The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert concerning the death of 70 children in Gambia after consuming cough syrups contaminated with toxic substances. The syrups were produced by an Indian company in Haryana, which failed to ensure the safety of the chemicals used.
Development economists have often argued that South–South flows of capital and aid are devoid of the conditionalities and hierarchies that define North–South flows of the same. Maussians and neo-Maussians maintain that gifting—which allows for the ethos of reciprocity—leads to the formation of more equal international partnerships.
India has understood its relations with Africa within the framework of South-South cooperation, where postcolonial states collaborated for scientific and technological exchanges, as well as to craft common political positions against the hegemony of 'northern' powers. However, following economic liberalisation and the rise of the political right, India's relationship with Africa has changed.
India's historical engagement with African countries is rooted in postcolonial solidarity, they are self-perceived as a global South leader and normative power, evolving from frugal innovation and technology promotion to the "Mumbai Consensus" model of development.
India's engagement in Africa has evolved from capacity building to a pragmatic approach emphasizing economic and geopolitical priorities.
The pandemic and Covid-vaccines have raised complex questions around global solidarity. India is a striking example of the difficult balance between vaccine diplomacy and vaccine nationalism.
Renu Modi, Shobana Shankar and Meera Venkatachalam discuss India and Africa's entanglements across time and space, and ways of viewing the Gandhi Must Fall movement.
Kenneth Bo Nielsen explores the strategic side of vaccine diplomacy in a new article in Asia Punkt.
At a recent webinar, Professor Vincent Duclos (UQAM) discussed the Pan-African e-Network Project with Professor Dan Banik and Professor Renu Modi.
What will the global consequences of India’s Covid-19 response be?
Dan Banik speaks with Vincent Duclos on the notion of “care”, what it means to care from a distance, the role of mHealth in Burkina Faso and the contribution of India’s Pan-African E-network programme in improving health on the continent.
Dan Banik speaks with Renu Modi on India’s version of South-South Cooperation, the role and contribution of the Indian diaspora and the impact of Indian activities on health and food security on the African continent.
Dan Banik speaks with Aksel Braanen Sterri on vaccine justice and why Norway and other rich countries ought to donate their share of vaccines to more needy countries.
Dan Banik speaks with Antoine de Bengy Puyvallée on vaccine nationalism, vaccine diplomacy and the merits of the COVAX Initiative.
- As Covid-19 vaccines become available, health officials, policymakers, philanthropic organisations and people like you and me are being confronted with numerous ethical challenges and moral dilemmas.
Dan Banik interviewed in Norwegian VG about India's fall in cases.
Dan Banik speaks with Rory Horner on the role and impact of the pharmaceutical industry in global development and the ability of India's huge and thriving pharmaceutical industry to supply affordable drugs and vaccines to low-income countries.
Dan Banik speaks to NRK Urix about India's impressive vaccination rollout, which aims to vaccinate 1.3 million people every day.
– India plans to vaccinate 300 million healthcare workers, older people and vulnerable groups by August. I am impressed by what they have initiated, says Banik.
Prof. Dan Banik speaks with Dr. Titus Divala, an epidemiologist from the University of Malawi's College of Medicine.
Professor Renu Modi gave a presentation on India-Senegal Relations on the 26th of November 2020.
Professor Renu Modi was recently interviewed by the India-UK Development Partnership Forum on India-Africa relations. Professor Modi has conducted research on agriculture and food security in Africa, South-South Cooperation, the sociology of the Indian Diaspora and the human rights of immigrants.
- There is an urgent need for accurate country databases for enabling informed decision making, risk analysis and knowledge of regulatory frameworks in target countries in Africa.
