Agency in Africa series: 1 ‘Reflections on agency and development in Africa'

Paul Richards is the head of the Technology and Agrarian Development Group at Wageningen University. His recent work focuses on the generational dimension of agriculture and development in war zones.

Agency in Africa will be a recurrent theme in the ASC seminar series in 2002 and 2003. These seminars provide examples of studies on agency, reflect on theoretical implications of the agency approach, on the methodological implications and discuss its policy relevance. 

In this first session Prof. Paul Richard from Wageningen University will reflect on how the concept of agency, and related concepts like actor and agent have contributed to a better understanding of social realities in Africa. He will present a short statement based on his own work and subsequently a debate will develop. 

Paul Richards' contribution deals with agency and solidarity and is based on a comparison between two war zones (Congo and Sierra Leone) and the role of the youth in these wars. 

A detailed programme and definitive title will be available three weeks before the seminar.

A detailed programme and definitive title will be available three weeks before the seminar.