BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV A holistic approach to sustainable development
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s new MA degree in African sustainable communities welcomed its first cohort in 2021. Lynn Schler, a historian of Africa and head of the program, talks about the degree’s vision and its innovative approach
How would you define the concept of ‘sustainable development’ in the context of African communities? For a lot of the things we’re trying to achieve, the technology is there. The greatest challenge is often ensuring the project suits the local context. We define sustainable community
development very broadly; we’re not only talking about basic needs, such as water and electricity. It’s about the entire life of a community.
Why did decide to set up the new program? A lot of energy’s being invested in this field, but from an African studies perspective, we felt there was room for a new, original approach. To achieve any successful initiative in a local
community, you need to consider governmental institutions, ethnic narratives, religious beliefs and gender roles. We’re encouraging students to think in a specific epistemological framework — which is African communities, not just any community — as sustainability requires being sensitive to a specific historical, political, economic and cultural context. Africa has thousands of communities, but there are a lot of common denominators that people who want to engage in an effective way should consider.
What does the cohort look like? We have about 10 countries represented in our cohort, and there’s also a range of professional backgrounds: we have a lawyer, architects and people who have been engaged in culture. Some students are interested in agriculture, others in youth employment or financial literacy.
When everybody comes around the table, you
become aware of the range of issues that need to be tackled. In a lot of ways, we’re bringing to life the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which consider various facets of life — all interlinked. You can’t do it any other way: when people have only looked at one issue, it has failed.
As part of the program, students spend three months working on a project in Africa. How do you prepare them for this time? Every project begins with a student’s personal interests. Some have a clear idea of their passions, some were working in a specific area before joining the program, others come with a vague notion of what they want to work on. Throughout the first year, we have a project
workshop that helps everyone crystallize around an idea and finalize the logistics, reaching out to an organization, government office or community.
What are some examples of projects? Somebody’s working on solid waste management for her local community in northern Kenya. A student is looking at LGBTQ refugees — the ways they’ve advocated for their needs and the issues facing them. It’s a whole range, it’s really exciting. We’re not trying to come with a one-size-fits-all
plan. Some students are starting something from the ground, and we hope they’ll continue way past the three months.
Read a longer version of the interview online at
israelacademia.che.org.il
Ben-Gurion is one of Israel’s leading universities when it comes to African studies. On top of the regular academic programs, its Tamar Golan Africa Center promotes activities and initiatives related to the continent on campus
22 Israeli Academia | 2022
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