Policy Theme 2
🛡 Human Security & Social Policy
Advancing the policies that protect people, build resilience and ensure no one is left behind
Protecting People in a Fragile World
Development is not only about growth — it is about ensuring that people are safe, cared for and protected from the shocks that can reverse years of progress in an instant. Across Africa, millions of people face overlapping vulnerabilities: inadequate health systems, absent social protection, forced displacement, conflict and the constant threat of crisis. The policies that address these vulnerabilities are among the most consequential a government can make.
Afrodevelopment works at the intersection of social protection, health systems, water and sanitation, security and migration — providing policy analysis and recommendations that help governments build the protective infrastructure that people need to thrive. We pay particular attention to the humanitarian-development nexus: the critical bridge between emergency response and long-term resilience building.
Policy Areas
- 🏥 Health Systems Strengthening
- 🫰 Social Protection & Safety Nets
- 💧 Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
- 🌐 Humanitarian-Development Nexus
- 🔒 Crime, Conflict & Security
- ✈️ Migration & Displacement
Latest Policy Work: Human Security & Social Policy
Our most recent policy briefs, analyses and recommendations on human security and social protection across Africa.
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Between elite power and social mobilisation in Nigeria
‘Leave no one behind’ is the catchphrase of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As development challenges become multifaceted and…
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Sub-Saharan Africa and achieving the SDG target for drinking water
Achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 is a target of the…
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Sanitation security model: importance, explanation and uses
Bolaji Ogunfemi Sanitation is one of the most intractable development challenges of the twenty-first century. It has garnered greater attention…
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Experience and reflection on sanitation and human security in South Sudan
Bolaji Ogunfemi It was the afternoon of Tuesday 4th of July, 2017, different thoughts ran through my head as I…
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Biomedical engineers from across Africa are collaborating to build medical devices
Biomedical engineering can save lives. It draws on and integrates knowledge from disciplines like engineering, computer science, biomedical sciences, and…
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Why Africa’s Biggest Economy is Falling Behind on Sanitation and 7 Ways Donors Can Make a Difference
Bolaji Ogunfemi Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, has a staggering 130 million people without access to adequate sanitation according to WaterAid…
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Africa’s opportunity and reasons for a reset
At a time of great uncertainty in world affairs, Africa serves its interests best by putting its house in order.…
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Nigeria ranked 152 in global human development index – UNDP report
Nigeria has been ranked 152 amongst the 193 United Nations (UN) member states in the latest Human Development Index (HDI)…
Explore Other Policy Themes
Afrodevelopment also works on economic transformation, climate change and global development agendas.

