SIVIO Institute

SIVIO Institute SIVIO Institute is a non-partisan, independent, social & economic, justice-focused think-tank working across Southern Africa.

Our work is fuelled by a quest for an inclusive society. We aim to influence policy processes & promote evidence-based advocacy.

15/05/2026

Previously, we explored how land, tenure, investment, and state commitment align to shape agrarian transformation. A deeper layer, however, cannot be ignored:
Who controls the system, and to what end?

Across much of Africa, smallholder farmers remain central to rural economies. Yet for many, agriculture has not translated into a reliable pathway out of poverty. This is not due to a lack of effort, but the way production systems are organised.

In many contexts:
➡️Farmers rely on state-distributed inputs
➡️Production is often tied to controlled crops
➡️Payments are delayed, and markets are uncertain

This raises a difficult but necessary question:
Have rural communities been drawn into systems that prioritise political loyalty over economic empowerment?

In Part 2 of What If We Think Differently, we move beyond land reform to examine how agriculture itself can become political currency, where support is conditional, and autonomy is limited.

What would it take to shift from dependency to agency?

Watch Episode 2: https://youtu.be/FpNBD7Lu0ew?si=ICbG_lMBx0ljqghm

Grab Shifts in the Land: The Agrarian Question by Dr Tendai Murisa here: https://sivioinstitute.net/land

13/05/2026

Now live 🚨
Part 2 of What If We Think Differently - Shifts in the Land and Agrarian Question in Africa.

The conversation about land doesn’t stop at ownership, it deepens into how the land is used, who uses it, and what it produces. In Part 2 of What If We Think Differently, we pivot from broad structural divides to a sharper question: can land reform translate into real agricultural performance and transformation?

We zoom into as a case study of urgency, where the land tenure question has been volatile, polarising, and often reduced to slogans. But the data tells a different story: despite its challenges, Zimbabwe’s land reform has reshaped ownership in ways that cannot be erased. What remains incomplete is the next phase, a systemic resizing of farm holdings to match farmers’ capacity, regional potential, and realistic investment levels.

In this episode, what emerges is a more grounded understanding of agrarian transformation, not as a single moment of redistribution, but as an ongoing process shaped by how land, tenure, investment, and state commitment align. Zimbabwe’s experience brings this into sharp focus: the gains are real, but so too is the unfinished work of building a system where productivity, viability, and support are coherently matched.

Watch Episode 2 here: https://youtu.be/FpNBD7Lu0ew?si=ICbG_lMBx0ljqghm

Grab Shifts in the Land and Agrarian Question in Africa by Dr Tendai Murisa, here: https://sivioinstitute.net/land

We are at a Town Hall today, convened by Planact and ACT Ubumbano, sharing the findings from the 2025 Citizens’ Percepti...
12/05/2026

We are at a Town Hall today, convened by Planact and ACT Ubumbano, sharing the findings from the 2025 Citizens’ Perceptions and Expectations Survey, which captured the voices of 3,156 South Africans from all nine provinces.

The discussions are honest and grounded. Nearly 70% of citizens rated government performance as low, reflecting frustrations with service delivery, leadership, and accountability. But beyond the numbers, the room is filled with real stories — real experiences — that shape how communities see their place in democracy. This session is also a validation moment, checking with citizens whether the data reflects their lived realities.
The CPE is their voice, their truth, their expectations for a better future.

Read the full report: https://doi.org/10.59186/SI.VKJ7WCG4

11/05/2026

Our first episode asked whether land still matters and laid bare the structural divide between formal and customary systems. However, a conversation rooted only in distribution misses a deeper issue. Episode 2, therefore, does not simply continue, it shifts registers.

Missed the first episode of What If We Think Differently: Shifts in the Land and Agrarian Question in Africa?
Watch it here: https://youtu.be/1ut178SKKpQ?si=mbohUBsbWyKOaXXx

We step into the intellectual lineage of Samir Amin's 1987 clarion call, channelled through Dr Tendai Murisa, who argues that Africa's agricultural revolution remains our unfinished priority.

True progress means shifting labour to vibrant urban manufacturing and services, while securing food self-sufficiency on resilient land. Yet rural distress fuels chaotic urbanisation, youth fleeing shrinking plots for city streets, petty trade, and idleness, not structured jobs. Land reform isn't optional; it's the pivot for sustainable livelihoods and real economic migration.

Watch Episode 2 now and join the reckoning: https://youtu.be/FpNBD7Lu0ew?si=ICbG_lMBx0ljqghm

Grab Shifts in the Land and Agrarian Question in Africa book here: https://sivioinstitute.net/land




05/05/2026

A growing body of ideas, perspectives, and evidence is shaping how we think about Africa’s development. Kathêkon brings this thinking into one place. Recently launched, it is a space for critical reflection, dialogue, and knowledge that challenges assumptions while grounding action. Designed for those engaging with Africa’s development journey, Kathêkon connects insight with practice in meaningful ways.

Getting started on Kathêkon? We’ve made it simple.
In this short tutorial, we walk you through how to:

✔️ Explore curated publications.

✔️ Navigate key thematic areas.

✔️ Engage with ideas and perspectives.

✔️ Find content that matters to your work.

This guide helps you make the most of it.

🎥 Watch the tutorial and start exploring:
https://connect.sivioinstitute.org/

We are pleased to introduce Kathêkon, our reimagined knowledge hub for publications, dialogue, and critical reflection o...
29/04/2026

We are pleased to introduce Kathêkon, our reimagined knowledge hub for publications, dialogue, and critical reflection on Africa’s pathway toward a more inclusive society.

Kathêkon is not designed to offer definitive answers. Instead, it curates a space for rigorous thought, diverse perspectives, and grounded alternatives. From local philanthropy and economic development to civic agency and grassroots innovation, the platform brings together voices that interrogate assumptions and surface the complexities shaping our continent.

In a time that demands both clarity and courage, Kathêkon exists to bridge knowledge and practice, connecting ideas to action.

We invite you to explore, engage, and contribute to the conversation.
https://connect.sivioinstitute.org/



23/04/2026

Yesterday, we asked whether land still matters for Africa’s future.
Today, we step back and ask: where does this conversation begin?

For Dr Tendai Murisa, this work is not abstract. It is rooted in lived experience, growing up between rural and urban life, where land was not just space, but survival, production, and dignity.
This book emerges from that journey. From early encounters with farming and food systems, to years of academic work on land, agriculture, and social organisation, and ultimately, a return to questions that never quite went away.

It is also a response to silence. A moment where fewer African scholars are actively shaping the land and agrarian discourse, even as its importance persists.

This is more than research. It is a return. A reckoning. A continuation.

Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/1ut178SKKpQ
Download the book: https://sivioinstitute.net/land

22/04/2026

The land and agrarian question in Africa is often treated as an afterthought. Yet What If it's still Africa's unfinished conversation?

In our latest episode, we open with a provocative reflection: Does land reform still matter in the 21st century? Can Africa truly chart its development path without addressing who has access to land, and who does not?

While headlines celebrate rapid urbanisation, they often overlook a critical reality: the majority of Africans still live in rural areas. Yet their voices, experiences, and struggles remain largely invisible in policy and public debate.

So, the question is not whether land matters, but whether we are willing to confront its place in shaping Africa’s future.

This episode dives into the shifting land and agrarian question, challenging dominant narratives and rethinking justice, development, and inclusion.

Catch Dr Tendai Murisa and Nontsikelelo Nzula in this conversation: https://youtu.be/1ut178SKKpQ

Download the book: https://sivioinstitute.net/land



Service Update Our servers are currently down, affecting African Citizens Watch, the We Are One Fund, AfricaGiving, and...
17/04/2026

Service Update

Our servers are currently down, affecting African Citizens Watch, the We Are One Fund, AfricaGiving, and the Institutions website. Our team is working to restore access as quickly as possible.

For urgent needs or information, please email [email protected]. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

16/04/2026

The question that keeps well-wishers awake at night: "Is my money actually doing the work, or is it just disappearing into the ether?"

In our latest deep dive on We Are One Fund, we confronted the shadow that looms over every philanthropic conversation in Zimbabwe: accountability.

You've heard us talk about why a Pooled Fund is necessary. You've seen the frontline reality of our partners like Musasa, the Adult R**e Clinic, and Rozaria Memorial Trust. But for the corporate leader considering an MOU, or the individual making a monthly debit order, there's a more personal question lingering beneath the surface:
"Where does my contribution actually land? And do I get a say?"
Nontsikelelo took us behind the curtain to dissect the mechanism.
The credibility of this Fund doesn't rest on good intentions alone. It rests on a clear, bifurcated path of choice for the giver:

1. Directed Giving (The Specific Mandate): You see a specific gap. You want to directly support the cause. You can choose that. And with that choice comes a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a clear reporting schedule, quarterly or bi-annual. You don't just write a cheque, you enter a transparent partnership where you see the exact line item of impact.

2. Strategic Pooling (The Collective Trust): You trust the ecosystem. You give to the fund at large, and a Board of Governance sits to strategically allocate based on need, not just popularity.

And for everyone? A monthly newsletter. No smoke. No mirrors. Just the activities on the ground.

We are offering an informed partnership.

Catch the full conversation on our latest episode, where we break down the exact reporting mechanisms that ensure every dollar lands with dignity and purpose.
https://youtu.be/txLygM92aDk?si=_ZlxfachGvm2Li-L


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Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
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