Exploring African inequality, poverty and deprivation through theory and practice
From 22 July to 1 August, around 30 early career researchers gathered in Accra, Ghana. They attended the second edition of the CoRE IPD Summer School on The Roots of Inequality, Poverty, and Deprivation. The annual event was hosted by the University of Ghana, one of the cluster’s partners.
The summer school aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the structural roots and multidimensional nature of inequality, poverty, and deprivation through interdisciplinary teaching, collaborative learning, and practical training.
Exploring the Foundations of Inequality
The first week featured a series of lectures from leading academics across the CoRE IPD consortium. Prof. Frank Hindriks (University of Groningen) opened the summer school with a session on poverty and philosophy, followed by Dr. Muna Shifa (University of Cape Town), who introduced the participants to the basics of poverty analysis.
The following sessions delved deeper into topics which included poverty measurement and its determinants, financial development and inequality, gender inequality, the role of data in poverty analysis, macroeconomic development, and issues of growth, poverty, social mobility, and inequality across Africa.
These sessions were lectured, respectively, by, Prof. Germano Mwabu (University of Nairobi); Prof. Robert Osei (University of Ghana); Prof. Robert Lensink (University of Groningen); Prof. Abena Oduro (University of Ghana); Prof. Murray Leibbrandt (University of Cape Town); Dr. Kritika Saxena (University of Groningen) and Leonard Krapf (University of Göttingen).
New Additions: Hands-on Electives
A new feature in this year’s edition was the opportunity for participants to participate in hands-on elective courses in Rigorous Impact Evaluations and Panel Data Analysis.
In the Rigorous Impact Evaluations course, Prof. Robert Lensink, Claire Stein (University of Groningen), Dr. Kritika Saxena, and Leonard Krapf equipped participants with cutting-edge tools and covered methodologies such as Randomised Control Trials (RCTs), difference-in-differences, and propensity score matching. These evaluations are essential for inequality researchers because they show whether policies and programs truly reduce inequality, reveal who benefits and who doesn’t, and help design better solutions that promote fairness and equal opportunities. Two participants, Diana Nyachieo (University of Cape Town) and Cäcilia Stapper (University of Göttingen), reflected on their experiences of the course in this video:
Meanwhile, in the Panel Data Analysis course, Prof. Nicola Branson and Dr. Emma Whitelaw (both from the University of Cape Town) guided participants through the practical analysis of panel survey data from Ghana and other African countries. Panel data is crucial for understanding social mobility, poverty dynamics, and policy effectiveness, yet such research remains underdeveloped in Africa, making data collection and capacity-building initiatives both urgent and essential. Participants Abass I. Abdul Fatawu and Randy Donkor (both from the University of Ghana) also shared their reflections:
A Vibrant Learning Community
Throughout the two weeks, the summer school fostered an active and engaging learning environment. Thoughtful questions and vibrant discussions underscored the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants, making the 2025 edition of the CoRE IPD Summer School a great success.