PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: "Inheritance and the Intergenerational Transmission of Poverty in Africa: Policy Considerations," by Elizabeth Cooper

In many African societies, inheritance is one of the most prevalent means by which physical property is transferred from one generation to another. As such, policy initiatives concerning the intergenerational transmission of poverty would do well to attend to how inheritance systems are governed, and particularly which considerations affect who is included and excluded. This requires examination of both legal and political rights of property ownership, as well as context-specific values, norms and dynamics of social organisation. Drawing from existing research, policy and programming literature, this paper lays out the case for why inheritance systems in Africa deserve IGT poverty policy attention and analyzes how different inheritance systems and practices affect the intergenerational transmission of poverty. A review is provided of what has been tried to date, and what might be regarded as successful, in influencing how inheritance systems operate to reduce IGT poverty. The paper concludes with key points for policy makers to consider in formulating initiatives to address inheritance systems in African societies.