Against the background of realities of underdevelopment and economic growth, environmental pressures and global governance challenges, this volume presents a broad picture of contemporary issues in African development. The multi-disciplinary collection presents a variety of important themes, covering land questions, housing, water, health, economic liberalization, climate, environment, and gender. The specific country studies illustrate the diversity of the African continent and demonstrate how unique contexts impact upon different levels of achievement. The volume seeks to present and promote novel analytical frameworks, new conceptual approaches, and empirical accounts of relevance to scholars studying Africa as well as practitioners in African development and policy makers.

Lucky Asuelime is affiliated to the School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has taught International Relations for five years. At the time of writing he was completing his PhD in International Relations at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is also the Director for the Centre for Conflict Resolution and Development in Africa (CREDA).

Joseph A. Yaro is an Associate Professor of Human Geography. He combines a rich background in development studies and rural geography with extensive rural research experience in northern Ghana. His specific research interests are: sustainable development; rural livelihoods and food security; climate change adaptation; land tenure and transnational land deals/grabs.

Suzanne Francis is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She carries out extensive empirical research, writes and publishes in the area of political elites, value systems and political institutions in Africa.