Research

We engage in multi-disciplinary development and policy-support research, as well as capacity-building. The internationally recognised team of researchers specialises in the following areas: civil society; industry and urban development; poverty and inequality; social policy; labour markets and the informal economy; demographic research; the economics of the household; reproductive health; and social aspects of HIV/AIDS.

Researchers in Population Studies and Development Studies are actively involved in collaborative projects. Some examples of longstanding collaboration are: Institute of Development Studies University of Sussex ; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine;  The Centre for the Analysis of South African Social Policy ; Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research ; United Nations Research Institute for Social Development ; International Development and Research Centre; Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing; South Africa Labour and Development Research Unit ; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies.

HIV/AIDS, gender, race and the environment are cross-cutting themes running through much of our research. Our approach to analysis in any of the themes listed recognises that development is a process of change in different aspects of society and the economy.

Research Themes

•  Cities, Space and Development
•  Civil Society
•  Demography and Population Dynamics
•  Environmental Governance 
•  Labour and Employment
•  Poverty, Inequality and Well-being
•  Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
•  The Politics of Food
•  Trade and Industry
•  SARChi NRF Chair: Economic Development
•  SARChi NRF Chair: Applied Poverty Reduction Assess