In this Development Research Seminar, Professor Adriano Luvunga examines a paradox in development practice: projects may achieve all planned outputs and outcomes yet fail to deliver genuine social cohesion when operating within dysfunctional governance systems.
- Professor
- Date
- Thursday 2 Oct 2025, 16:15 - 17:30
- Type
- Seminar
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Room 3.39
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
- Ticket information
There is no charge to attend this DRS seminar, which are open to the general public.
He draws on practice-based, implementation-linked research conducted as part of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) youth model, implemented under a broader social cohesion programme in Northern Mozambique.
In a governance context marked by centralization, institutional fragility, low public trust, conflict and socio-economic exclusion, CDD applied a three-pillar approach: youth empowerment and organization, participatory rights-based governance and economic inclusion through cooperatives. While the model achieved notable gains – youth associations, policy dialogues and functioning youth cooperatives – social cohesion remained fragile.
The study argues that governance collapse undermined the catalytic potential of local gains, illustrating a 'micro–macro gap' between community-level progress and structural transformation. It concludes with lessons for linking grassroots initiatives to systemic reform as a prerequisite for durable social cohesion.
About the speaker
Professor Adriano Nuvunga is a scholar and Human Rights activist in Mozambique and Africa. He is the Director of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), and leads the Mozambique Human Rights Defenders Network and is the Chairperson of the Southern Defenders.
His global engagement extends to his membership on the Global Advisory Board of the Fair for All program at Oxfam Novib, where he serves as Deputy Chairperson.
Professor Nuvunga was recognized as one of the 100 most influential Africans in 2022, and one of the 100 iconic African Leaders in 2023 by the NewAfrican Magazine.
He concluded his PhD at ISS in 2014. His most recent book is Extractive Sector Governance and Violent Conflict in Mozambique.
- More information
Development Research Seminars
The Development Research seminars present cutting-edge research on development studies by noted scholars from around the world. The Series aims to stimulate critical discussion about contemporary development issues.
The seminars generally last for one and a half hours, allowing for approximately 45 minutes of presentation, with the other half available to engage with the audience in discussion and debate.
