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HSRC Annual Report 2016/17
Going forward, in addition to our ongoing research work, we have identified and will be focusing on the following
priority research areas to elevate our understanding of the drivers of poverty, inequality and social inequity and the
social factors which mitigate and reduce these problems:
•
Wellbeing: The title of this priority area is “Poverty and inequality in South Africa in 3D: Using a three dimensional
human wellbeing lens to move us forward”;
•
City regions as a focus for socio-economic development: This is being developed under the heading “Towards a
Centre of Excellence for research and teaching on city-region economies”;
•
Transformative governance: The focus of this work, titled the “The transformative governance initiative”, is to assist
in the development of social consensus around the minimum standards for the delivery and governance of key
social services.
Our commitment to delivering credible and meaningful research outcomes towards the greater and collective good will
not be compromised by ongoing challenges in terms of our financial and human capital resources. We will be looking
for innovative sources of funding to ensure that we are able to deliver on our mandate to, amongst others, inform the
effective formulation and monitoring of policy, while evaluating the implementation thereof, stimulate public debate
through the effective dissemination of fact-based research results, and help build research capacity and infrastructure
for the human sciences.
The time has come for the social sciences and humanities to take their place at the forefront of developing sustainable
solutions towards reducing the resistant poverty, inequality and underdevelopment in our country. The citizens of our
country deserve no less.
Professor Crain Soudien
HSRC CEO