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Adolescence, Youth and Development Workshop, Population Division, United Nations Headquarters in New York, 21–
22 July 2011
Intergenerational Relations in Africa with a special focus
on South Africa
Monde Makiwane, PhD
Social science that makes a difference
AIMS OF THE PRESENTATIONAIMS OF THE PRESENTATIONTo present an understanding of
Intergenerational issues in Africa with a focus on South Africa.
A brief Context:• Africa not a uniform and
homogenous developmental and demographic entity
• SA just emerged from an Apartheid past
Social science that makes a difference
AIMS OF THE PRESENTATION (contd.)
AIMS OF THE PRESENTATION (contd.)Main issues discussed:
• Intergenerationality: The Concept
• Wealth flow between generations
• Demographic change • Information Technology • Hybridity• Policy Options
Social science that makes a difference
Flow of wealth among generations in AfricaFlow of wealth among generations in Africa
•
Caldwell’s Wealth Flow
“theory”
(1976)
•
Wealth flow in
“Primitive”
societies
•
Wealth Flow in
“Modern”
societies
•
Conditions for
“fertility change”
Social science that makes a difference
Evidence from South AfricaEvidence from South AfricaUnidirectional Wealth Model:• The wealth flows from parent to children when children are young• A long period of lull: no transfers• Then a windfall from parents to children in the form of inheritances
Multidirectional Flow Models:• Wealth flows from parents when they are young• Children expected to send remittances to parents • Parents assist children during economic and social crisis
Challenges to wealth flow between generations:• High unemployment• Unstable jobs• Collapse of rural economy
Social science that makes a difference
Fertility Change and Intergenerational relations
Fertility Change and Intergenerational relations
• Fertility decline is underway in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa (Makiwane and Chimere- Dan 2010)
• Fertility decline progressed much further in North and Southern Africa
• Fertility decline is widespread even in the context of poverty
• Continued early childbearing in all of Africa (World Bank 2010)
Social science that makes a difference
Mortality and Intergenerational RelationsMortality and Intergenerational Relations
•
High adult mortality in
Africa thus increase in the
number of orphans
(Jamison et al. 2006)
•
Adult mortality is highest in
regions which have been
most affected by HIV/AIDS
•
Grandparents play a leading
role in the care of orphans
Social science that makes a difference
Evidence of youth bulge in SAEvidence of youth bulge in SA
20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20
0-4
10-14
20-24
30-34
40-44
50-54
60-64
70-74
80 +
% of the population
Age group
1960
15 10 5 0 5 10 15
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80 +
% of the population
Age group
2007
Male Female
Social science that makes a difference
Youth Bulge and Intergenerational Relations
Youth Bulge and Intergenerational Relations
• Result of decline in fertility, a bulge in the working population emerges.
• Demographic change driven by fertility decline not mortality
• Will Africa be able to make use of the youth bulge?
• Future of youth bulge in Africa: Much longer than anywhere else?
Social science that makes a difference
The Youth and communication technology
The Youth and communication technology
• Could the youth dividend manifest differently in Africa?
• E.g, through unprecedented penetration of mobile phones.
• Diverse usage, e.g. monitoring elections, delivering health messages, money transfers, banking and distance education
Social science that makes a difference
The Second Demographic Dividend The Second Demographic Dividend
• The elderly are few (about 5%) but a growing population in Africa
• The elderly play a key role in caring for orphans and vulnerable children
• Where there is Social Security, it provides a social net for older persons to support entire households
Social science that makes a difference
Migration and intergenerational relationsMigration and intergenerational relations
• High out migration of skilled young people from Africa
• Destination becoming diverse and growing feminization of migration.
• Low rate of remittances into sub-Saharan Africa.
Social science that makes a difference
Hybridity and intergenerational relationsHybridity and intergenerational relations
• “Creation of new trans- cultural forms within the contact zone” (Litvack 2006).
• Assumptions of new forms of expression, including linguistic, cultural and political expressions
• Positive: Mutuality of the process
• Negative: Multiple demands; Migrants erasing the memory of their background
Social science that makes a difference
Policy optionsPolicy options
• Programmes to reduce early childbearing• Support for voluntary and flexible economic and social
participation among youth• Technology and media that encourages better
intergenerational relations• Better facilitation of Money Flows between migrants and
the sending community
Social science that makes a difference
REFERENCESREFERENCES• Caldwell, J. (1976) “Towards a restatement of demographic theory” Population and
Development Review Population Council. 2. pp 321-366• Jamison D., Feachem R., Makgoba M. Bos E., Baingana R., Hofman K., Rogo K.
(2006) Disease and Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank. Washington
D.C.• Makiwane M. and Chimere-Dan O. (2010) “The People Matter”: The state of the
Eastern Cape Population. A report prepared for the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, Unpublished.
