Dr Peter Jacobs
Dr Peter Jacobs is a Research Director (Acting Strategic Lead: Changing Economies) in the Inclusive Economic Development (IED) division. His areas of research interest include: the economics of agrarian change and rural socio-economic transitions, with special emphasis on land reform and small-scale farming, socioeconomic dynamics of rural innovation, agro-food systems and food and nutrition security. As an experienced principal investigator, he has successfully completed several large-scale research projects that blend different methodologies.
He holds a PhD in Economics from Fordham University (New York) and a C1 researcher rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Before joining the HSRC in 2007, he was the Head of Department in Economics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He also worked on land reform policy issues at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at UWC. In 2015 he won the HSRC capacity development award and in 2016 received the prestigious Fulbright Research grant to complete a new book manuscript at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Dr Jacobs' publication record spans the authoring and co-authoring of more than one hundred journal articles, book chapters, research reports and conference presentations on gender equity, agricultural markets, innovation, food and nutrition security, pro-poor budgeting and political economy viewpoints. He has co-edited special issues of well-known journals such as AGREKON (on Household Food Security status) and Development Southern Africa (on Sustainable Rural Development in South Africa). His edited volume, Equitable Rural Socio-Economic Change (HSRC Press, 2019), examines the nature, scale, trajectories and speed of modern socioeconomic transitions across varied rural landscapes.
ARHE Fieldwork and Scientific Articles Editorial Support
A survey of agrarian household and editorial support for DASI emerging researchers are ongoing strategic initiatives of this team. Intensifying and sc....
ILEDPromo2023- Transformative Demo LIAT - DSI StratAgenda
Implement three transformative demonstration events that will enable the uptake of ILED information and decision tools and document the proceedings of....
2023 Agrarian Rural Household Economy Study (ARHE) Study
This study seeks to determine whether there have been any improvements in the lives of the underprivileged rural communities over the last ten years t....
One Food social sciences study
1.Review the current project concept and produce a short-written brief on the social science topics the project should look to address, to include ini....
Sustainable Food Value chains as a pathway out of poverty: A case for South Africa-NDA
-To define the concept of a sustainable food value and explore ways in which food value chainscan offer important pathways in assisting Civil Society ....
NRF Incentive Funding
Incentive Funding for Research Related Activities. Grant 145499....
Preparation for Pre-Common Country Analysis (CCA) 2021-2022
The impact of Covid-19 on agriculture and food systems, climate change and other internal challenges/emerging issues have affected food system adverse....
The 2021 Social unrest in South Africa: Future scenarios
In response to the social unrest and following a presentation by the HSRC to the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC) the Department ....
Financing of the Food and Nutrition Security Plan 2018-2023 (FAO)
The overall objective of the project is to undertake a review and analysis of possible additional sources for funding the implementation of the Food a....
LIAT Dissemination
The dissemination exercise is aimed at sharing the research results with local and regional actors so that they are well informed about the innovation....
LIAT Karoo Phase 2
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the regions key innovators, innovations, networks and infrastructure, which will shape the regional innovat....
Covid-19 Responses and the food and nutrition security of vulnerable population groups in South Africa
To conduct research on: The Role and Contribution of Cooperatives towards The South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan ....
The status of population, food security, nutrition and sustainable development during covid 19 and the lockdown period in South Africa
Following the TORs, the aim of this chapter is to discuss the status of the population, food security and nutrition during the Covid-19 pandemic at di....
FNS & Informal Trade During COVID-19
Specific objectives of this exercise will include: -Undertaking a deeper analysis of the impact of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic on informa....
Local Innovation Advancement Tools study
Working with local government and municipalities, the Local Innovation Advancement Tools study devises, tests and shares fit-for-purpose decision mech....
Northen Cape Innovation Advancement Tool: Mapping the Francis Baard Innovation Landscape
To strengthen collaboration amongst universities and civil society towards a regional network of innovation and economic empowerment in the Northern C....
The State of Food, Nutitrition and Security in South Africa
Establish the conditions/state of Food nutrition and Security in South Africa ....
UNDP: Develop a Land Size and Efficiency Simulation Model to ascertain the Economics of Regulation of the Agricultural Landholding Bill
The overarching objective of this assignment is to determine the economic impacts of the RALHB. The research team is expected to provide technical exp....
CEO: Publicly Funded Learner Transport and the Right to Basic Education
The purpose of this concept note is to make the case for a rapid appraisal of the status of learner/scholar transport in South Africa as a means towar....
Agroprocessing and biofuel production facility in Mogolokwane mining region
For this proposed platform to succeed in its mission, it is crucial that additional social studies be conducted in order to elucidate the various soci....
DRDLR: NARYSEC Employment Opportunities and Enterprise Development Review and Refinement of the NARYSEC Exit Strategy
As part of its systems review, the Branch: Rural Infrastructure Development is looking at sustainable youth employment options for NARYSEC enrolees wh....
DRDLR: LUNA Projects
The HSRC proposes a phased and multipronged intervention to strengthen the capacity of District Land Reform Committee (DLRC) stakeholders, members and....
DRDLR: RDPA Evaluation
The main purpose of this interim evaluation is to assess the improved performance of the provincial SPLUM and other DRDLR branches offices as a result....
DRDLR: RDPA Deployment
In December 2015, District Land Reform Committees (DLRCs) were officially launched by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform. The DLRCs wil....
NRF: Incentive Funding : Peter Jacobs
Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers....
DST: Innovation Partnership For Rural Development (IPRD)- M&E Framework
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), through its Chief Directorate: Science and Technology for Social Impact, has embarked on an initiative....
State of Immigration in South Africa
The main purpose of this study is to conduct a baseline study and to produce a comprehensive report on the main migration characteristics of South Afr....
Research Study on the Implementation of Evaluation of the Outcomes System
To determine whether the whole-of government planning linked to outcomes has been adequately introduced and effectively implemented; whether an effect....
Millennium Development Goals 2,6,7
Statistics South Africa is leading the writing of a comprehensive progress report to measure the country's progress towards achieving the targets set ....
DRDLR: A Diagnostic Study of the process followed by The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights in the Research of Claims in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994)
The focus of the study will be to conduct the diagnostic of capacity, capability and experience in each Regional Office, on how to carry out the resea....
DRDLR: Appraisal of the South African Land Restitution Programme
The primary aim of the proposed study, amongst others, is the need to gather adequate and reliable information on the development status of the variou....