KEY RESULT AREA 3: SOCIAL JUSTICE DEVELOPMENT MODEL (HAKI YA JAMII) IN UGANDA AND THE EAC
Globally, since early 1980s, economic development has been characterized by a mismatch between impressive economic growth and the reality of social and human development on the ground. Amidst this impressive growth, there has been increasing income inequalities, violation of human and environmental rights, social inequality and exclusion especially of the most marginalized social groups like women and youth, PWDs, elderly among others even in countries with high economic growth performance.
This has been mainly as a result of the neoliberal development model which advocates for liberalization, privatization and deregulation. This paradigm has been dominant in informing the development agenda, policies and practices especially in Africa and the EAC region. The results of the neo-liberal development model have been largely disappointing, for Africa and the East African Community (EAC) region as evidenced by increasing levels of poverty rate (currently at 41%) , food insecurity, primary commodity dependence inequality (the continent is the second most unequal continent in the world, and home to seven of the most unequal countries ), vulnerabilities, marginalization of women and youth, environmental degradation and deficiency in provision of social services. Furthermore, the measures to address these challenges at all levels are not working because they are underpinned by the neoliberal ideology. The neoliberal model has been perpetuated and reinforced through trade, investment and fiscal policies and agreements and also mainstreamed at national and regional policies and regulatory frameworks.
Read MoreCOVID-19 has exposed the failings of the corporate led capitalistic/neoliberal model and gov’ts are embracing strategies through which they can be actively involved in development/rebooting their economies. Women Economic model is an example of the economic paradigm that puts the people with their specific needs at the centre of policy making and development.
The untenable pervasiveness of the neoliberal model is as a result of a number of factors including the Powerful economic actors (corporations, investors, private financial actors, developed countries, development finance institutions, international trade institutions) who are propagating this model through aid and debt conditionalities, trade, investment and fiscal policies and negotiations for their own benefit. Furthermore, the existing body of knowledge and information is largely dominated by the neoliberal ideology and the situation is further exacerbated by the limited stakeholder awareness and appreciation of the link between existing neoliberal model and the socio-economic challenges on the ground.
This thematic area will therefore propagate the new alternative social justice development model which aims at creating a more egalitarian society that prioritizes social equality and equity, and the enjoyment of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights for all. This will be achieved through knowledge generation based on the alternative social justice development model, enhancing capacity of stakeholders for effective engagement in the development of alternative development policies which take into account people with their specific needs.
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