Child porterage and Africa’s transport gap : evidence from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa.

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2012
Country:
Malawi, South Africa, Ghana
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Social Change
Authors:
Mashiri, M., Munthali, A., Porter, G., Dube, S., Robson, E., Hampshire, K., Maponya, G., Tanle, A.

Abstract

Children’s load-carrying has been largely invisible in studies of African economies, being commonly subsumed under women’s or family labor. This paper, based on interdisciplinary qualitative and quantitative research in 24 sites, examines the role of child porterage in helping to fill Africa’s transport gap and considers its developmental significance for education, well-being, and health. It provides detailed information regarding the scale, nature, and perceived impacts of children’s load-carrying work in domestic and commercial contexts, indicates the importance of gender and generational analysis, and explores key policy challenges.

Citation

Porter, G.; Hampshire, K.; Munthali, A.; Robson, E.; Mashiri, M.; Tanle, A.; Maponya, G.; Dube, S. Child Porterage and Africa’s Transport Gap: Evidence from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. World Development (2012) 40 (10) 2136-2154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.05.004]

Child porterage and Africa’s transport gap : evidence from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa.

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Published 1 January 2012
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