Society for International Development , NCDO and the International Institute of Social Studies present the first lecture in the series:

‘Agriculture, Rural Employment and Inclusive Growth’

Andries du Toit (Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), South Africa) on ‘ The Government of Poverty and the Art of Survival: Jobless de-agrarianization, Livelihoods and Policy in South Africa’

During the first fifteen years after democratic transition, policy responses to South Africa’s ‘truncated’ agrarian transition are based on the assumption that poverty reduction and employment creation simply revolve around increasing ‘access’ and opportunity. Such an analysis fails to recognise the ‘structural’ nature of poverty and inequality, and the extent to which poverty and marginality are perpetuated by unequal social power relations. In his lecture, du Toit will use examples of informal self-employment among those surviving on South Africa’s ‘old Cape migrant roads’. He will emphasise the artful nature of ‘survivalist improvisation’ and the adaptive nature of the forms of informal self-employment that have evolved in South Africa’s informal economy. In his lecture, du Toit will also consider the potential of South Africa’s ‘New Growth Path’ to transcend the limitations of earlier rounds of policymaking.

For more information about the ‘Agriculture, Rural Employment and Inclusive Growth’-lecture series, click here. 

Date: Tuesday 3 May 2011/ Location: Aula, ISS, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague / Time: 17:00-19:00 (drinks at 19:00) / Language: English / Admission: Free / Please register through sid-nl@socires.nl or 070-3383293 / Website: