Development and its Discontents: Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa

Over the past decade, African countries have experienced significant economic growth rates. Despite this, most face a myriad of developmental challenges, and public dissatisfaction with how governments are addressing corruption and delivering public services. There is a common perception that government is run for the benefit of the few, rather than all its citizens. On Thursday 17 November 2016, the […]
South Sudan: Is Peace Possible?

Introduction On 10 January 2014, three weeks after the South Sudan crisis began—as peace talks stalled in Addis Ababa and the death toll continued to grow—representatives of South Sudanese civil society met in Nairobi to discuss the crisis, its historical roots, and the possibility of peace. The event was held under the auspices of the […]
Daniel Large discusses the information economy

Daniel Large discusses the information economy on the 2005 RVI Sudan Course in Rumbek, Sudan.
Atta al-Battahani explains local & state government

Atta al-Battahani explains local & state government on the RVI Sudan Course 2005 in Rumbek, Sudan.
Gérard Prunier discusses the history of Darfur

Gérard Prunier discusses the history of Darfur on the RVI Sudan Course 2005 in Rumbek, Sudan.
My Mother Will Not Come to Juba Report Launch

In South Sudan, delays in the formulation of a new national constitution have led to growing public concern. My Mother Will Not Come to Juba: South Sudanese Debate the Constitution is the record of a series of public lectures and discussions held at the University of Juba in March 2013. The launch of the report, which is […]
Miraya FM South Sudan Archive feature

On 15 June 2013, Miraya FM in Juba broadcast a feature on the process of digitizing documents for the South Sudan National Archives. The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, RVI, UNESCO, UNOPS and the Government of Norway. ‘The documents are important,’ the report says, ‘as they will form […]
A Somali Spring?

More than two hundred people attended ‘A Somali Spring?’, the first event of the RVI’s Nairobi Forum on 11 October 2012. This is a 44-minute podcast featuring the highlights of the discussion between Kenneth Menkhaus, Jabril Abdulle, Amal Ismail, and Matt Bryden. The panellists discussed current developments in Somalia and the country’s prospects following the […]
Somaliland election observers

On 4 December 2012, the RVI’s Nairobi Forum presented the assessments of five members of the International Election Observer team who monitored district elections in the Republic of Somaliland on 28 November. They were the fifth democratic elections held in Somaliland since 2002 and followed several weeks of campaigning. The observers presenting their findings at […]
Remittance transfers to Somalia

On 11 September the RVI Nairobi Forum hosted a discussion about UK and US banks’ discontinuation of their services to Somali remittance companies. The occasion was the launch of a report by Oxfam and Adeso Keeping the Lifeline Open: Remittances and Markets in Somalia. The report highlights the positive impact of remittances on Somali livelihoods […]