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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250227T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250227T160000
DTSTAMP:20250305T185914Z
CREATED:20250130T091317Z
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SUMMARY:Neighborhood Effects\, Housing Mobility\, and Place-Based Policies: Evidence from Experiments and Quasi-Experiments
DESCRIPTION:About the Lecture\nFor decades\, Harvard professor Lawrence Katz has worked with federal and local housing agencies to learn how public housing policy might more effectively support economic opportunity. This lecture will cover his work on three landmark projects: Moving to Opportunity\, enabling residents of public housing to move to lower-poverty neighborhoods; Creating Moves to Opportunity\, providing additional support to families considering leaving high-poverty neighborhoods; and HOPE VI revitalization grants\, investing in mixed-income developments in neighborhoods with distressed public housing. Professor Katz’s pathbreaking work on these projects demonstrates how collaborations between researchers and government agencies can improve the delivery of important public goods and services. \nEvent Recording\n \nAbout the Speaker\nLawrence F. Katz is the Elisabeth Allison Professor of Economics at Harvard University and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research focuses on issues in labor economics and the economics of social problems. He is the author (with Claudia Goldin) of The Race between Education and Technology (Harvard University Press\, 2008). \nKatz has been studying the impacts of neighborhood poverty on low-income families as the principal investigator of the long-term evaluation of the Moving to Opportunity program\, a randomized housing mobility experiment. His past research has explored a wide range of topics including U.S. and comparative wage inequality trends\, educational wage differentials and the labor market returns to education\, the impact of globalization and technological change on the labor market\, the economics of immigration\, unemployment and unemployment insurance\, regional labor markets\, the evaluation of workforce training and other labor market programs\, the problems of low-income neighborhoods\, and the social and economic consequences of the birth control pill. \nProfessor Katz has been editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics since 1991 and served as the Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor for 1993 and 1994. He is the current President of the American Economic Association\, the Co-Founder and past Co-Scientific Director of J-PAL North America\, past President of the Society of Labor Economists\, and has been elected a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences\, American Academy of Arts and Sciences\, the Econometric Society\, and the Society of Labor Economists. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1981 and earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/neighborhood-effects-housing-mobility-and-place-based-policies/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250302
DTSTAMP:20250317T192031Z
CREATED:20250317T160220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250317T192031Z
UID:10000891-1740700800-1740873599@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:2025 APN & Next Gen | MUST National Grant Writing and Proposal Development Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Blantyre\, Malawi \nFrom February 28 to March 1\, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)\, in partnership with the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)\, held the 2025 National Grant Writing and Proposal Development Workshop at the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre\, Malawi. \nOn Friday\, the workshop began with an opening ceremony\, including welcome remarks from Master of Ceremonies: Enerst Longwe (Lecturer\, Language and Communication Studies Department\, MUST)\, Dr. Ignasio Jimu (Head of Department\, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices\, MUST)\, Dr. Cyril Obi (Program Director\, APN and Next Gen)\, and Guest of Honor Dr. Michael Zimba (Executive Dean\, Malawi Institute of Technology). \nThey thanked the participants for coming and expressed the importance of African scholars and researchers honing their research skills through learning and collaborating with esteemed colleagues. Afterward\, a group photo was taken on the upper deck. \nThe Keynote Lecture of the day\, “Research Conceptual Frameworks\,” was delivered by Professor David Mkwambisi\, Director of Malawi Innovation and Industrial Research Institute (MIIRI).\nThroughout his lecture\, Professor Mkwambisi encouraged participants to “think the thinking and the thinking” — engaging deeply and critically about how we think\, especially regarding epistemology\, and how ideas (including the ideas of others) are formed. He also informed the participants on how to differentiate between theoretical frameworks and conceptual frameworks. \nThe Keynote Lecture was followed by two plenary lectures. The first one\, “Critical steps in searching\, applying for\, and winning Institutional Grants/Individual Fellowship awards\,” was delivered by Professor Kenneth Omeje\, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Management International University. Professor Omeje broke down the steps in successfully identifying and winning the type of research grants most appropriate to the individual participants’ study. \nThe second one\, “Conceptualizing the Research Idea – Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches\,” was delivered by Professor Henrietta Nyamnjoh\, Researcher\, Migration and Mobility Hub\, University of Cape Town. Professor Nyamnjoh assessed the conceptual frameworks for research ideas that range from disciplinary to multidisciplinary\, and why the differentiation between them is essential as one develops their research idea into something concrete. \nAfter a tea and coffee break\, the plenary lectures continued. The third one\, “The Role of Theoretical Frameworks and Epistemological Issues in Research Design\,” was delivered by Prof Charles Ukeje\, Professor of International Relations\, Obafemi Awolowo University. Professor Ukeje offered insights to participants on how to construct solid research designs by carefully considering the theoretical and epistemological foundations of their studies. \nThe fourth one\, “The Role of Research Ethics\,” was delivered by Professor Ignasio Jimu\, Head of Department for the Department of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices\, MUST. Professor Jimu focused on the ethical challenges and considerations when working with indigenous knowledge systems\, highlighting the importance of respect\, collaboration\, and cultural sensitivity. \nThis was followed by a Question-and-Answer session between the panelists and the audience. Afterward\, the participants separated into their individual working group sessions. \nOn Saturday\, the participants gathered once more for their One-on-One sessions and Feedback sessions. The closing ceremony involved Dr. Cyril Obi and Dr. Ignasio Jimu delivered closing remarks and a vote of thanks. This was followed by the presentation of certificates to all participants in attendance. \nThe APN and Next Gen program would like to thank all of the participants\, lecturers\, the guest of honor\, and the members of the MUST LOC for their participation\, enthusiasm\, support\, and commitment to the program.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2025-apn-next-gen-must-national-grant-writing-and-proposal-development-workshop/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250303T170000
DTSTAMP:20250304T001504Z
CREATED:20250303T233528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250304T001504Z
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SUMMARY:test event
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URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/test-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T203000
DTSTAMP:20260212T213338Z
CREATED:20250313T153838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T213338Z
UID:10000889-1743102000-1743107400@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Globalization\, Trade and Labor\, and the Distribution of Wealth and Resources in Japan and the United States
DESCRIPTION:Recent elections in the United States\, Japan\, and Europe have shown public dissatisfaction with global society and the economy. Commentaries on United States electoral politics have argued that globalization’s impact on the domestic economy—most significantly\, the offshoring of manufacturing and subsequent loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs—was the key factor in shaping a polarized society\, characterized by a large underclass that has not shared in economic prosperity. In Japan\, although political polarization has not been as extreme\, the last several decades have seen an increased precarity of labor. \nIn this 2025 session of the Abe Fellows Global Forum\, four leading experts from the United States and Japan will examine the impact of globalization on the domestic economies of both countries\, looking at the impact of global trade\, the creation of international supply-chains\, the realignment of production systems\, and accompanying social changes. While the Trump administration promises to return to the “golden age” of American manufacturing\, this is clearly a promise that will be difficult to fulfill. Though structural changes in developed countries are often linked to the offshoring of manufacturing\, those relocations occurred at a time of major technological transformation. In recent decades\, there has been a worldwide shift to the use of highly automated machinery and technology in manufacturing. Even if manufacturing “returns” to developed countries\, it will not produce a surge in well-paying manufacturing jobs. These are two big questions facing Japan and the United States: how can each country best manage this structural transition? How can we create more stable and equitable distributions of income that will reduce polarization? \n\nAbout Abe Global\nThe Abe Fellows Global Forum (Abe Global) brings Abe Fellow research and expertise on pressing issues of global concern to broader audiences. Abe Global hosts events each year in partnership with academic and civic organizations throughout the United States. Abe Global is an initiative of the Abe Fellows Network\, the Social Science Research Council\, and the Japan Foundation New York. \nPast Abe Global Events
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/globalization-trade-and-labor-and-the-distribution-of-wealth-and-resources-in-japan-and-the-united-states/
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LOCATION:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=147xTmmDbis
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250328
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250329
DTSTAMP:20250513T195758Z
CREATED:20250513T185840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T195758Z
UID:10000894-1743120000-1743206399@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:PADRA Early Careers Workshop Event Summary
DESCRIPTION:Nairobi\, Kenya  \nOn Friday\, March 28\, 2025\, the Peace and Development Research Association (PADRA) held an early and mid-career authors workshop in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi\, Kenya\, and with support from the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) Program of the Social Sciences Research Council (SSRC). Hosted at the University of Nairobi\, Kenya\, the workshop’s aim was to provide PADRA members with guidance on the processes of  conceptualizing\, crafting\, and publishing their academic research\, as well as effective ways to translate such research into actionable policies. \nThe event was ushered by welcome remarks from Dr. Jacinta Mwende Maweu\, Chair of PADRA\, who expressed her gratitude for those in attendance\, including Professor Jack Odhiambo\, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)\, University of Nairobi; Dr. Patrick Nyabul\, Chairman of the Department of Philosophy\, University of Nairobi\, and the SSRC’s APN & Next Gen Program. Dr. Patrick Nyabul and Professor Jack Odhiambo followed with their opening remarks\, acknowledging the role of the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Program\, including its impact-driven support\, and contributions towards building the capacity of African scholars in the areas of research-based knowledge production and dissemination. \nMaimouna Cherif\,  of the APN and Next Gen Program\, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the program’s director\, Dr. Cyril Obi. Echoing warm appreciation to PADRA executives\, workshop participants\, guests and university faculty in attendance\, the remarks emphasized the APN and Next Gen’s contribution to African peacebuilding knowledge production– namely through its provision of over 600 fellowship awards to African scholars\, training workshops\, mentorship programs\, and special panels at international conferences. Dr. Obi congratulated PADRA\, borne out of the APN and Next Gen’s African University Seminar Series (AUSS) in 2023\, for  providing Kenyan-based APN and Next Gen fellows with research and mentorship opportunities since their consolidation from AUSS-K into a nationally recognized organization\, PADRA. \nThe first lecture\, “Getting published: The Craft and Structure of Academic Writing”\, was presented by Dr. Eric Kioko\, Lecturer at Kenyatta University and Senior Researcher at the British Institute in East Africa (BIEA). Dr. Kioko addressed the importance of viewing writing as an art and science\, and the skills needed to better engage in the art of writing and publications. He highlighted the  importance of publishing\, citing its benefits: academic visibility\, contribution to scientific progress\, securing funding or meeting degree requirements. Dr. Kioko also stressed the time-intensive nature of writing and publishing\, recommending that scholars deepen connections with their peers and consult the repository of previously published works to help with the process of knowledge transfer and ideation. He encouraged scholars to assess the novelty and relevance of their work before writing\, discussing the importance of understanding publication ethics and selecting the appropriate journal for publication based on the journal’s ranking\, rejection rate\, word count and formatting requirements. \nFollowing the first lecture\, Dr. Kioko delved into the practical realities of academic publishing\, particularly the challenges faced by scholars from Africa\, using insights from his experience as an academic. He provided a detailed walkthrough of the journal submission and review process\, highlighting the importance of adhering to strict formatting guidelines\, responding tactfully to reviewer comments\, and navigating potential biases or “cartels” among reviewers. The discussion also covered strategies for dealing with rejection\, such as taking time to process feedback\, categorizing reviewer comments\, and being willing to substantially revise the paper’s focus if needed. \nThe second lecture\, “Translating Research Into Policy Outputs”\, was delivered by Dr. Patrick Mutahi\, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies. Dr. Mutahi established the importance of research for policy\, namely through its identification of challenges\, provision of evidence-based solutions\, and considerable consumption by policy-makers. He expressed that challenges in bridging the research-policy gap include the inaccessible language used by researchers and the disconnect of policy-makers from the realities of their constituencies and populace. Dr. Mutahi further elaborated on the common barriers to research uptake in policy communities\, including timing mismatch between the production of research and the  policy implementation process\, the lack of engagement between researchers and policy-makers\, and political opposition. He recommended that scholars understand their key stakeholders and policy makers\, identify key steps of the policy formulation and implementation cycle\, render their outputs digestible and concise and engage policy makers through direct meetings\, media engagements\, and to form partnerships with NGOs and think tanks. \nFollowing the second lecture were closing remarks\, provided by PADRA Executive Chair\, Dr. Maweu and Treasurer\, Dr. John Mwangi. Dr. Mwangi expressed his gratitude to all attendees and shared his hope to see everyone gather again for future workshop sessions or collaborative projects. Dr. Maweu extended heartfelt thanks to the facilitators for their insightful contributions\, and she warmly opened the floor for participants to share their feedback\, reflections\, or final thoughts–framing it as an opportunity to not only conclude the session\, but to collectively shape future conversations. \nInterviews conducted with executive members of PADRA at the Early and Mid-Career Authors Workshop can be found here.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/padra-early-careers-workshop-event-summary/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250415
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250417
DTSTAMP:20250512T202726Z
CREATED:20250509T191649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T202726Z
UID:10000893-1744675200-1744847999@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:SSRC\, WANEP\, and CORN-WA Convene High-Level Policy Dialogue\, "Emerging Challenges and the Future of ECOWAS"
DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council (SSRC)’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program co-hosted a high-level policy dialogue on “Understanding the Geopolitical and Strategic Changes in West Africa: Emerging Challenges and the Future of ECOWAS”\, in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and Conflict Relief Network (CORN) West Africa. The high-level policy dialogue took place in Accra\, Ghana on April 15 and 16\, 2025. It convened representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)\, civil society organizations (CSOs)\, analysts\, researchers\, and policy practitioners to generate and mobilize collective inputs based on the analyses of emerging geostrategic and geopolitical challenges in the region\, ahead of the ECOWAS Special Summit on the Future or Regional Integration in West Africa. The dialogue also explored emerging challenges posed by unprecedented unconstitutional changes in governance (UCGs) across the region. \nThe two-day policy dialogue began with opening remarks from the co-organizers: Dr. Cyril Obi (Program Director\, APN and Next Gen)\, Mrs. Levinia Addae-Mensah (Executive Director\, WANEP)\, and Dr. Timipere Allison (Executive Director\, CORN West Africa). \n \nEmphasizing the need for a fundamental shift in ECOWAS’ approach to regional and political governance\, development\, peace\, and security in West Africa—particularly amidst the unprecedented changes reshaping the global landscape—Dr. Obi posed a critical question: “How can we transform this position of being marginalized to a position of being a contributor or producer of knowledge?” He pointed to the reconfiguration of global alliances\, noting the changing roles of traditional partners such as France and the United States\, and the growing influence of emerging actors including Russia\, China\, and the Gulf states. Against this backdrop\, he urged participants to reconceptualize a more inclusive and self-determined future for the region within the context of a rapidly evolving global order. Dr. Obi also stressed the importance of a measured and constructive response from ECOWAS\, particularly in light of the recent ‘Sahel exit’\, which has exposed deepening regional divisions. In conclusion\, he called for collective efforts to resolve what he described as “family problems” within the West African region. Despite internal disagreements\, he maintained that sustainable solutions can only emerge from within—through cooperation\, mutual understanding\, and a renewed commitment to regional solidarity. \nDrawing the attention of participants to the rapidly changing landscape of governance in West Africa\, Mrs. Levinia Addae-Mensah urged participants to think differently\, to reformulate and reorganize new regional partnerships to address evolving challenges\, including increasing fragmentation of the political state\, criminal violence\, UCGs\, and climate change. \n \nAlso acknowledging the need to address the future of ECOWAS was Dr. Timipere Allison\, exhorted the community of stakeholders at the dialogue to “explore innovative approaches to reimagine a more inclusive\, resilient\, and responsive West Africa.” \n \nFollowing the opening remarks\, Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah\, Commissioner for Political Affairs\, Peace and Security at the ECOWAS Commission\, delivered the keynote speech. He provided a reflective summary of the regional bloc’s transformation since its pre-1975 inception through four overarching pillars: The Geostrategic and Geopolitical shifts\, as well as internal factors that shaped ECOWAS’ evolution; The Successes and Challenges of Regional Integration; ECOWAS and its Relations with the Breakaway Sahelian Bloc; ECOWAS@50 and The Special Summit on The Future of Regional Integration in West Africa. \n \nSubsequently\, two panel discussions were held. The first panel of the event\, ‘Understand the Geopolitical and Strategic Changes in West Africa\,’ was moderated by His Excellency Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey\, Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES). The presentations featured the following panelists: Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert\, University of Ibadan\, Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu\, Head\, Democracy and Good Governance Division\, Political Affairs\, Peace and Security\, ECOWAS\, Dr. Linda Oppongmaa Akua Darkwa\, Senior Research Fellow\, LECIAD\, University of Ghana\, Dr. Rhuks Ako\, Independent Researcher (APN CWG 2014-16). \nTheir presentations focused on the following issues: shifting landscape of partnerships in West Africa\, especially from West to non-Western actors like China\, Russia\, Türkiye\, Saudi Arabia\, and Gulf States; opportunities for ECOWAS\, AES\, and regional integration amidst emergence of multipolar world order; and the implications and consequences of UCG on the region’s collective security architecture\, democratic values\, and human rights. \nThe second session\, ‘Conflict Transformation\, Development and Peace in West Africa\,’ moderated by Dr. Ebimboere Seiyefa\, Head of Research at CORN-West Africa. The panelists included three former APN and Next Gen fellowship award recipients: Dr. Titilope Ajayi\, Institute for Security Studies (ISS)\, Nairobi\, Dr. Hippolyt Pul\, Executive Director\, Institute for Peace and Development\, Tamale\, and Prof. Ibrahim Bangura\, Fourah Bay College\, University of Sierra Leone. \nTheir presentations focused on recent UCGs\, tacit acceptance of military governments by AES nationals\, operational and structural strategies implemented on the regional level\, and key challenges. The panel further assessed potential strategic partnerships that could help ECOWAS better implement its mandate of development and security and alternative solutions to prevent UCGs. The panelists emphasized the need to strengthen regional policies and democratic institutions (not limited to elections)\, prioritize human security and livelihoods of West Africans\, and ensure consistent policy implementation among member states. \n \nOn Day 2\, participants were divided into three breakout sessions\, where three groups brainstormed recommendations that could serve as inputs for strengthening ECOWAS’ approach on the following critical challenges: \n\nTowards Regional Security: ECOWAS Engagement with the AES Bloc\nTowards Regional Security: ECOWAS Engagement with Middle and Emerging Powers (China\, Russia\, etc) and the West; and\nECOWAS: Conflict Transformation\, Development and Peace in West Africa\n\nKey recommendations and reflections from the breakout sessions and event proceedings include but are not limited to the following: \n\nRebuilding trust with AES states by encouraging bilateral diplomacy with countries the AES bloc remains open to such as Ghana and Senegal as well as pursuing multilateral engagements through the African Union (AU) and CSOs\nBilateralism and partnership with AES to combat terrorism and violent extremism through strategic intelligence sharing and coordinated border patrols between ECOWAS and AES members\, as well as neighboring border states\nA unified and preemptive strategic ECOWAS framework on regional security interests that clearly maps out the national interests of its member states as well as external influences and their interests in the region\, and how these intersect with ECOWAS security and development objectives\nInstitutional capacity-building of member states to better align domestic and foreign policies with broader ECOWAS security goals as well as bilateral and multilateral coordination with AES states\, the West\, and the East to ensure a unified and consistent regional approach.\nProactive and consistent response from ECOWAS to both military and civilian forms of UCGs including constitutional manipulations and amendments designed to entrench incumbents in power\nStrengthening of civil society participation to ensure accountability\, implementation of regional protocols\, and serving as watchdogs against democratic backsliding\n\nA more detailed list of recommendations can be found in this joint communique developed by the SSRC’s APN and Next Program\, WANEP\, and CORN West Africa. \nThe policy dialogue concluded with an overview of the discussions\, followed by closing remarks from Mrs. Levina Addae-Mensah and Dr. Cyril Obi. Both extended their gratitude to the participants for an engaging two days of meaningful dialogue on the future of peace and security in West Africa. Several news media covered the event in connection to the ongoing ECOWAS@50 celebrations which occurred in Accra\, Ghana. \nClick below to view a recap of the high-level policy dialogue\, news coverage\, keynote speech\, communique\, and a detailed report of the event proceedings. \nRecap:\n \nNews coverage:\n \nKeynote Speech\nCommunique
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/event-summary-for-2025-high-level-policy-dialogue/
CATEGORIES:Africa
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250424T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250424T160000
DTSTAMP:20250428T161218Z
CREATED:20250422T143326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T161218Z
UID:10000881-1745506800-1745510400@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence
DESCRIPTION:About the Lecture\nWhat if everything we understood about gun violence was wrong? In 2007\, economist Jens Ludwig moved to the South Side of Chicago to research two big questions: Why does gun violence happen\, and is there anything we can do about it? Almost two decades later\, the answers aren’t what he expected. This seminar (based on a forthcoming book) describes how and why everyone’s conventional wisdom about gun violence is at best incomplete\, how behavioral economics gives us a better way to understand the problem\, and how a sustained partnership between the University of Chicago Crime Lab and the city of Chicago have helped identify and scale new solutions. \nEvent Recording\n \n\nAbout the Speaker\nJens Ludwig is the Edwin A. and Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago\, co-director of the National Bureau of Economic Research working group on the economics of crime\, and Pritzker Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab\, which he helped found 17 years ago as an R&D partner for the public sector to solve social problems. Crime Lab projects have led to changes in policy in cities around the country\, been published in leading scientific outlets like the Quarterly Journal of Economics and American Economic Review\, and featured in national news outlets like the New York Times\, Washington Post and PBS News Hour. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Law and Justice.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/unforgiving-places-the-unexpected-origins-of-american-gun-violence/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250522T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250522T150000
DTSTAMP:20250609T134411Z
CREATED:20250521T144210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250609T134411Z
UID:10000882-1747922400-1747926000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Repeated Evaluation Can Make Better Policy: The Case of Summer Youth Employment Programs
DESCRIPTION:Lecture Details\nResearchers often pursue ideas because they are novel and innovative. Breaking new ground is clearly important\, and being “first” can help a paper get published. But the drive to be new can also push researchers away from the kinds of iterative research questions that help decision-makers implement effective policy (and towards surprising results that can be hard to replicate). This talk will tell the story of a policy-research partnership that started with a new and surprising finding—that summer jobs programs don’t actually help future youth employment\, but do reduce violence—then kept iterating to explore how\, why\, and for whom. The result highlights what can come from repeated evaluation: an evidence base that is more convincing\, illuminating\, and practical than any single study can be. \nEvent Recording\n \nAbout the Speaker\nSara Heller is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan. Dr. Heller studies interventions to reduce crime and improve other life outcomes among disadvantaged youth. She uses large-scale experiments to isolate the causal effects of a variety of programs\, including cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions and summer jobs. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago\, a M.P.P. from Georgetown\, and a B.A. in Psychology from Harvard.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/repeated-evaluation-can-make-better-policy-the-case-of-summer-youth-employment-programs/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250602
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250603
DTSTAMP:20250520T184531Z
CREATED:20250430T185047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T184531Z
UID:10000892-1748822400-1748908799@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Re-Engineering Health Decision-Making Environments: Event Program
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/program-re-engineering-health-decision-making-environments/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250602
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250603
DTSTAMP:20250529T170134Z
CREATED:20250303T192956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250529T170134Z
UID:10000887-1748822400-1748908799@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Re-Engineering Health Decision-Making Environments: Event Registration
DESCRIPTION:Event Details\nEvent Date: June 2\, 2025\nProgram: 8:45 am – 4:00 pm\nReception: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm\nLocation: Hemmerdinger Hall\, Silver Center (100 Washington Square East)\, New York University \nOn June 2\, 2025\, the Social Science Research Council will convene leaders of pioneering research labs from across the country who are working in partnership with health providers to re-engineer provider and patient decision-making environments to improve health outcomes. Researchers will share emerging findings as well as high-value opportunities for decision-making interventions to improve patient health. The symposium will provide a roadmap for health research funders to help guide new investments in health decision-making research. \nWe welcome attendance from stakeholders dedicated to improving health outcomes\, including members of the research\, policy\, health provider\, and funder communities.  \nTo register\, please fill out the form below. For more information about the event\, please contact us at policyinnovation@ssrc.org. \nThis symposium is funded by the Robertson Foundation through the Collective to Strengthen Pathways for Health Research.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/re-engineering-health-decision-making-environments-event-registration/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250602
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250603
DTSTAMP:20250520T194547Z
CREATED:20250303T175059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T194547Z
UID:10000886-1748822400-1748908799@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Re-Engineering Health Decision-Making Environments
DESCRIPTION:   June 2\, 2025\n   New York University\n\nInvestments in biomedical research have resulted in remarkably effective interventions with the potential to reduce mortality and disability. But many biomedical interventions are not being optimally deployed or adopted. The use of biomedical interventions is a function of decisions made by human beings\, interacting in decision-making environments that structure what information is freely available\, the costs and benefits of acquiring additional information and making alternative decisions\, and how easily we can learn from our past decisions. Many decision-making environments do not optimally leverage information\, incentives\, and learning to support provider and patient decisions that maximally improve patient health.  \nFurther\, there is systematic underinvestment in preventive and early-stage biomedical interventions\, due to the much longer clinical trials required to demonstrate efficacy\, resulting in significant life-years lost. The underinvestment in preventive biomedical interventions underscores the importance of developing effective decision-making interventions that encourage preventive behaviors. \nRecent technological advances are enabling the development of new decision assist tools that can help providers and patients make decisions that better support patient health\, including more effective deployment of biomedical interventions and increased adoption of preventive behaviors. These tools can help providers make more accurate diagnoses\, allocate higher-intensity care to those at greatest risk\, reduce the use of unnecessary treatments\, choose more affordable treatments\, and more effectively learn from prior cases. Decision assist tools can also provide patients with earlier warning signals about potential health risks and help patients adopt preventive behaviors.  \nOn June 2\, 2025\, the Social Science Research Council will convene leaders of pioneering research labs from across the country who are working in partnership with health providers to re-engineer provider and patient decision-making environments to improve health outcomes. Researchers will share emerging findings as well as high-value opportunities for decision-making interventions to improve patient health. The symposium will provide a roadmap for health research funders to help guide new investments in health decision-making research. \nWe welcome attendance from stakeholders dedicated to improving health outcomes\, including members of the research\, policy\, health provider\, and funder communities.  \nRegister to Attend \nParticipating Labs: \n\nBehavior Change for Good Initiative (BCFG)\, University of Pennsylvania \nCenter for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE)\, University of Pennsylvania\nCenter for Healthcare Innovation & Delivery Science (CHIDS)\, New York University\nCenter for Healthcare Marketplace Innovation (CHMI)\, University of California Berkeley\nJ-PAL US Health Care Delivery Initiative (HCDI)\, Massachusetts Institute of Technology\nNightingale Open Labs\, Massachusetts Institute of Technology\, University of California Berkeley\nUCLA Nudge Unit\, University of California Los Angeles\n\nThis symposium is funded by the Robertson Foundation through the Collective to Strengthen Pathways for Health Research.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/re-engineering-health-decision-making-environments/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250619
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250620
DTSTAMP:20251014T144320Z
CREATED:20250701T195029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T144320Z
UID:10000895-1750291200-1750377599@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:APN and Next Gen Panel on “Defending Democracy in Africa: Challenges and Options” Event Summary
DESCRIPTION:June 19\, 2025 \nThe SSRC’s APN and Next Gen program-sponsored panel\, “Defending Democracy in Africa: Challenges and Options\,” which was held virtually as part of the 2025 Lagos Studies Association (LSA) Conference\, featured five paper presentations. \nThe first paper presentation by Hakeem Onapajo\, panel Chair\, titled “Weak Institutions and Democratic Backsliding in Africa: A Study of the ‘Third Wave of Military Coups’ in West Africa\,” explored the recent coups in West Africa\, noting that they had largely been approached from external and geopolitical perspectives. Drawing on an institutional approach\, the presenter argued that institutional weaknesses\, or the dysfunctional nature of state institutions\, fueled instability and enabled coup makers who exploited democratic deficits to seize control of state power. The paper concluded by advocating for the strengthening of political institutions to forestall a complete breakdown of democracy in Africa. \nThe second paper presentation by Silidile Mlilo\, titled “Democratic Governance and Election Transitions in Botswana: A Case Study of the 2024 Elections and Its Implications for Africa’s Democracy\,” focused on recent developments in Botswana’s democratic experience following the peaceful rejection of the long-time dominant Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) by voters. The paper argued that long-term\, bottled-up grievances of Botswanan citizens over corruption\, unemployment\, and human right violations of successive BDP governments played a significant role in the defeat of the party in the 2024 elections. In contrast to other African states\, the outcome of Botswana’s recent elections signified democratic consolidation and the functionality of democratic institutions. \nThe third paper presentation by Dare Leke Idowu\, titled “Defending Democracy through Digital Activism: Challenges and Options for African Youths\,” captured the significance of digital activism in the new age of democracy on the continent. He showed how digital activism shaped youth activism and civil society engagement in democratic struggles in Africa. It was also observed that digital activism in Africa was being challenged by digital repression\, authoritarianism\, and the hijacking of digital spaces by certain forces\, as well as general political apathy. The presenter concluded by noting that African youths must continue to utilize digital activism to move away from the triggers and root causes of crises\, while also calling on youth activists to monitor modest gains by not getting carried away with the hype that comes with digital activism. \nThe fourth paper presentation by Alhassan Issah Suhuniyi\, titled “Alienation and Conflicts Among Agro-Pastoralist Communities in Ghana: Implications for Livelihoods and Peaceful Co-Existence\,” examined farmer-herders conflict as a phenomenon within the context of African democracies\, based on a case study of Ghana. He argued that one of the overlooked factors driving such conflicts was the exclusion of the herders from the democratic system. It was argued that pastoralists were denied freedom of expression\, movement\, and voting rights at both local and national levels. He therefore advocated for the inclusion of pastoralists in democratic processes as a strategy for promoting peaceful coexistence\, preventing and resolving conflicts in Africa. \nThe fifth and final presentation by Linnet Hamasi\, titled “Civil Society and the Protection of the Democratic Space in Africa: A Retrospective View from Kenya\,” explored the significance of civil society in the development of democracy in Africa\, with an emphasis on Kenya. Taking a historical approach\, the presenter argued that civil society had significantly shaped the trajectory of democracy in Kenya. This point is further illustrated by drawing on the case of current wave of protests by the “Gen Z” movement in Kenya\, in the context of struggling for the “third liberation” of Kenya. However\, the paper noted that this struggle faces serious changes\, such as the politicization of the religious space\, infiltration of the civil society by political elites\, and a high-handed state response against protesters. The presenter advocated for the empowerment of civil society to advance democratic development in Africa. \nThe discussion that followed acknowledged that political elites in Africa were undermining democratic institutions and processes on the continent\, by fueling poor governance\, violent conflict\, and instability. It was observed that African societies were vulnerable to military coups and other forms of political disruptions. To reverse this trend\, it was agreed that democratic institutions in Africa would need to be strengthened\, alongside youth and civil society\, to enable them to work towards consolidating democracy in Africa.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/apn-and-next-gen-panel-on-defending-democracy-in-africa-challenges-and-options-event-summary/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250623
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250626
DTSTAMP:20250808T152548Z
CREATED:20250805T185210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250808T152548Z
UID:10000899-1750636800-1750895999@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Emerging Threats to Environmental Justice in Africa: Insights from SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Panel
DESCRIPTION:Held as part of the 2025 Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) Annual Meeting in Nairobi\, Kenya (June 23-25)\, the SSRC’s APN and Next Gen Program brought together six fellows to explore how environmental injustice is shaped by inequality\, climate change\, and conflict in various African contexts on a program-sponsored panel titled ‘Inequality\, Climate Change and Conflict: Emerging Challenges for Environmental Justice in Africa’. Framed within the broader ACUNS theme of “Environmental Multilateralism and Human Development\,” the panel session spotlighted African-led scholarship and grounded research findings across Uganda\, Zimbabwe\, Mozambique\, and Ghana\, highlighting the continent’s disproportionate vulnerability to climate-induced crises and offering pathways for more equitable and effective global\, regional\, and local responses. \nThe APN and Next Gen panel was chaired by Dr. Lilian Kong’ani (University of Cape Town\, South Africa) and featured presentations by: Dr. Alice Wabule (Cavendish University\, Uganda)\, Dr. Fadzai Chipato (Great Zimbabwe University\, Zimbabwe)\, Clemente Ntauzi (University of the Western Cape\, South Africa)\, Dr. Issah Suhyini Alhassan (University for Development Studies\, Ghana)\, and Dr. Louis Kusi Frimpong (University of Environment and Sustainable Development\, Ghana)\, who served as a panel discussant. \n \nThe panelists raised key themes bordering on environmental degradation\, vulnerable communities\, governance\, and social justice. \nPresentations and Reflections\n1. Resource Extraction and Community Vulnerability\nDr. Fadzai Chipato’s case study illustrated the intersection between lithium mining\, climate change mitigation\, inequality\, and conflict in the Bikita district\, Zimbabwe\, and how “strategic partnerships” with foreign firms often marginalize communities\, exacerbate environmental degradation\, and deepen social inequalities—especially for women. She asked\, “Can we call it a just transition if those at the helm of extraction are untouched by its harms?” Dr. Chipato’s study emphasized the need for meaningful inclusion of community voices in decision-making processes and holding organizations like the African Union accountable to avoid reproducing historical patterns of extractivism\, which reinforce the “resource curse” narrative and deepen local injustices. \nDr. Alice Wabule explored complex dimensions of devastation in Uganda\, including the loss of lives\, farmland\, and other properties\, internal displacement\, and distortions in social order\, while emphasizing the exacerbating social and economic inequalities caused by these occurrences. Dr. Wabule shared insights on the political exploitation of environmental disasters. In highland areas\, aid has been distributed not based on need\, but as political patronage. She called for a collaborative interrogation of short-term versus long-term responses to climate crises\, innovative research\, environmental justice\, and equity. \n2. Gendered Dimensions of Climate Adaptation\nClemente Ntauzi’s presentation on carbon sequestration in Mozambique revealed how “green” interventions can reinforce patriarchal structures. Women face land dispossession and exclusion from income-generating activities linked to carbon programs\, while local leaders are co-opted to enforce these changes. Ntauzi underscored the “importance of inclusive and context-specific interventions and strategies to ensure climate mitigation through carbon sequestration projects\, as well as the need to address socio-economic inequality in rural Mozambique by supporting people-centered strategies and resource governance practices and projects designed to foster food security\, higher incomes\, climate justice\, and sustainable development.” \nUsing a newly developed community-weighted vulnerability index and Tobit regression analysis\, Dr. Issah Suhyini Alhassan’s study found that environmental factors—more than institutional or socio-demographic ones—are the primary drivers of vulnerability. Through his research\, Dr. Alhassan examined livelihood vulnerability among households affected by the growing incidence of farmer-herder conflicts in Africa and highlighted that sedentary farmers and herders are the most exposed\, while transhumant herders are the most sensitive to conflict. The analysis also shows that conflict exposure and sensitivity contribute more to vulnerability than a lack of adaptive capacity. To promote environmental justice and peaceful coexistence\, he recommends policies that address exposure and sensitivity\, such as fair resource allocation\, stronger community resilience\, inclusive governance\, and improved trust in conflict-resolution institutions. \n3. Governance\, Participation\, and Justice\nAcross presentations\, the lack of proactive governance and accountability mechanisms emerged as a critical concern. Dr. Louis Kusi Frimpong emphasized the absence of disaster preparedness and meaningful stakeholder engagement as root causes of exploitation and marginalization. “Who is protecting the rights of local communities?” he asked while calling for a dismantling of current social structures and weak local leadership. \nDr. Lilian Kong’ani posed a closing question to the group: How can we better integrate local participation in environmental governance? Panelists advised that many communities are unaware of their right to engage\, highlighting a crucial gap in civic awareness and institutional responsiveness. \n  \nRecommendations: Advancing Environmental Justice Through Inclusive Governance\, Local Empowerment\, and Regional Accountability\n\nStrengthen Regulatory and Accountability Mechanisms\nGovernments and regional institutions must develop clear frameworks to monitor corporate practices\, particularly in resource extraction.\nPrioritize Community Engagement\nLocal voices must be included from the design to the implementation stage of environmental and adaptation projects.\nInvest in Civic Education\nExpand awareness at the community level about rights\, environmental governance\, and how to engage with local and national institutions.\nLeverage African Institutions\nInstitutions like the African Union and ECOWAS must be held accountable to ensure equity in environmental transitions.\nSupport Contextual\, Interdisciplinary Research\nContinued funding for African scholars is critical to understanding and solving region-specific environmental justice issues.\n\n \nWhen the panelists were asked to reflect on reforms that are most urgently needed within the United Nations and the broader international community to remain relevant and responsive to challenges of violent conflict\, poverty\, and climate change\, especially from an African perspective and in connection to your research\, they proposed the following calls to action. \nA Call for Action to the United Nations and International Community \n\nAmplify African Representation in Global Governance\nPush for African leadership and participation in the UN and global institutions\, ensuring African voices shape international policies and decisions.\n\n\nReform Global Frameworks for Equity and Inclusion\nDemocratize climate and peacebuilding systems to reflect local contexts\, with strong inclusion of women\, youth\, and marginalized communities.\n\n\nCenter for Indigenous and Community-Based Solutions\nElevate traditional knowledge and locally rooted practices to tackle conflict\, poverty\, and climate issues effectively.\n\n\nAdopt Integrated\, Systems-Based Approaches\nAddress the interconnectedness of global challenges\, such as climate\, conflict\, and poverty\, by breaking down policy silos (e.g.\, SDGs\, Agenda 2063).\n\n\nSupport Locally Led\, Co-Designed Solutions\nPromote participatory approaches that treat local actors as partners\, with investment in local capacity and alignment with African realities.\n\n\nThe APN and Next Gen program is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.\n 
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/emerging-threats-to-environmental-justice-in-africa-insights-from-ssrcs-apn-and-next-gen-panel/
CATEGORIES:Africa
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