RAISING FAMILY STABILITY IN EAST AFRICA- A SOCIOECONOMIC COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY

Abstract

Family stability is a critical factor for the socioeconomic development of any society. Raising family stability is crucial and highly linked to community socioeconomic development. The foundation of all human development starts from his or her family, then the state and the region. In East Africa, the family unit faces unique challenges due to sociocultural, economic, and political dynamics. However, the indicators show that some EAC countries, including Rwanda, have had negative family stability for various reasons, including generalized poverty and social and cultural problems. This compelled SIAS (Socioeconomic Institute for Advanced Studies) operating in Rwanda to do research, through its Africa Development Lab, on family stability in the EAC and what can be done to raise its current standards. This research is a comparative case study of East African member states on family stability in the East African Community member states: Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi. The research uses quantitative and qualitative analysis (Q2) with data and interviews to key informant techniques. The authors examine the similarities and differences in family stability across these nations through the comparative case study and provide recommendations to improve family wellbeing and societal cohesion. The findings show that the East African community generally remain vulnerable to family stability. There is both institutional and community need to raise family stability, including mechanisms of building domestic peace, financial capability, moral and ethical values, as well as alleviating poverty in youth and parents.