Research Use and Impact Assessment

Policy briefs

RIA works in the area of getting research into policy and practice. The unit thus prepares policy briefs topical issues.  These briefs are available:

• The gendered dimensions of food security in South Africa: A review of the literature (March 2011)
  V Reddy and R Molesane  
  This policy brief explores women as a central factor in food security. It investigates the gendered dimensions of hunger and malnutrition in South Africa, in order to foster an understanding of the relations between gender, food insecurity and policy.
  Download in PDF format  
  
  
• Gender equality in the mathematics and science school curriculum (March 2011)
  R Moletsane and V Reddy 
  This policy brief focuses on the extent to which gender equality policies and interventions impact on teachers’ commitment to MDG3. It investigates South African educators’ perceptions, attitudes and beliefs regarding girls’ access to, participation and success in mathematics and science in high schools.
  Download in PDF Format  
  
  
• Women’s participation in industrial science, engineering and technology (March 2011)
  R Moletsane and V Reddy  
  Although women’s entry into higher education in South Africa over the past decade has increased, they remain under-represented within the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) sector.  
  Download in PDF format
  
• South African Crude Oil Import Portfolio Risks: which way out? (February 2011)
  by N Wabiri and H Amusa
  This policy brief explores the nature of South Africa’s oil-import risks and the impact on oil prices; potential government diversification strategies to mitigate against such risks; and the impact of such strategies on South Africa’s oil-import diversification policy.
  Download in PDF format   
  
  
• Decisive action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (January 2011)
  by Dr David Hemson, Dr Edward Chikhwenda, Prof Wilbard Kombe and Dr Morena Rankgopo
  This research brief reports on a set of studies undertaken by the HSRC and research partners in Botswana, Malawi, and Tanzania in 2009–2010 and which reviewed 51 MDG targets. It found that 18 targets would be reached by 2015 but that the pace of change was too slow in 22 others. In 11 targets no progress was recorded.
  Download in PDF format   
  
  
• High university drop-out rates: a threat to South Africa's future (March 2008)
  by Moeketsi Letseka and Simeon Maile
  Download in PDF format 
  
  
• Age of hope or anxiety? Dynamics of the fear of crime in South Africa (March 2008)
  Benjamin Roberts
  Download in PDF format 
  
  

• No sign of a dependency culture in South Africa (March 2008)
  Michael Noble and Phakama Ntshongwana
  Download in PDF format