Overcoming colonial continuities in the area of social protection

This research explores past and present colonial influences on social protection arrangements in two distinctively different African countries: Tanzania (Mainland) and Ivory Coast. Although Tanzania and Ivory Coast are both in sub-Saharan Africa, they constitute distinct case studies due to their different (colonial) histories, donor landscapes and influence, and state of social protection.

The research project aims to develop an in-depth understanding of how postcolonial dynamics shape the contemporary political and policy environment in the two countries. It will explore how their governments and civil society organisations have sought to overcome harmful path dependencies in social protection arrangements.

These insights will show what can be learned from these two countries on developing more equitable and sustainable social protection policies and programmes.