accompanied by complaints over irregularities, violence and a general lack of credibility. In Uganda and Tanzania, disputed polls and allegations of rigging by incumbents were followed by brutal crackdowns on democratic freedoms. In Ethiopia, despite the AU’s election observer mission declaring the twice-postponed election “orderly, peaceful and credible”, ...
Voting for Change; Sudan's Election Project Podcast, 3rd and final episode
October 13, 2021 13:58 - 27 minutes - 62.2 MBProfessor Munzoul, Dean of Scientific Enquiry at Khartoum university explores to what degree has electoral management and the role of the National Elections Council (NEC) determined the success and quality of elections? and moving forward in the post revolution period, should the 2024 projected elections rely on the existing network of experienced administrators or aim to create a new generation? In Debate with Professor Justin- Durham University on how electoral politics actually work i.e h...
المدونة الثانيه من مشروع انتخابات السودان- حوار مع بروف منزول العسل - جامعة الخرطوم
September 30, 2021 08:06 - 22 minutes - 51 MBفي الحلقة الثانية من السلسلة الصوتية 'انتخابات السودان' نناقش- على الرغم من الاستياء الشعبي من الأحزاب والعمليات السياسية - الدور الذي يمكن أن يلعبه المجتمع المدني في تحقيق الديمقراطية من خلال انتخابات حرة ونزيهة.
Sudan Elections Project- Discussion with Professor Justin Willis
September 27, 2021 16:11 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBIn this audio series we discuss, among other things, election models adopted in Sudan's modern history. It will also discuss the key choices available for policymakers who are involved in election design.
Inside Somalia's Elections I
August 11, 2021 16:16 - 21 minutes - 16.7 MBAfter a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several cr...
Inside Somalia's Elections II
August 11, 2021 16:16 - 38 minutes - 29.5 MBAfter a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several cr...
Inside Somalia's Elections III
August 11, 2021 16:16 - 35 minutes - 27.4 MBAfter a period of political impasse, leaders in Somalia— under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble— have agreed to a timetable for indirect elections in 2021. Elections for the Upper House are now scheduled for 25 July, for the Lower House between 10 August and 10 September, with the presidential election scheduled for 10 October. Though easing tensions, especially in the capital Mogadishu where armed forces had confronted each other in April, the agreement left several cr...
Inside Ethiopia's Election Pt I
August 11, 2021 15:59 - 40 minutes - 30.3 MBOn 15 June 2021, the Rift Valley Forum in conjunction with The Elephant and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a webinar to explore the prospects for holding successful elections in Ethiopia and what success would look like. The virtual forum focused on the impact of the ongoing conflict and violence; online activism and the media’s role; the participation of women; and what this election means for the longer-term democratization process in Ethiopia. Moderator Muriithi Mutiga - Horn of Afri...
Inside Ethiopia's Elections Pt II
August 11, 2021 15:47 - 48 minutes - 36.1 MBOn 15 June 2021, the Rift Valley Forum in conjunction with The Elephant and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a webinar to explore the prospects for holding successful elections in Ethiopia and what success would look like. The virtual forum focused on the impact of the ongoing conflict and violence; online activism and the media’s role; the participation of women; and what this election means for the longer-term democratization process in Ethiopia. Moderator Muriithi Mutiga - Horn of Afri...
Inside Ethiopia's Elections Pt III
August 11, 2021 15:31 - 27 minutes - 20.4 MBOn 15 June 2021, the Rift Valley Forum in conjunction with The Elephant and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a webinar to explore the prospects for holding successful elections in Ethiopia and what success would look like. The virtual forum focused on the impact of the ongoing conflict and violence; online activism and the media’s role; the participation of women; and what this election means for the longer-term democratization process in Ethiopia. Moderator Muriithi Mutiga - Horn of Afri...
2020–21 Elections in the Horn and East Africa - Part 3
April 15, 2021 11:47 - 37 minutes - 31 MBOn 30 March 2021, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant, brought together experts from the region to discuss lessons from the 2020 elections in Uganda and Tanzania and prospects for successful elections in Somalia and Ethiopia in 2021. The discussion highlighted how these countries tend to mirror each other in numerous ways, with cyclical and an often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice as a predominant issue. Moderator Patrick Gathara J...
2020–21 Elections in the Horn and East Africa - Part 2
April 15, 2021 11:47 - 36 minutes - 26.9 MBOn 30 March 2021, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant, brought together experts from the region to discuss lessons from the 2020 elections in Uganda and Tanzania and prospects for successful elections in Somalia and Ethiopia in 2021. The discussion highlighted how these countries tend to mirror each other in numerous ways, with cyclical and an often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice as a predominant issue. Moderator Patrick Gathara J...
2020–21 Elections in the Horn and East Africa - Part 1
April 15, 2021 11:47 - 35 minutes - 27.2 MBOn 30 March 2021, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant, brought together experts from the region to discuss lessons from the 2020 elections in Uganda and Tanzania and prospects for successful elections in Somalia and Ethiopia in 2021. The discussion highlighted how these countries tend to mirror each other in numerous ways, with cyclical and an often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice as a predominant issue. Moderator Patrick Gathara J...
Conversations with RVI researchers: Joseph Diing Majok and Nicki Kindersley
March 10, 2021 12:47 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBRVI's Magnus Taylor speaks with RVI researchers, Joseph Diing Majok and Nicki Kindersley, about their latest report, 'Breaking Out of the Borderlands: Understanding migrant pathways from Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, South Sudan'. The report takes the phenomena of the monetization of land, life and work in the borderland and looks at the consequences of this system for the young people who live in this region, arguing that the decision to leave South Sudan on long-distance migrant pathways can on...
Somalia Elections
February 05, 2021 13:53 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBOn 17 September 2020, Somali leaders agreed on an indirect election model to be used for the country's upcoming elections, similar to the process used in 2016. Parliamentary elections were due to be completed by 28 December 2020, and presidential elections on 8 February 2021, but the consensus over the electoral process had begun to fray. A number of issues remain unresolved, which could further delay or delegitimize the electoral process. These include the composition of election management ...
The Role of Civil Society in Managing and Mitigating Conflict in Ethiopia
February 05, 2021 13:17 - 1 hour - 69.4 MBIn response to recent events in Ethiopia, notably the declining space for civil society and humanitarian actors to operate and limited media coverage of the Ethiopia conflict, on 1 December 2020, the Rift Valley Forum hosted a panel discussion to explore the role of regional bodies and civil society in managing and mitigating conflict. The Forum was moderated by Rift Valley Forum Manager, Pauline Skaper. The panel of discussants included Rashid Abdi, Horn of Africa Political Analyst, Rita M...
Uganda Elections: New Wine, old problems
February 04, 2021 17:32 - 1 hour - 74.1 MBOn 28 October 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with the Heinrich Boll Foundation, held the third forum in the Elections Series on the 2021 elections in Uganda and the prospects for political change in the country. The forum included a broader discussion on the role of youth and the need for an inter-generational dialogue given Uganda's high youth population; succession plans and what will follow Museveni's tenure; and how women's political participation can be reimagined and elevat...
Tanzania Elections: Q and A
February 04, 2021 17:19 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBOn 30 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted the second forum in the Elections Series on the 2020 elections in Tanzania. The forum examined the Tanzania experience under President Magufuli, leader of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, who was elected in 2015. Among the issues discussed was the repression and harassment faced by opposition parties, the media and civil society organizations. The discussion also explored the situation in the semi-autonomous...
Tanzania Elections: Panel
February 04, 2021 17:18 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBOn 30 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted the second forum in the Elections Series on the 2020 elections in Tanzania. The forum examined the Tanzania experience under President Magufuli, leader of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, who was elected in 2015. Among the issues discussed was the repression and harassment faced by opposition parties, the media and civil society organizations. The discussion also explored the situation in the semi-autonomous...
Elections in the Horn and East Africa 2020–21: Q and A
February 04, 2021 17:03 - 38 minutes - 35 MBOn 16 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted on online forum to explore the electoral atmosphere in the East and Horn of Africa region. The forum provided a critical space for the examination of contentious issues around elections scheduled for 2020 and 2021. The issues discussed included security, the role of the media, participation of women and the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 poses for elections. This forum was moderated by R...
Elections in the Horn and East Africa 2020–21: Panel
February 04, 2021 17:02 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBOn 16 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted on online forum to explore the electoral atmosphere in the East and Horn of Africa region. The forum provided a critical space for the examination of contentious issues around elections scheduled for 2020 and 2021. The issues discussed included security, the role of the media, participation of women and the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 poses for elections. This forum was moderated by R...
Displaced Tastes: In conversation with Luga Aquila
January 13, 2021 14:26 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBIn the second conversation with researchers from the Displaced Tastes project, Magnus Taylor—RVI’s Publications Manager—talks to Luga Aquila about his work on the cultural and economic significance of cassava for the Pujulu people of Central Equatoria, South Sudan. In particular, Luga explains the significance of Yoyoji-yojaja, a particular form of cassava cultivated by young men as a means to develop bride-wealth, which enables them to get married.
Displaced Tastes: In conversation with Elizabeth Nyibol
January 13, 2021 13:06 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBIn this short conversation with RVI researcher Elizabeth Nyibol, Magnus Taylor—RVI’s Publications Manager—discusses the life of Elizabeth’s aunt, Mary Ajok, who is the main subject of a paper written by Nyibol in 2020. Mary’s life illustrates the extraordinary lengths that South Sudanese women have gone to in order to preserve their culture of seed cultivation, especially in times of conflict and displacement.
Political Transition in Somalia - Q and A
September 18, 2020 11:54 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBPolitical Transition in Somalia - Q and A by Rift Valley Institute
Political Transition In Somalia - Panel
September 18, 2020 11:42 - 44 minutes - 41 MBPolitical Transition In Somalia - Panel by Rift Valley Institute
Tarikh Tana (Our History): Episode 9: South Sudanese Experiences of Return
July 06, 2020 09:57 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The ninth Tarikh Tan’na (Our History) radio show in this second series will focus on "South Sudanese Experiences of Return". Overview As South Sudan hopefully moves towards peace, the country looks forward to the return of over four million displaced and refugee citizens. How...
Tarikh Tana (Our History): Episode 14: Border Management and Epidemics
May 29, 2020 09:39 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Museum and National Heritage (MCMNH). Overview Epidemics are connected to the history of border management in South Sudan. As the British colonial government was established over the 1930s, administrators saw the control of infectious disease as a key reason for the start of a pass system across ...
Migration, Movement and Mobility in East Africa in the era of COVID-19 - Part 2
May 28, 2020 08:15 - 1 hour - 62 MBPolicy responses to COVID-19 in Eastern and the Horn of Africa with UNHCR, HIAS and IGAD.
Migration, Movement and Mobility in East Africa in the era of COVID-19 - Part 1
May 28, 2020 08:11 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBCOVID-19 and migration in Eastern and the Horn of Africa with the African Migration and Development Policy Centre (AMADPOC), Amnesty International and Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK).
Tarikh Tana (Our History): Episode 5: Women and Customary Law in South Sudan
March 09, 2020 10:53 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The fifth Tarikh Tana (Our History) radio show in this second series will focus on "Women and Customary Law in South Sudan.” Overview South Sudanese women have often been subject to discrimination and unfair treatment in law since before the colonial period, but their struggles...
Tarikh Tana (Our History): Episode 4: An Evolution of Crime and Punishment in South Sudan
March 09, 2020 10:38 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The fourth Tarikh Tana (Our History) radio show in this second series will focus on "An Evolution of Crime and Punishment in South Sudan”. Overview South Sudan’s diverse communities have always had methods to establish wrongdoing, judge and decide on disputes, settle conflicts,...
Tarikh Tana (Our History) Episode 3: Chiefs Remuneration in History
March 03, 2020 16:39 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The third Tarikh Tan’na (Our History) radio show in this second series will focus on "Chiefs Remuneration in History: The Change of Funding Sources for Customary Leaders in South Sudan" We will look at some proposals for Chief’s Pay and some pay sheets from late 1920s and early...
Tarikh Tana (Our History) Episode 2: Justice: for who and by who?
March 03, 2020 16:17 - 54 minutes - 49.4 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The second show of Tarikh Tan’na (Our History) series will focus on “Justice: for who and by who?” We will take the Torit District court books for 1957 and 1959 found in the South Sudan National Archives, as the starting point for our discussion. Court book By the 1930s, the ...
Tarikh Tana (Our History) Episode 1: What makes a chief? The changing role of customary authorities
March 03, 2020 15:57 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThis show is brought to you under the South Sudan National Archives Project, supported by Norway and implemented by UNESCO in partnership with RVI, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The first Tarikh Tana (Our History) radio show in this second series will focus on What makes a chief? The changing role of customary authorities. We will take two personality sheets written about chiefs under the British Colonial period, found in the South Sudan National Archiv...
War and Peace in Somalia Book Launch
January 02, 2020 13:49 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBFor thirty years, Somalia has experienced violence and upheaval. National and international efforts to build a state and achieve reconciliation are challenged by deep-rooted grievances, local conflicts and a long-running insurgency. On 10th December, the Rift Valley Institute, CAN International and Aston University hosted a panel discussion to launch the book, War and Peace in Somalia: National Grievances, Local Conflict and Al-Shabaab. The book, consisting of forty-two articles by confli...
Green Dreams, Local Struggles - Q&A
November 26, 2019 11:17 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBOn 16 October 2019, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University and Friends of Lake Turkana, hosted a discussion of initial findings from the Seeing Conflict at the Margins project (seeingconflict.org/). The Forum opened with an introduction to the project, followed by a screening and discussion of videos and photography created by local teams over the past two years. The speakers presented on ways of ‘seeing’ resource development in c...
Green Dreams, Local Struggles - Panel
November 26, 2019 11:05 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBOn 16 October 2019, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University and Friends of Lake Turkana, hosted a discussion of initial findings from the Seeing Conflict at the Margins project (https://seeingconflict.org/). The Forum opened with an introduction to the project, followed by a screening and discussion of videos and photography created by local teams over the past two years. The speakers presented on ways of ‘seeing’ resource developm...
Kalobeyei Forum - Q&A
November 06, 2019 10:38 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBIn June 2015, the Turkana County Government, UNHCR and the Central Government allocated a site near the Kalobeyei Township, 3.5 kilometres northwest of Kakuma refugee camp and measuring 15 square kilometres, to host the ever-growing number of South Sudanese refugees in Kakuma refugee camp. Kalobeyei offers a new system for welcoming and hosting refugees by not only offering a market-based settlement in which they can integrate with host communities but also ensuring that refugee hosting is t...
Kalobeyei Forum - Panel
November 06, 2019 10:24 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBIn June 2015, the Turkana County Government, UNHCR and the Central Government allocated a site near the Kalobeyei Township, 3.5 kilometres northwest of Kakuma refugee camp and measuring 15 square kilometres, to host the ever-growing number of South Sudanese refugees in Kakuma refugee camp. Kalobeyei offers a new system for welcoming and hosting refugees by not only offering a market-based settlement in which they can integrate with host communities but also ensuring that refugee hosting is t...
Somalia in Search of a Workable 2020 Electoral Model - Q&A
November 05, 2019 15:10 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBFor the fifth time since 2010, Somalia is exploring options for an electoral model that will advance the country’s democratic process. Despite previous attempts to pursue democracy, Somalia has failed to shed its clan-based political system. So far, the Federal Government of Somalia and other key stakeholders have been unable to agree on a workable electoral model for the 2020 parliamentary and 2021 presidential elections. On 25 July 2019, the Rift Valley Forum and the Heritage Institute for...
Somalia in Search of a Workable 2020 Electoral Model - Panel
November 05, 2019 15:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBFor the fifth time since 2010, Somalia is exploring options for an electoral model that will advance the country’s democratic process. Despite previous attempts to pursue democracy, Somalia has failed to shed its clan-based political system. So far, the Federal Government of Somalia and other key stakeholders have been unable to agree on a workable electoral model for the 2020 parliamentary and 2021 presidential elections. On 25 July 2019, the Rift Valley Forum and the Heritage Institute for...
Interview with Eddie Thomas on new report, 'Cash, Commodification and Conflict in South Sudan'
June 21, 2019 08:56 - 8 minutes - 12.1 MBThe report is a product of the X-Border Local Research Network, a component of DFID's Cross-border Conflict—Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme. The programme carries out research work to better understand the causes and impacts of conflict in border areas and their international dimensions. It supports more effective policymaking and development programming and builds the skills of local partners. The report was written by Eddie Thomas, an RVI Fellow.
The Case of LAPSSET - Part 2
April 10, 2019 15:16 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBOn 14 February 2019, the Rift Valley Forum hosted a panel discussion to disseminate a new report —Participation, Voice and Governance in Investment Corridors in Africa: the case of the Lamu Port and South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor Project, LAPSSET—produced by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies of the University of Western Cape, in partnership with the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa Programme. The report examines the extent to which smallholder farmers, fisher...