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The Gendered Cost of Waiting for Justice

By Irma Nugrahanti

In the field of feminist economics, cost extends beyond mere budgetary figures, market prices, or GDP metrics. It encompasses the often-invisible labour of social reproduction, the psychological stress of systemic inequality, and the burdens imposed by institutional delay, all of which disproportionately fall upon women due to patriarchal norms and power structures. The cost of waiting for justice is not only a metaphor, it is a multi-dimensional burden, shaped by gender, class, and geography. When the state neglects to deliver timely justice due to deferred reform, fiscal austerity, or inaction, the gap is not left unfilled. It is disproportionately absorbed by women through unpaid care work, informal labour, and social repair.

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The Two Blind Spots of the ‘Equitable Partnerships’ Debate

By Eyob Balcha Gebremariam

There might be more than two, but I want to focus on these two blind spots, both in the scholarly debate and in the policy domains of “equitable partnerships”. The first is the dominance of the “development frame”. Unless we question the funding of research partnerships through development assistance, our efforts to achieve equity and justice will remain below par.

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Unlocking the Benefits from Conservation? Indigenous Youth and Entrepreneurship in Drakensberg Park

By Jabulile Happyness Mzimela and Inocent Moyo

 The Natal Colonial government initiated the establishment of protected areas in the Drakensberg in 1903, drawing on Eurocentric conservation models that sidelined Indigenous knowledge systems and governance structures. These approaches laid the foundation for the exclusion of Indigenous communities from decision-making over lands they have inhabited for generations. Such exclusions have had material consequences, contributing to marginalisation and the erosion of livelihoods.

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Decolonising Development Studies: Why It Matters

By Devika Dutt

Calls to decolonise Development Studies have gained increasing visibility across universities, research institutes, and policy spaces. Yet despite its growing popularity, decolonisation is often treated as a loosely defined aspiration rather than a substantive intellectual and political project. In many cases, it is reduced to efforts to diversify reading lists or improve representation within existing frameworks. While such initiatives are important in their own right, they do not address the deeper structural and epistemic foundations of the field.

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COP30 and Just Transition in the South: Who Will Pay the Social Price?

By Jiayi Wang and Mengjie Xu

When COP30 ended in the Amazonian city of Belém, much of the global media focus stayed locked on a familiar question: would the final agreement clearly call for the “phasing out of fossil fuels”? The newly created Belém Action Mechanism (BAM) — the first formal attempt to place workers, communities and unions inside climate governance — looked like a breakthrough. Yet behind the scenes, many negotiators shared the same concern: without new funding, clear responsibility and binding rules, BAM may become more symbol than protection.

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