Agenda 29 Oktober - 04 November 2023

PhD candidate: F (Faustina) Obeng Adomaa. Promotor: dr.ir. SR (Sietze) Vellema. Co-promotor: dr.ir. MA (Maja) Slingerland. External copromotor:Richard Asare.
In recent years, there have been calls for value chains to be inclusive. These calls have led to the development of sustainability programmes and service delivery initiatives in the global cocoa chain through which leading companies deliver support services to smallholder farmers. This thesis examined how inclusiveness emerges in these programmes and initiatives as companies, farmers, intermediaries, and other actors interact. Insights from the thesis indicate that although inclusion is presented as a predefined ethical standpoint, “inclusive value chains” cannot be designed and implemented in specific contexts to achieve intended outcomes. Inclusiveness emerges in the daily interactions among actors and it is highly contingent on context. Material conditions as well as written and unwritten rules in context shape the interactions among actors that configure inclusiveness of value chains. Insights from this opens space to know how to intervene in value chains to foster inclusiveness.

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This event will be held physically in Leiden. For registrees who cannot travel to Leiden a link to an online platform will be sent one day before the start of the event. Despite cultural differences and socio-economic disparities, (other) animals, particularly those kept as companions are becoming increasingly significant within a diversity of South African communities. Pet-keeping cuts across all socio-economic categories and public opinion regarding the status of animals in general is currently a subject of contestation and debate. This has both legislative and policy implications.
This presentation by Dr Sharyn Spicer (University of the Western Cape) briefly traces local ‘animal’ history to demonstrate how other animal species have been involved in several pivotal moments in our past and present. It uses a social justice lens, the concept of intersectionality combined with African philosophical insights and cosmologies to shed light on human-animal relationships and to develop contextually appropriate and culturally competent animal welfare interventions. The overall aim of this presentation  is to imagine and ultimately put into practice a decolonial animal future.  By looking inward and going beyond western knowledge and insights from the Global north, new understandings and actions that draw on indigenous knowledges, are able to take place. Underlying the indigenous concept of ubuntu is the ethic of reciprocity, interdependence and compassion, which can be extended to other living beings so that everything is seen as connected. The intrinsic value of other animals, who are viewed as community members or kin is recognised. Speaker :Dr Sharyn Spicer

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