Child porterage and Africa's transport gap: evidence from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa

Porter, Gina; Hampshire, Kate; Abane, Albert; Munthali, Alister; Robson, Elsbeth; Mashiri, Mac; Tanle, Augustine; Maponya, Goodhope; Dube, Sipho

Abstract

Children's load-carrying has been largely invisible in studies of African economies, being commonly subsumed under women's or family labor. This paper, based on interdisciplinary qualitative and quantitative research in 24 sites, examines the role of child porterage in helping to fill Africa's transport gap and considers its developmental significance for education, well-being, and health. It provides detailed information regarding the scale, nature, and perceived impacts of children's load-carrying work in domestic and commercial contexts, indicates the importance of gender and generational analysis, and explores key policy challenges.

Citation

Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Mashiri, M., …Dube, S. (2012). Child porterage and Africa's transport gap: evidence from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. World Development, 40(10), 2136-2154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.05.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 4, 2012
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: World Development
• Print ISSN: 0305-750X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 2136-2154
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.05.004
• Keywords: Geography, Planning and Development; Economics and Econometrics; Development; Sociology and Political Science
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/470090
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X12001143?via%3Dihub