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Survey Research Sustainability at Risk from Interviewer Supply-Demand Imbalance

January 22, 2026
By 31317

The growing demand for high-quality survey data and the shrinking supply of qualified interviewers are creating a bottleneck that threatens the reliability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of survey operations, caution Blanka Szeitl (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2023) and co-authors Gergely Horzsa and Anna Kovács.

Gap between Standardization and Practice

In Hungary, large numbers of surveys are conducted each year. The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) alone collects around 1.2 million questionnaires annually (KSH 2021), and when market and political polls are included, the total likely exceeds 3 million (Szeitl 2024). This magnitude highlights the importance of survey research and the need to examine its quality. This study focuses on a specific aspect of survey quality: the effect of those collecting the responses, that is, the interviewers.

Survey research is built on the idea that interviews can be standardized so that all respondents are asked the same questions under the same conditions, producing data that reflect real attitudes rather than interaction effects. For decades, this has been treated as a gold standard in survey methodology. Methodological literature emphasizes scripted wording, neutral tone, consistent behavior, and minimal deviation from protocol as key factors in reducing error (Cannell and Kahn 1968; Groves et al. 2009).

However, research has also shown that interviews are inherently social interactions in which meaning is co-constructed by interviewer and respondent. More recent papers recognize interviewers as social actors whose behavior is shaped by training, labor conditions, organizational environments, and the challenges of obtaining cooperation in an era of declining trust (West and Olson 2017).

Despite this, most empirical work on interviewer effects remains quantitative, focusing on measurable outcomes such as nonresponse patterns, response distributions, or measurement error, while qualitative insights into how interviewers understand their roles and manage difficulties remain limited. Interviewers work in complex social environments, deal with distrust and emotional strain, and respond to organizational pressures that rigid standardization cannot fully anticipate. Therefore, deviations from standardization may not exclusively be “errors” but also strategies that make data collection possible.

Based on 50 semi-structured interviews with survey interviewers and fieldwork instructors in Hungary (Figure 1), my SRG study explored these dynamics from the perspective of the interviewers who directly shape the interaction between research and the public. Rather than judging interviewers against methodological ideals, the research focused on how they conduct interviews and how their adaptations affect data quality.

Figure 1. Interview Locations during the SRG Study

Source: Created by the authors.

Interviewers in a Shifting Labor Environment

Most interviewers entered the field because it offered autonomy, flexible hours, and supplementary income.

By then, the child was already getting quite big, and I had less to do. And my husband is extremely independent, so I didn’t have to look after him. I had time, and sewing, handicrafts, and things like that didn’t tie me down. That’s how I got into it. [survey interviewer]

Very few younger people enter the field today, with interviewers describing the profession as one that “only older people do now.” Some attribute this to generational differences in motivation, while others point to the declining appeal and worsening conditions of fieldwork.

An image of an older female interviewer collecting data for a survey. Source: Freepik.

Most interviewers work on freelance or zero-base-rate contracts, receiving payment only after projects are completed and approved by clients. Several recalled waiting three to nine months for payment, with no formal guarantee of compensation. Payment for this work has also fallen markedly since the 1980s.

So we left him the radio log in paper form, whether he wrote down what he listened to on the radio correctly or incorrectly, we went, collected it, and in 1985 we got 100 forints for it. Then I went . . . and bought some cakes for the family, took them home, and we happily stuffed ourselves with income from one radio log, right? Today, people get 1,200 forints [3 euros] or 1,500 forints [4 euros] for one questionnaire, which is in fact the price of just a slice of cake, right? I’m just saying that if we compare it that way. [survey interviewer]

Interviewers also reported unpredictable workloads. Assignments arrive with little notice, deadlines are tight, and the amount of work varies from month to month. At the same time, the broader survey environment has become characterized by low trust. Respondents, increasingly skeptical of unknown organizations and wary of sharing personal information, are more likely to refuse participation. Interviewers also perceive a growing mistrust from research organizations and clients, expressed through GPS tracking, audio monitoring, and detailed scrutiny of their behavior. These forms of surveillance were described not only as stressful but as a sign that interviewers are assumed to be untrustworthy until proven otherwise.

Yet, interviewers are expected to perform complex emotional labor, like managing rejection, navigating suspicion, calming anxious respondents, and persisting in the face of hostility or indifference. This emotional labor remains largely unrecognized and unsupported within research organizations.

Many people [new survey interviewers] ran away from me screaming because they said it was a job that would destroy your nerves, your soul, everything. [survey field instructor]

Interviewers also face numerous practical obstacles. Sampling files frequently contain outdated or incorrect addresses, forcing interviewers to spend hours searching for households that no longer exist or have long since moved. Poorly designed questionnaires—lengthy, repetitive, or written in unclear language—exacerbate the frustration of respondents.

You leave in the morning, and you don’t know what you’re going to do, whether you’ll need ten days, or one, or two. [survey interviewer]

These structural issues place interviewers under constant time pressure, pushing them to find ways to navigate the demands of fieldwork while still producing usable data. The interviews reveal that this navigation often involves informal practices that deviate from strict standardization.

Adaptive Strategies for Securing Cooperation

Interviewers routinely adjust, soften, or reinterpret standardized procedures to build rapport, sustain cooperation, and complete their assignments. One major theme is the restoration of the human element of the interaction. Interviewers emphasize patience, empathy, and interpersonal warmth as essential tools for overcoming suspicion. Many describe the early moments of contact as a kind of emotional negotiation. Through small gestures of understanding, they work to shift the interaction from a defensive posture to one of openness.

An image of a survey respondent by the gate of his house. Source: Freepik.

Another strategy involves making selective decisions about where and when to conduct interviews. Interviewers often avoid neighborhoods they perceive as hostile or unsafe, instead prioritizing areas where they expect cooperation to be higher. While these choices improve efficiency, they also carry implications for sample representativeness.

Interviewers also describe numerous ways of managing questionnaire length. Some shorten interviews by summarizing or selectively skipping redundant or confusing items. Others take quick notes during the interaction and complete data entry of the full answers later at home. These adjustments enable interviews to proceed in a reasonable time frame, particularly with tired or hesitant respondents.

Personalization is also widespread. Interviewers frequently rephrase questions, offer clarifications, or gently guide respondents toward appropriate categories when questions are complex. Far from seeing these practices as violations of protocol, interviewers view them as essential for respondent cooperation.

Implications for Survey Research

Taken together, these findings reveal a fundamental tension between the ideal of standardized interviewing and the realities of fieldwork. Deviations are not random errors but practical responses to time pressure, mistrust, and limited organizational support. Some strategies improve respondent understanding and reduce refusals, while others risk introducing bias. Shifting the focus from standardizing interactions to standardizing outputs, such as coding, documentation, and reporting of deviations, could help preserve data quality while allowing interviewers the flexibility needed in the field. Achieving this requires investment in training, fair compensation, and supportive organizational structures.

The current landscape of survey data collection can be conceptualized as an inverted pyramid (Figure 2), reflecting the increasing structural imbalance within the field. At the top are the researchers, representing a relatively large and growing group of professionals who design studies, interpret data, and set methodological standards. Below them are the research companies, whose role is to manage projects, coordinate fieldwork, and ensure quality control. Further down are the survey agencies, which are responsible for the operational aspects like recruitment, scheduling, and supervision of interviewers.

At the very bottom of the inverted pyramid are the survey interviewers: the group that is, paradoxically, both the smallest in number and the most crucial for the execution of survey research. Despite being the backbone of high-quality empirical data collection, their availability has been declining rapidly. This shrinking base creates a structural vulnerability: the entire system depends on a diminishing pool of fieldworkers, whose work conditions, motivation, and professional support have deteriorated in recent years. The imbalance between the expanding demand for high-quality data and the contracting supply of qualified interviewers results in a bottleneck that threatens the reliability, cost-effectiveness, and timeliness of survey operations.

Figure 2. Survey Research Pyramid

Source: Created by the authors.

The inverted pyramid thus illustrates a systemic tension: while academic and commercial expectations toward survey quality and methodological rigor continue to rise, the human infrastructure required to deliver these standards is weakening. This structural mismatch poses one of the most significant contemporary challenges for the sustainability of survey research.

The results of this study are presented in detail in two manuscripts. One focuses on the local history, formation, and development of the interviewer network (in Hungarian; current version available here), while the other examines how the factors influencing survey quality can be grouped (current version available here).

Blanka Szeitl, far right, with members of her research group.

Read about the research group

References

Cannell, Charles F., and Robert L. Kahn. 1968. “Interviewing.” In The Handbook of Social Psychology, edited by Gardner Lindzey and Elliot Aronson, 526–95. Vol. 2. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Groves, Robert M., Floyd J. Fowler, Mick P. Couper, James M. Lepkowski, Eleanor Singer, and Roger Tourangeau. 2009. Survey Methodology. 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). 2021. Activities of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, 2020–2021. Technical report. Budapest: Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

Szeitl, Blanka. 2024. Surveying the Human Population: Errors and Their Corrections. PhD diss., University of Szeged.

West, Brady T., and Kristen Olson. 2017. “Interviewer Effects in Survey Data.” In The Palgrave Handbook of Survey Research, edited by David L. Vannette and Jon A. Krosnick, 329–47. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

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投稿者 : ld-sylff

São Paulo Fellow’s Journey of Learning and Connection: Sylff@Tokyo

January 21, 2026

The Sylff Association secretariat had the pleasure of welcoming Marici Cristine Gramacho Sakata, a fellow at the University of São Paulo, to its Tokyo office on January 9, 2026.

“I’m very excited to finally be here,” Sakata said of her first visit—not only to the Sylff office but also to Japan, the country of her father. “I’m very grateful for the Sylff fellowship,” she added, which she received in 2006 while pursuing her doctorate in communication science at USP’s School of Communications and Arts. “It was very important for my studies and my career.”

She is currently travelling with her family to major cities in Japan and will also visit Taiwan to make arrangements for a tour she will lead later this year for Brazilian school owners.

She worked as a researcher at USP’s Information Systems and Technology Research Lab—where she helped organize the annual International Conference on Information Systems and Technology Management—and also served as an assistant editor of the Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management.

She now organizes educational tours aimed at informing school owners of management trends in countries outside Brazil. “We work with the local governments in arranging these tours,” she explained. “Last year we went to Switzerland, and we’ve also visited Portugal. We were in Japan about five years ago, but that was before I became involved.”

These trips are designed to give owners a better understanding of the benchmarks being used at primary and secondary schools in other countries.

“It’s very interesting to see the interactions of this group while we’re traveling,” Sakata says. During the school year, many private school owners have limited opportunities to learn how other schools are addressing recent changes in the educational environment—such as student use of smartphones and AI. These fact-finding opportunities are therefore very valuable for them.

“Education is not just a government obligation; it’s also a business,” she points out. “Many participants operate major schools with thousands of students, but when traveling together, they don’t see each other as competitors. They really seem to cherish the experience.”

Sakata expressed her hope of applying the lessons from her current trip to Japan to make a greater contribution to the Sylff community in São Paulo and beyond. The secretariat was heartened by her offer and looks forward to sharing her future engagements with the broader Sylff community. (Compiled by Nozomu Kawamoto)

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Service Learning as an Innovative Pedagogy in Indonesian Higher Education

January 19, 2026
By 32013

SRG 2024–supported research led by Obby Taufik Hidayat (Universiti Malaya, 2023) examined the first pillar of the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, proposing the adoption of service learning as an innovative pedagogy to strengthen students’ knowledge, skills, and character.

* * *

Education is widely recognized as a fundamental factor in developing well-rounded individuals. Indonesia’s aspiration to become a leading nation across various sectors by the centennial of its independence in 2045—as outlined in its Golden Indonesia 2045 vision—rests on equipping individuals to tackle diverse challenges. According to economic data from the Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia is projected to benefit from a demographic bonus, providing an ample source of human capital for development. Between 2030 and 2045, approximately 70% of the population is expected to be of productive age (15–64) (Irfani et al. 2021). Educational transformation will thus be essential for developing intelligent and principled citizens to achieve the vision’s goals.

In 2020, the ministry introduced the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM), or Freedom of Learning and Independent Campus, policy, which emphasizes experiential learning. One program that operationalizes this aspect of MBKM is Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN), or the Community Service Program. While KKN has often been identified as a service-learning initiative, its current implementation at Indonesian universities does not adequately incorporate the essential components of service learning, instead primarily emphasizing community service or volunteerism and often lacking integration with university courses or curricula (Hidayat and Balakrishnan, 2024). There has thus been reduced emphasis on student learning outcomes.

In contrast, service learning aims to enhance students’ mastery and understanding of theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom by providing hands-on experience in community service projects and fostering meaningful reflection on these experiences. Strengthening the connection between academic content and community engagement can ensure that student learning is not only maintained but also enriched through service initiatives (Salam et al. 2019). Accordingly, this study aims to improve KKN by integrating service-learning principles to develop value-based graduates in a diverse environment.

A qualitative multiple-case study design was employed to explore the application of service learning within the KKN program. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, observations, and document reviews involving two KKN groups: one following the usual approach and the other implementing service-learning elements introduced by the researcher. The researcher then compared the two groups, and the data were analyzed using content analysis and manual thematic analysis.

Semi-structured interviews and observations of participants in this research.

Furthermore, during data collection, given the limited research on service learning in Indonesia and the need to enhance international understanding, the researcher attended the 2024 IARSLCE Asian-Pacific Conference X International Conference on Service-Learning at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) as both a presenter and participant in several workshops. This event represented a collaborative initiative among international associations dedicated to advancing service-learning research and promoting community engagement in the Asia Pacific region.

In addition, the workshop shown below was part of the preconference session at the international conference. During this event, the researcher gained new insights into service learning from several international experts in the field. These discussions helped broaden understanding of the philosophy, key elements, and objectives of service learning. They also facilitated comparative analysis of service learning across several countries, yielding new perspectives that have become a crucial part of service-learning research in Indonesian higher education.

The preconference workshop on Setting a Global Research Agenda for Service Learning at PolyU, Hong Kong.

Meaningful Experiences: Findings from Community Projects

Both the lecturer and students in this study reported that service learning, as an experiential approach, strengthens compulsory, community-service-based courses like KKN. Although KKN incorporates hands-on learning, service learning is seen as more structured and effective for integrating experiential learning in community service settings. This observation aligns with Tan and Soo (2020), who assert that academic experiential learning plays a key role in cultivating responsible citizenship. Therefore, service-learning programs are designed to deepen students’ understanding of theoretical concepts introduced in the classroom through practical application.

The findings of this study indicate that a defining characteristic of service learning is its emphasis on experiential learning, which integrates community-service activities with students’ prior classroom knowledge. This aligns with experiential learning theories advanced by several scholars. Dewey (1938) advocated for “learning by experience” and examined the broader role of academic institutions in community development. Kolb (1984) conceptualized experiential learning as a holistic process integrating observation, empowerment, reflection, experience, and action through behavioral development across diverse contexts.

Kolb further defined experiential learning as a process of exploration and engagement that connects prior knowledge with new understanding, encouraging sharing, reflection, and cognitive processing. In the context of service learning in Indonesia (see figure below), learning is more effectively sustained through conceptual and process-oriented approaches, which sharpen critical thinking skills and enhance intrinsic motivation for discovery. Experiences that contribute positively to the learning process are considered valuable.

The characteristics of service learning in the KKN program begin with students identifying societal problems or issues they intend to address. Next, students engage directly and meaningfully with the community. In the third stage of experiential learning, they integrate their personal experiences with the theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom. This process enables students to generate new knowledge by developing original ideas or concepts, which are then shared to address community challenges. In the final stage, students reflect on their societal experiences through critical and creative thinking. According to Hinchey (2004), students who reflect on their learning experiences become active learners, and those who engage in extensive reflection continue to expand their knowledge. Balakrishnan et al. (2022) noted that increased experiential engagement enhances students’ capacity for reflection, thereby facilitating the development and accumulation of knowledge, values, and skills.

Implications for Pedagogy and Policy

The findings of this study suggest procedures for improving KKN implementation in higher education, which could strengthen its role as a service-learning approach in Indonesia. Service learning encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge, values, and skills within real-world community contexts, thereby supporting and strengthening local communities. The figure below presents an overview of the study’s results and outlines a procedure for implementing service learning in Indonesia. This approach seeks to enhance KKN by transforming it into an innovative pedagogy that positively impacts both students and the community.

Service-learning pedagogy is essential because it provides a structured environment in which students can apply classroom knowledge to real community situations. Through direct engagement, students gain practical experience and insights. Their active participation encourages reflection and empowerment and enhances the learning process. By engaging in reflection, students reconstruct knowledge and deepen their understanding (Balakrishnan et al. 2022). In a multicultural society, such reflection plays a vital role in cultivating individuals who embody the core values of Pancasila—the five principles that form Indonesia’s foundational ideology—an attribute that will be critical for future graduates.

Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and integrate service learning into KKN programs. Specifically, these programs should incorporate hands-on community engagement, reflection activities, and collaborative problem-solving, consistent with the philosophy and principles of service learning. Findings from this study can provide a valuable reference for shaping educational policies in Indonesia. University rectors, deans, and lecturers can use these findings to help design policies that prioritize these elements. Such policies will elevate KKN to international standards of service learning.

Incorporating service learning into KKN programs will help produce graduates with strong academic qualifications who are well-prepared to contribute to a multicultural society. This effort matches the broader goal of transforming higher education and supports the realization of the first pillar of Golden Indonesia 2045: advancing human development and the progress of science and technology.

References

Balakrishnan, Vishalache, Yong Zulina Zubari, and Wendy Mei Tien Yee. 2022. Introduction to Service Learning in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press.

Dewey, John. 1938. Experience and Education. New York: Kappa Delta Pi.

Hidayat, Obby Taufik, and Vishalache Balakrishnan. 2024. “Service Learning in Higher Education Institution towards Character Education Curriculum: A Systematic Literature Review.” Jurnal Kurikulum & Pengajaran Asia Pasifik 12 (2): 9–21.

Hinchey, Patricia H. 2004. Becoming a Critical Educator: Defining a Classroom Identity, Designing a Critical Pedagogy. Counterpoints Education Series, vol. 224. Peter Lang.

Irfani, Sabit, Dwi Riyanti, Ricky Santoso Muharam, and Suharno. 2021. “Rand Design Generasi Emas 2045: Tantangan Dan Prospek Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan Untuk Kemajuan Indonesia.” Jurnal Penelitian Kebijakan Pendidikan 14 (2): 123–34. https://doi.org/10.24832/jpkp.v14i2.532.

Kolb, David. A. 1984. Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Salam, Maimoona, Dayang Nurfatimah Awang Iskandar, Dayang Hanani Abang Ibrahim, and Muhammad Shoaib Farooq. 2019. Service Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review. Asia Pacific Education Review 20 (4): 573–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-019-09580-6.

Tan, Soo Yin and Shi Hui Joy Soo. 2020. “Service-Learning and the Development of Student Teachers in Singapore.” Asia Pacific Journal of Education 40 (2): 263–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2019.1671809.

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投稿者 : ld-sylff

Coimbra Fellow Farhad Nazir Publishes Study on Community Heritage Interpretation

January 5, 2026

Artwork by Spanish artist Mar Muriel for the TEHIC (Towards a European Heritage Interpretation Curriculum) project.

Farhad Nazir, together with collegue Carlos Romaris of the University of Vigo in Spain, has published a paper in the proceedings of the Erasmus+ TEHIC conference on Training and Professionalisation in Heritage Interpretation: Challenges and Future Directions, held in May 2025 at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Nazir recently completed his doctoral degree in Tourism, Heritage, and Territory at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. He was awarded a Sylff fellowship in 2022 and a Sylff Research Grant in 2024.

His paper, titled “Community Heritage Interpretation and Sustainability of Heritage Sites: A Case Study of Swat, Pakistan,” argues that there is a significant correlation between the sustainability of heritage sites and the interpretation of such sites by the community, particularly in territories where socio-religious and socio-cultural disparities are prevalent.

The study substantiates the cultural narratives of the Muslim community in Bazira, Swat, Pakistan—a prominent Buddhist heritage site—through storytelling entailing dimensions of cultural pride and sense of ownership, using a qualitative research strategy.

Given the religious and cultural variances between the residing Muslim communities and Buddhist heritage, this study examines how the local community interprets the tangible and intangible dimensions of Buddhist heritage in comparison to their own culture.

The storytelling format of data collection through open-ended interviews revealed several semblances of architecture, wearables, and agriculture between the ancient Buddhist and existing Muslim communities. Given such cultural continuity, the current Muslim community advocates for and contributes to the sustainability of these sites. The study concludes with relevant implications and future research avenues.

Link to the portal of the University of Gothenburg: https://gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/90217

Link to the publication: https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/90217/TEHIC%20PROCEEDINGS%202025.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

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投稿者 : ld-sylff

Guatemalan Farmworkers in Canada: Migration, Land Inequality, and Development

December 12, 2025
By 30645

Guatemalan participation in Canada’s Agricultural Stream program has surged nearly 200% since 2016, highlighting migration’s role in rural survival and development. But Chris Little (York University, 2019–21) reports that growing uncertainty over migration pathways is raising questions about sustainability and inequality.

A rural Guatemalan community with high levels of out-migration. Author’s own work.

Guatemalan participation in the Agricultural Stream (AS) of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has increased by 194% since 2016, a pace far outstripping the 77% growth in migrant farmworker numbers overall (Statistics Canada 2025).

With almost 20,000 Guatemalan AS participants in 2024, this migration flow is small compared to the huge flow of irregular migrants from Guatemala to the United States but is still a significant component of the 19.1% of Guatemalan GDP made up by remittances in 2024 (World Bank 2025).

Yet in the current hemispheric political context, with migration pathways being called into question and in some cases curtailed, the role of migration in Guatemala’s development may be changing.

Most workers who migrate from Guatemala under the AS are smallholder farmers, or campesinos, in their home communities. In my doctoral dissertation, tentatively titled Finca Logic: Hemispheric Agrarian Change and Guatemalan Migrant Farmworkers in Ontario, I am exploring the relationship between agrarian change and labor migration in the Americas through the case study of the growing population of Guatemalan migrant farmworkers in Ontario greenhouse agriculture.

Drawing on over 100 interviews, I take a labor-centered approach to analyzing the impact of transnational labor migration on the organization of agricultural production at both ends of the migration journey—Ontario and Guatemala.

Interrogating the “Triple Win” Paradigm

Temporary migrant labor programs are often posited to be beneficial to the sending country, the receiving country, and the migrants themselves—so-called circular or “triple win” migration (Rannveig Agunias and Newland 2007; Castles and Ozkul 2014; Wickramasekara 2011).

While there are undoubtedly benefits to all parties engaged in migration—remittances for the migrant, foreign exchange for the sending country, labor for the receiving country—the results of participation for the migrant workers themselves appear to be much more complex and contradictory than this framework might suggest.

My doctoral dissertation research critically interrogates the “triple win” paradigm. It investigates the socioeconomic conditions that shape Guatemalan campesinos’ migration practices and the developmental impacts of participation in the AS, particularly with regard to land distribution. I seek to understand the Guatemalan side of the temporary migration story, which is under-researched compared to the AS and its sister program, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) in general, and where much more attention has been paid to the specific experiences of the more longstanding participant nationalities, particularly Mexican and Jamaican.

Through my research, I find that the developmental possibilities for participants in the program are often mixed and frequently severely constrained by the immediacy of day-to-day subsistence needs for workers and their families and the effects of the highly unequal distribution of land in Guatemala.

This situation is compounded by two other factors: the vulnerability of temporary migrant workers to losing access to employment through the program and, in a wider respect, the limited number of spaces relative to demand for the program, even amidst the significant growth in Guatemalan participation and the AS overall.

Often, participants compared their experiences to the nature of irregular migration to the United States, which was generally framed as offering increased possible reward but at much greater possible risk.

The “Land Question”

Guatemalan participants in the AS face deeply unequal land distribution as campesinos in their home country. This “land question” is demonstrated by the fact that just 2.5% of the total number of farms control some 65% of arable land, while another 88% of farms share a mere 16% of arable land (Lopez-Ridaura et al. 2019).

In other words, a huge number of campesinos have access to a remarkably small proportion of arable land, while a small number of large landowners predominate. Unequal land distribution in Guatemala, compounded by extractive projects and the dispossession and repression associated with them (Alonso-Fradejas 2012; 2021; Konforti 2022; Little 2024; Nolin and Russell 2021), is the crux upon which rests a society profoundly unequal in broader economic and political terms as well.

Due to constrained possibilities for rural development and sustainable livelihoods, Guatemalans turn to labor migration as a survival strategy—both through participation in the AS and in the much larger irregular flows to the United States. My doctoral dissertation research historically situates this dynamic, placing the interview data collected within the lineage of campesino labor regimes in Guatemala and the different ways in which the struggle over the means of social reproduction has taken place between campesinos and the ruling class.

In the twentieth century, violent repression of land reform efforts was the basis for the 36-year-long Guatemalan Civil War. Following the peace accords signed in 1996, the land question has remained unresolved and a key area of social conflict and inequality within the country, with the individualized form of land reform pursued through the accords criticized as insufficient to change the dynamics of land distribution in any substantive way (Gauster and Isakson 2007; Granovsky-Larsen 2013; Palma Murga 1997; Short 2008).

Floriculture in a campesino community with high out-migration. Author’s own work.

Fieldwork and Emerging Concerns

The 2024 SRG award enabled me to return to Guatemala in June–July 2025 to follow up on some of the threads that had emerged from my primary round of fieldwork in 2024. I have been able to speak with government representatives, social movement actors, and people from communities that have been impacted by high rates of out-migration. This process involved targeted engagement with participants who could deepen the findings from my first round of fieldwork, which have demonstrated the heterogeneity of experiences for Guatemalan campesino participants in Canada’s TFWP-AS.

In particular, I found that government actors and social movement representatives shared concerns regarding the sustainability of Guatemala’s reliance on migration as a mode for development. These concerns were bolstered by interviews with workers and members of communities with high rates of TFWP-AS participation.

These participants recognized the need to look for alternatives given the uncertainty over migration possibilities in general and the limited availability of places in documented migration programs such as the TFWP-AS.

This underscores the importance of conducting labor-centered research on temporary migration programs, as the heterogeneity of experiences and the impact of remittances could be missed without developing a more granular picture of the community level. I am currently in the process of continuing to review and process the findings from this round of fieldwork and to integrate them in a process of comparison with prior findings. These will allow me to understand the potential developmental impacts of changes or limitations in migration possibilities for Guatemalan campesinos, both with regard to migration to Canada and also to the United States.

The SRG grant has also enabled me to strengthen my working relationship with Guatemalan research assistants, with whom I intend to collaborate on further projects that will follow a participatory research approach. One key aspect of the research—confirmation that workers understand their situations and prospects in ways that outsiders cannot—is the driving force behind my plans for further research beyond the doctoral dissertation that I am currently working on completing.

Toward Food Sovereignty

I returned to Guatemala in late October to visit two organizations working to defend land rights and promote food sovereignty for campesinos. With this experience, I am in the process of developing ideas for dissemination of my dissertation findings in a manner that can inform and support movements toward food sovereignty and providing alternatives to temporary labor migration for campesinos where communities seek such alternatives.

Support from the Sylff Association has been integral to deepening my understanding of the complex and shifting reality of rural life in Guatemala amid temporary migration flows. It will continue to bear fruit as I conclude this portion of my research and utilize it as a foundation for further investigation and action.

References

Alonso-Fradejas, Alberto. 2012. “Land Control-Grabbing in Guatemala: The Political Economy of Contemporary Agrarian Change.” Canadian Journal of Development Studies 33 (4): 509–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2012.743455.

Alonso-Fradejas, Alberto. 2021. “Life Purging Agrarian Extractivism in Guatemala: Towards a Renewable but Unlivable Future?” In Agrarian Extractivism in Latin America, edited by Ben M. McKay, Alberto Alonso-Fradejas, and Ezquerro-Cañete. Routledge.

Castles, Stephen, and Derya Ozkul. 2014. “Circular Migration: Triple Win, or a New Label for Temporary Migration?” In Global and Asian Perspectives on International Migration. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08317-9_2.

Gauster, Susana, and S. Ryan Isakson. 2007. “Eliminating Market Distortions, Perpetuating Rural Inequality: An Evaluation of Market-Assisted Land Reform in Guatemala.” Third World Quarterly 28 (8): 1519–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436590701637375.

Granovsky-Larsen, Simon. 2013. “Between the Bullet and the Bank: Agrarian Conflict and Access to Land in Neoliberal Guatemala.” The Journal of Peasant Studies 40 (2): 325–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2013.777044.

Konforti, Lazar. 2022. “‘Nosotros No Comemos Caña’: Defence of Territory and Agrarian Change in the Polochic Valley, Guatemala.” Thesis, University of Toronto. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/125620.

Little, Chris. 2024. “The Extraction of Migrant Labor-Power.” In The Labor of Extraction in Latin America, edited by Kristin Ciupa and Jeffery R. Webber. Latin American Perspectives in the Classroom. Rowman & Littlefield.

Lopez-Ridaura, Santiago, Luis Barba-Escoto, Cristian Reyna, Jon Hellin, Bruno Gerard, and Mark van Wijk. 2019. “Food Security and Agriculture in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.” Food Security 11 (4): 817–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-019- 00940-z.

Nolin, Catherine, and Grahame Russell. 2021. Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatemala. Between the Lines.

Palma Murga, Gustavo. 1997. “Promised the Earth: Agrarian Reform in the SocioEconomic Agreement.” In Negotiating Rights: The Guatemalan Peace Process. Accord 2. Conciliation Resources.

Rannveig Agunias, Dovelyn, and Kathleen Newland. 2007. Circular Migration and Development: Trends, Policy Routes, and Ways Forward. MPI Policy Brief. Migration Policy Institute.

Short, Nicola. 2008. The International Politics of Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Guatemala. Palgrave Macmillan. http://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=none&isbn=978113704 0848.

Statistics Canada. 2025. “Table 32-10-0221-01 Countries of Citizenship for Temporary Foreign Workers in the Agricultural Sector.” Table 32-10-0221-01. May 9. https://doi.org/10.25318/3210022101-eng.

Wickramasekara, Piyasiri. 2011. “Circular Migration: A Triple Win or a Dead End.” SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 1834762. Social Science Research Network, February 1. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1834762.

World Bank. 2025. “Personal Remittances, Received (% of GDP).” BX.TRF.PWKR.DT.GD.ZS. World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.TRF.PWKR.DT.GD.ZS.

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Season’s Greetings from the Sylff Association Secretariat: Sylff News 2025

December 11, 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all members of the Sylff community for your continued commitment to the ideals and operations of our program.

This year, we were delighted to welcome many fellows and administrators to our new office following our move to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Building in the spring. Guests visited us from UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, the University of Chile, INSEAD, Comenius University, Deusto University, the University of Helsinki, the Fletcher School, the University of Texas at Austin, Jadavpur University, Canterbury University, and Jilin University.

In addition, members of the Sylff Association secretariat traveled to meet with university officials, SSC members, and fellows at the University of São Paulo, Princeton University, Columbia University, the Juilliard School, Paris Conservatoire, INSEAD, the University of Jordan, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, Chiang Mai University, Universiti Malaya, Jadavpur University, Waseda University, Jagiellonian University, the University of Latvia, and Keio University.

These visits provided valuable opportunities to catch up on Sylff program operations at each institution and to connect with both current and graduated fellows.

This year also saw the introduction of new application procedures for the Association’s two support programs. Both Sylff Research Grant (SRG) and Sylff Leadership Initiatives (SLI) now follow unified timeline: calls for applications are announced in April, and applicants are notified of selection outcomes in September. The SRG award amount was increased to a maximum of USD 10,000 for international fieldwork, and efforts were made to enhance fairness in the SLI selection process by enlisting former SLI recipients as peer reviewers.

Follow the links below for news regarding these and other Sylff community activities over the past year. We wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season and look forward to working with you in the coming year to advance the Sylff mission of developing leaders who bring about positive change in global society and the local community.

Please note that our office will be closed from December 27 to January 4.

Sylff＠Tokyo

Apr 14
Sylff@Tokyo: First Visitors to Our New Office

April 17
Sylff@Tokyo: UC San Diego Fellow Committed to Advancing Economic Betterment for All

May 1
Sylff@Tokyo: Advocating for a More Holistic Approach to Maternal Care

May 12
Sylff@Tokyo: INSEAD Strengthening Ties with Japan through Its Alumni

May 20
Sylff@Tokyo: Comenius University Strengthening Global Ties through International Outreach

May 20
Sylff@Tokyo: A Surprise Visit from a Fellow-Turned-Basque-Minister

Jun 5
Sylff@Tokyo: Deepening Sylff Ties with the University of Helsinki

Jul 10
Fletcher Cyber Expert Discusses Bilateral Security Issues during Japan Visit: Sylff@Tokyo

Aug 20
U of Texas Fellow’s Summer of Sustainable Impact: Sylff@Tokyo

Sep 29
Jadavpur Fellow Examining Policy Paths to Sustainability: Sylff@Tokyo

Oct 14
Impact through Empathy in Redressing Medical Harm: Sylff@Tokyo

Support Programs

Feb 12
Announcement: Updates to Sylff Support Programs in 2025

Feb 17
Sylff Research Grant (SRG) Recipients for Fiscal 2024

April 4
Applications for SRG and SLI in Fiscal 2025 to Open in May

Meetings with Fellows and Administrators

April 14
Event Held in Tokyo for Japanese Translation of Sofia Fellow’s Book

Jun 2
Finding Concrete Solutions to Real-World Issues: Online Orientation Meeting with “Pedro Arrupe” Fellows

Jun 5
Norwegian Foreign Minister Expresses Gratitude for Sylff Fellowship

Jun 19
Chairman Sasakawa Meets with Sussex Fellow During Albania Visit

Sep 8
Sounds of Hope: A Musical Journey from War-Torn Syria to Global Acclaim

Nov 19
Jilin University Delegation Visits Sylff Association Chairman Sasakawa

Across the Sylff Community

Dec 24, 2024
100th Anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue: Juilliard Dean, Fellow Interviewed by NYC Local Media

Feb 13
Invitation to Join the Nippon Foundation Scholars Association (TNFSA)

April 1
A New Start for the Tokyo Foundation

Oct 2
From Gadjah Mada Sylff Fellow to Academic Leadership

Dec 10
Coimbra Fellow Amit Singh Awarded 2025 Nordic Mela Peace Award

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Coimbra Fellow Amit Singh Awarded 2025 Nordic Mela Peace Award

December 10, 2025

Amit Singh, left, receiving the award certificate from Professor Mirza Tasduq Baig and Talat Bhatt in Malmo, Sweden, in May 2025.

Amit Singh (University of Coimbra, 2020–21) has been awarded the Nordic Mela Peace Award 2025 in recognition of his significant contribution to the promotion of human rights, democracy, and intercommunal harmony in South Asia.

In presenting the award, the Swedish organization Mela Nordic cited Singh’s “outstanding commitment and dedication to the promotion of peace and social cohesion, human rights and freedom for all, as well as his efforts in defending freedom of expression and strengthening democratic values in the South Asian region.”

Singh, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, was a recipient of an SRG award in 2024, which he used to complete his post-doctoral project on “Hindu Populism against Religious Minorities and Resistance: Case Study of Varanasi.” The findings of the research and fieldwork, conducted mostly in India and Portugal, were presented at international conferences and academic lectures (including at Comenius University in Slovakia and the University of the Philippines in Manila) and published in the Journal of Dialogue Studies.

“This Peace Award acknowledges that issues such as human rights, democracy, peace, academic freedom, and freedom of expression and religion are under threat from India’s authoritarian Hindutva government,” Singh commented. “Receiving this award has boosted my confidence in my struggle against the anti-democratic, far-right populist regime in South Asia.

“This award would not have been possible without the help of Professor Dipak Malik, Dr. Bruno Sena Martins, Margie Gianan Singh, and organizations such as the Sylff Association in Japan and Mela Nordic in Sweden,” he added. “I hope to continue this pursuit so that we can live in a world that is inclusive, fair, and just for all, now and in the future.”

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Doctor Knows Best? Medical Authority and Maternal Roles in Socialist Hungary

November 27, 2025
By 33043

How did medical authority shape motherhood in twentieth-century Hungary? Fanni Svégel (Eötvös Loránd University, 2025) explores the rise of “scientific motherhood,” tracing how expert-driven childcare practices redefined maternal roles and reinforced gendered expectations through state policy.

* * *

My brother Pali’s development was recorded in a diary, a large squared notebook, with special attention devoted to his movements. He was left unbound, free to kick without swaddling—something I later learned had also been done with me. By now it is clear that they [the parents] were followers of Emmi Pikler’s method of infant care.[1]

Péter Nádas, an internationally renowned contemporary Hungarian writer, recalled in his novel how such practices were common among the Budapest middle class in the 1940s. His personal memory reflects a broader trend: the professionalization of child-rearing and motherhood in mid-twentieth-century Hungary. What had once been a marginal practice of the interwar elite—keeping detailed records of a newborn and encouraging free movement and exploration—became widespread under state socialism, due in part to Emmi Pikler’s influential childcare manuals. This model of “scientific motherhood” established a medicalized framework of childcare that helped define the ideal of “righteous motherhood.”[2]

This article examines how medical knowledge production influenced the normative concept of the good mother in twentieth-century Hungary, turning previously marginal practices into mainstream norms. It also examines how family mainstreaming came to place primary responsibility for care work on women, tracing the historical roots of “righteous motherhood” at the intersection of state population policy and medicalization.

Family Mainstreaming and the Rise of Medical Authority

In recent years, Hungary has taken a prominent role globally as an initiator of international treaties and conferences aimed at reframing human rights and serves as a laboratory for “family mainstreaming.” In these “pro-family” narratives, child welfare becomes a powerful rhetorical tool justifying the illiberal government’s actions.[3] But what are the historical roots of family mainstreaming, and why has the prioritization of the family often come at the expense of gender equality?

State population policy is closely intertwined with dominant narratives of motherhood. Cross-regime examinations of twentieth-century family policy reveal the continuity of expectations placed on women as primary caregivers. Hungary has a long history of state-provided maternal benefits, and from 1967 onward, working mothers were allowed to stay at home with their babies for up to three years. The childcare allowance—which is still offered today—reinforced traditional gender roles, placing a double burden on women as both workers and caregivers.[4] At the same time, the concept of appropriate care work evolved under the influence of medicalization.

The pediatric ward at the National Social Security Institute (OTI), Áruház Square, Csepel, 1949. ©Fortepan / Kovács Márton Ernő

The construction of expert knowledge in child-rearing intersects with medical knowledge production and the prevailing power structures. This framework assumes that knowledge originates from trained professionals, interpreting it as reliable and scientific. In contrast, the concept of authoritative knowledge is more permissive regarding the source of knowledge, acknowledging the agency of laypeople in shaping childcare practices.[5]

This raises the question: who owns knowledge? At the beginning of the twentieth century, the image of the good mother became increasingly tied to expertise, as child welfare and caregiving professions evolved, opening space for women as professionals in medical environments.

These women—midwives, nurses, and physicians—occupied intermediate positions within the power hierarchy, bridging the state and ordinary people. These lower-level agents, with varying degrees of autonomy, helped shape the notion of expertise.[6] Consequently, the twentieth century marked the first time in modern history that women could emerge as authorities on matters concerning the female body, influencing both public and private reproductive discourse. This professionalization tendency was caught between inherited knowledge, folk medicine, customs, and highly medical approaches.[7]

The differences in types of knowledge lead to a second question: what is the source of knowledge? With professionalization, knowledge about pregnancy, childbirth, child-rearing, and intimacy moved beyond the personal spheres of family, kinship, and friendship, and books became a central medium for its transmission. This shift signaled modernization, generating tensions as it distanced individuals from the knowledge and customs of previous generations. The consolidation of medical authority, alongside the widespread distribution of books, transformed women’s relationships with their bodies. On one hand, they became more vulnerable within healthcare institutions; on the other, they gained access to more reliable information about pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care.

Emmi Pikler and the Scientific Turn in Childcare

In the twentieth century, child-rearing was transformed into a scientific enterprise, managed by experts. Among them was Emmi Pikler (1902–1984), a pioneering pediatrician whose work in postwar Hungary reshaped infant care under socialism and beyond. As a physician and childcare specialist, Pikler played a significant role in developing infant care practices and institutions in the post–World War II era. Of Austro-Hungarian Jewish origin, Pikler was connected to interwar reform education and left-wing intellectual circles. Upon receiving her medical diploma in Vienna, Pikler returned to Hungary and opened a private practice in Budapest. After World War II, she was appointed director of the Lóczy Residential Infant Home—an institution built on socialist state ideals—where she developed her distinctive caregiving model.[8]

Pikler’s first book, What Does the Baby Already Know?, was published in 1940, providing advice for young mothers on early development. Her second childcare manual, Mothers’ Book, was first published in 1956 and reissued several times until 1985, thus spanning almost the entire socialist period. Based on the narrative analysis of these volumes, this article examines two debated aspects of her method: the “cry-it-out” approach and scheduled breastfeeding.

What Does the Baby Already Know? devoted particular attention to what Pikler termed “raising children to cry,” by which she referred to the tendency of inexperienced parents—especially mothers—to respond to an infant’s crying with immediate soothing, rocking, or holding. In her view, such practices unintentionally conditioned children to cry more often and therefore represented an inadequate way of addressing infant behavior.

She argued that infants who were allowed to cry until about six months of age later developed greater autonomy and problem-solving abilities. During this early stage, Pikler regarded caretaking practices such as prolonged holding or “unwarranted” rocking—unless driven by a physical need—as a form of spoiling. Her position on crying was not exceptional in its time but rather aligned with prevailing conceptions of the child as an individual requiring discipline and order.[9]

Maternal Love versus Caregiving Skills

In Mothers’ Book, Pikler distinguished maternal love from caregiving, framing the latter as a skill to be learned rather than an instinct directly tied to affection. She argued that the consistent presence of a primary caregiver—ideally the mother—was most beneficial for the infant, enabling the formation of a secure and intimate bond. She emphasized regularity and precision in routines of feeding, bathing, and sleeping, thereby promoting a stable and predictable daily rhythm for the child.[10] Although, from the late 1940s, Pikler served as the head of a residential infant home for children who lacked family care, her manual was directed at parents rather than institutional caregivers.

The second debated issue in Pikler’s book concerned scheduled breastfeeding. From the early twentieth century onward, medical literature recommended feeding infants five to six times a day at three-hour intervals—a practice justified by concerns for health preservation and hygiene.[11] In this framework, the physician decided what was beneficial for the child’s well-being, and the “good mother” was one who followed medical instructions. Mothers’ Book also placed particular emphasis on the necessity of medical supervision. In the 1963 edition, scheduled feeding (every three hours) was still recommended; by the 1980s, however, revised editions advocated feeding on demand, thereby aligning with the prevailing scientific consensus.[12] In Pikler’s view, infants were calmer within a stable and predictable routine.

In both books, motherhood was framed as a learnable ability grounded in expert knowledge, explicitly distancing care from instinct or “natural” affection. Drawing on the concept of “rational love,” What Does the Baby Already Know? advanced the view that learning proper caregiving was the mother’s duty, since only through such acquired competence could an infant’s needs be adequately recognized and met.

Caring labor was conceived as both an integral aspect of motherhood and a learnable process, regarded as essential for the construction of socialist society. Emmi Pikler thus sought to institutionalize a new, medically informed model of child-rearing, in which maternal competence was subordinated to the authority of medical expertise. In doing so, she built on the historical legacy of maternalist policies that linked caregiving to motherhood, while simultaneously promoting a professionalized form of caregiving.

[1] Péter Nádas, Világló részletek I (Budapest: Jelenkor, 2017).

[2] Risa Cromer and Lea Taragin-Zeller, “Reproductive Righteousness of Right-Wing Movements: Global Feminist Perspectives,” Women's Studies International Forum 105 (2024): 102947, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102947.

[3] Andrea Pető and Borbála Juhász, “Legacies and Recipe of Constructing Successful Righteous Motherhood Policies: The Case of Hungary,” Women's Studies International Forum 103 (2024), https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277539524000232.

[4] Éva Fodor, The Gender Regime of Anti-Liberal Hungary (Palgrave Pivot, 2020).

[5] Brigitte Jordan, “Authoritative Knowledge and Its Construction,” in Childbirth and Authoritative Knowledge: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, eds. Robbie E. Davis-Floyd and Carolyn Fishel Sargent (University of California Press, 1997), 55–79.

[6] Zita Deáky and Lilla Krász, “Lészen az Istennek áldásábúl magzattyok…” Születés és anyaság a régi Magyarországon, 16. század – 20. század eleje (Budapest: Bölcsészettudományi Kutatóközpont Történettudományi Intézet, 2024).

[7] Fanni Svégel, “The Role of Women as Agents and Beneficiaries in the Hungarian Family Planning System (1914–1944),” Journal of Family History 48, no. 3 (2023): 338–353, https://doi.org/10.1177/03631990231160222.

[8] Fanni Svégel, “Anyaság és gyereknevelés a professzionalizáció és a politika szorításában: Pikler Emmi munkássága,” Opuscula Theologica Et Scientifica 3, no. 1 (2025): 231–260, https://doi.org/10.59531/ots.2025.3.1.231-260.

[9] Emmi Pikler, Mit tud már a baba? (Budapest: Medicina Könyvkiadó, 1959), 9–13.

[10] Magda László and Emmi Pikler, Anyák könyve (Budapest: Medicina Könyvkiadó,1963).

[11] Zsuzsa Bokor, “‘Separation Is Required in Our Special Situation’: Minority Public Health Programs in Interwar Transylvania,” Hungarian Historical Review 12, no. 3 (2023): 395–432, https://doi.org/10.38145/2023.3.395.

[12] László and Pikler, Anyák könyve.

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Jilin University Delegation Visits Sylff Association Chairman Sasakawa

November 19, 2025

On November 10, 2025, a delegation from Jilin University, led by Professor and Executive Vice President Cai Lidong, paid a courtesy visit to Sylff Association Chairman Yohei Sasakawa.

Jilin University joined the Sylff community in 1992 and has produced more than 1,200 Sylff fellows to date. Professor Cai and Chairman Sasakawa reflected warmly on Jilin University’s longstanding ties with the Nippon Foundation and the Tokyo Foundation, and the two expressed hope for even deeper collaboration in the years ahead.

Professor Cai noted that he had long wished to visit Japan, as he was unable to attend the Sylff Administrators Meeting with five Chinese Sylff institutions at the Tokyo Foundation in 2024. He expressed his delight that the visit had finally materialized.

He also conveyed his gratitude for the enduring partnership and stated that Jilin University remains committed to actively supporting initiatives that foster the development of future leaders.

Sylff Association Chairman Yohei Sasakawa, left, and Jilin University Professor Cai Lidong.

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Ghana’s Renewable Energy Policies: Addressing Policy Implementation Challenges

October 24, 2025
By 30648

Ghana’s renewable energy ambitions highlight Africa’s clean energy paradox: technically sound policies coexist with persistent implementation barriers, writes Seth Owusu-Mante (Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 2019), hindering progress toward energy security, sustainability, and inclusive growth.

* * *

Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing threats to sustainable development, compelling governments worldwide to adopt ambitious policies to accelerate the global transition to clean energy.

In Africa, the stakes are especially high: as the region most vulnerable to climate impacts (IEA 2023a), African countries must adapt to intensifying climate risks and at the same time contribute meaningfully to global mitigation efforts, all against the backdrop of persistent socio-economic challenges.

Crucially for the continent, mitigating the climate crisis by leveraging its abundant renewable energy resources is not only a climate imperative but also a pathway to job creation (IEA 2023b; Hanna et. al. 2024), enhanced energy access (Fagbemi 2025; Alex-Oke et al. 2025), and inclusive economic growth for millions currently without electricity (GIZ 2024; Alex-Oke et al.).

Ghana’s experience encapsulates both the promise and the pitfalls of Africa’s clean energy transition. Over the past decade, the country has developed one of the most comprehensive renewable energy policy frameworks on the continent, guided by policies and legislation, such as the Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832), the Renewable Energy (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1045) , the Renewable Energy Master Plan (2019), and the National Energy Transition Framework (2022). These were designed to diversify the national energy mix, enhance energy security, expand energy access, and align the country with global energy and decarbonization targets under the Paris Agreement.

However, despite the technical soundness of these policies, Ghana’s renewable energy deployment remains far below expectations. As of 2025, only 132 MW of non-hydro renewables have been installed, representing just 2.3% of national capacity (see figure below), compared to the 1,363 MW target set for 2030 by the Renewable Energy Master Plan (2019). This stark gap between ambition and reality provided the central motivation for my research.

Source: International Perspective for Policy Governance (IPPG Africa 2025).

Sound Policy Design

The study set out to investigate both policy and implementation gaps within Ghana’s renewable energy sector and to assess their implications for energy access, reliability, security, and climate goals. To accomplish this, a mixed-methods approach was employed.

First, a documentary review examined Ghana’s major renewable energy frameworks, situating them within the broader African and global policy context. Second, a survey of energy experts was conducted, and the results were further investigated through interviews with policymakers, regulators, government officials from the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Bui Power Authority, Volta River Authority, Electricity Company of Ghana, as well as project developers, academics, civil society experts, and community representatives. This combination of qualitative and quantitative data enabled a robust assessment of the perceived effectiveness of existing policies, the most critical barriers to their success, and the lived realities of government officials tasked with implementation.

The findings reveal that Ghana’s policy frameworks are widely regarded as comprehensive and well-structured. Stakeholders highlighted the Renewable Energy Master Plan and the National Energy Transition Framework as the most effective policy initiatives, indicating the country’s capacity to adopt technically sound strategies.

Yet, the findings also demonstrate that the country’s sound policy design is undermined by persistent policy gaps. Chief among these is the absence of adequate policy instruments, such as tax credits, subsidies, and other financial incentive policies, that could attract private investments to make renewables competitive with conventional sources.

Respondents also pointed to weak integration of renewable energy into broader national energy planning, the absence of systematic policy review mechanisms, and the lack of policy provisions in emerging areas such as storage and battery utilization. Collectively, these omissions have created a fragmented policy environment that fails to adapt to technological changes and evolving market dynamics.

A group photo following an interview with Director of Renewable Energy Ing. Peter Acheampong of Bui Power Authority, second from left, flanked by project field supervisor Eric Agyemang, far left, and research assistants Nii Ayikwei Quaye, far right, and Emmanuella Biney.

Barriers to Implementation and Institutional Challenges

The study also uncovered a set of equally significant implementation gaps. The most frequently cited implementation barrier was limited access to financing mechanisms, with nearly 90% of the survey respondents emphasizing the inability of developers to secure long-term, affordable finance. Local banks view renewable projects as high-risk ventures, and the absence of government guarantees or innovative financing instruments further limits investment. Political interference and inconsistent leadership also emerged as recurring themes, with stakeholders noting how renewable energy initiatives are often tied to particular administrations and lose momentum when political priorities shift. Weak regulatory enforcement compounded these challenges, as institutions tasked with oversight often lack the capacity or authority to ensure compliance and accountability. Together, these implementation gaps erode investor confidence and slow down the deployment of projects that could otherwise contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s energy transition.

The consequences of these gaps extend well beyond missed megawatts. They jeopardize Ghana’s energy security by leaving the country over-reliant on hydropower, which is vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations, and on imported fossil fuels, which expose the economy to volatile international markets, resulting in the country’s over $3 billion energy sector debt. They also threaten Ghana’s ability to meet its nationally determined contributions (NDC), which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64 MtCO₂e by 2030.

Moreover, the lack of progress undermines opportunities for job creation, industrial development, and equitable access to modern energy services. Although Ghana has one of the highest electricity access rates in Sub-Saharan Africa at nearly 90%, the persistence of implementation failures means that energy remains unreliable, expensive, and insufficiently sustainable.

This research carries important implications for both academic scholarship and societal practice. For scholars, it contributes to the growing body of literature on renewable energy transitions by clearly distinguishing between gaps in policy design and failures in policy implementation. Previous research has often emphasized technical potential or legislative frameworks without interrogating why outcomes remain consistently underwhelming. Through the integration of empirical evidence from surveys and interviews with government officials, policymakers, and other key energy experts, this study offers a more nuanced understanding of the institutional, financial, and political dynamics that constrain energy transitions in developing country contexts.

Project RAs Emmanuella Biney and Nii Ayikwei Quaye with their field supervisor Eric Agyemang, left, interviewing Manager for Renewable Energy Edward Ochire and Assistant Electrical Engineer Osborn Amoh of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited, right.

For society, the findings highlight the urgent need to shift the focus from policy formulation to effective implementation by government officials. Addressing financing barriers is paramount. Instruments such as sovereign guarantees, green bonds, and put-call option agreements could reduce investor risk and unlock private capital for renewable projects. Strengthening regulatory institutions, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and insulating energy policy from partisan politics are equally critical steps. A more transparent and participatory approach, including periodic policy reviews and stronger community engagement, would ensure that renewable energy strategies remain responsive to technological changes and societal needs. Without these measures, Ghana risks perpetuating a cycle of ambitious targets and underwhelming results.

Lessons and Implications for Ghana and Beyond

In sum, this study demonstrates that Ghana’s renewable energy transition is not merely a technical project but a deeply institutional and political endeavor. The country possesses abundant renewable resources, proven policy ambition, and a demonstrated ability to execute large-scale energy programs, as shown by its electrification achievements.

What remains lacking is the translation of policies into bankable projects, enforceable regulations, and resilient institutions. Bridging this gap will not only strengthen Ghana’s energy security and economic resilience but will also position the country as a continental leader in renewable energy.

The lessons from Ghana resonate beyond its borders, offering insights for other African nations grappling with similar challenges. Moving decisively to address policy and implementation gaps would allow Ghana to transform its renewable energy sector from a story of missed opportunities into one of genuine leadership in sustainable development and inspiration for other African countries.

References

Alex-Oke, Temidayo, Olusola Bamisile, Dongsheng Cai, Humphrey Adun, Chiagoziem Chima Ukwuoma, Samaila Ado Tenebe, and Qi Huang. 2025. “Renewable energy market in Africa: Opportunities, progress, challenges, and future prospects.” Energy Strategy Reviews 59: 101700.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). 2024. The Renewable Energy Transition in Africa: Powering Access, Resilience and Prosperity. https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/Study_Renewable%20Energy%20Transition%20Africa-EN.pdf.

Fagbemi, Bomi. 2025. “Africa’s Green Energy Transition.” The Africa Center, May 29. https://theafricacenter.org/news/detail/Africa-s-Green-Energy-Transition.

Hanna, Richard, Philip Heptonstall, and Robert Gross. 2024. “Job creation in a low carbon transition to renewables and energy efficiency: a review of international evidence.” Sustainability Science 19, no. 1: 125–50.

International Energy Agency (IEA). 2023a. Africa Energy Outlook 2022: Special Report. Revised version, May 2023. Paris: IEA. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/220b2862-33a6-47bd-81e9-00e586f4d384/AfricaEnergyOutlook2022.pdf.

International Energy Agency. 2023b. World Energy Employment 2023. Paris: IEA. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/8934984a-0d66-444f-a36f-641a4a3ef7de/World_Energy_Employment_2023.pdf.

International Perspective for Policy & Governance (IPPG Africa). 2025. “The Case for Ghana’s Renewable Energy Transition: A Path to Sustainability and Economic Resilience.” (Authored by Seth Owusu-Mante.) April 25. https://www.ippgafrica.org/blog-post/the-case-for-ghanas-renewable-energy-transition-a-path-to-sustainability-and-economic-resilience/.