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- Convenors:
-
Asad Ghalib
(Liverpool Hope University)
Justice Bawole (University of Ghana Business School)
Jessica Northey (Coventry University )
Emmanuel Kumi (University of Ghana)
Gordon Crawford (Coventry University)
- Stream:
- A: Actors in addressing inequality
- Location:
- E1
- Start time:
- 28 June, 2018 at
Time zone: Europe/London
- Session slots:
- 3
Short Abstract:
The role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in developing countries is explored. This panel will investigate their role in ensuring provision of basic services, how they push governments for legislation to promote equality, how they can measure and monitor inequalities in countries and also how the role of CSOs in addressing inequality can be theorised.
Long Abstract:
Structural inequalities resulting from various forms of social stratification remain a key development problem. Attempts by the State to address such structural inequalities are often inadequate. Resultantly, as development actors, civil society organisations (CSOs) have become the main service providers in countries where the State is unable to fulfil its traditional role. They have been long recognized as providers of relief and promoters of human rights, and in recent times, critical contributors to economic growth and civic and social infrastructure essential for a minimum quality of life. Despite their growing significance, the role of CSOs in addressing inequalities in the developing world remain only partially understood. It is believed that successful civil society actions can help reduce societal inequality in at least three ways. First, they can ensure provision of basic services and protect and promote human rights. Second, they can push national governments for legislations that seeks to promote equality. Third, they can monitor the inequality situation in a country, consequences and effects of inequality and use this information to inform ongoing interventions. In this panel we invite papers that interrogate the role of CSOs in addressing inequalities in developing countries. We are particularly interested in submissions that seek to build theories on CSOs role in addressing inequalities as well as those that extend previous theories (e.g. public goods theory, Contract Failure theory, government and market failure theories). Also of interest would be papers that explore how social movements and other civil society organisations have contested inequalities and challenged state policies. Papers should seek understanding of the causes of various forms of structural inequalities in differing country and regional contexts, and focus on the role of civil society organisations in struggles to reduce and address inequalities. We are hoping to receive submissions from both the professional and academic community that critically utilises theories to explain and provide practical ways that CSOs can be use as tool to address inequality in developing countries.
Accepted papers:
Session 1Paper short abstract:
This paper investigates the advocacy roles of NGOs in social protection programmes and the social safety net programmes they provide for families in poor regions in Ghana and the importance of these roles in addressing the challenges of inequalities and extreme poverty in Ghana.
Paper long abstract:
This paper reports on the advocacy and service provision roles that Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are playing in influencing government policy on social protection programmes. The Ghana government's social protection programme - the livelihood empowerment against poverty (LEAP) has received advocacy support from NGOs to help improve targeting and elimination of administrative bottlenecks. It also reports on the social safety net programmes NGOs provide for families in poor regions in Ghana. These key roles are important in assessing the extent to which NGOs contribute to addressing the challenges of inequalities and extreme poverty. The paper is based on interviews with NGOs and beneficiaries of social protection programmes based in rural districts in Ghana where extreme poverty incidence rates are higher than the national rate of extreme poverty. The paper reviews state of social protection in Ghana, the challenges of state social protection interventions, the rise of NGO welfarism in Ghana, the scope of NGO social safety net interventions and the future of NGO social interventions in Ghana.
Paper short abstract:
This paper presents critical insights into the diverse roles of NGOs in democratising Pakistan. With a lens of hermeneutic phenomenology, it examines the contested milieu of political, cultural and social contexts in which NGOs operate. It challenges the liberal conceptions of democratisation.
Paper long abstract:
This paper presents critical insights into the diverse roles that internationally funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play in democratising Pakistan. These insights are informed by an empirical study conducted with members of NGOs, international development organisations, politicians, journalists and academics in Pakistan. The persistent fragility of democracy as a system of governance, parallel to a pronounced interest and investment by the West in 'consolidating democracy', brings up some vexed questions about the ethnocentric nature of democratisation agenda that is premised on liberal conceptions of democracy. Charge of 'ethnocentrism' notwithstanding, there remains a dearth in local explanations concerning the nature of democratisation and the contribution of NGOs within it.
By applying a lens of hermeneutic phenomenology and giving prominence to the 'lived experience' of NGOs' professionals, I show that in Pakistan, NGOs operate in a contested milieu of historical, political, cultural and social contexts. This milieu profoundly circumscribes their roles in democratisation. I argue that to sustain, NGOs adapt and modify their roles. As a result, they develop distinct ways of being. To conclude, I challenge the liberal conceptions of NGOs in democratisation based on normative and evaluative assumptions.
Paper short abstract:
Oxfam in Myanmar's inequality report provides a timely, accessible and the first evidence base of existing inequalities in Myanmar, their intersections, causes and potential solutions. It is proving to help foster a conversation amongst CSOs about their role in tackling inequality.
Paper long abstract:
At the DSA, as a recognized knowledge broker on inequality, Oxfam is proposing a paper summarizing findings from its Myanmar inequality report. Oxfam is inviting CSOs to deepen an ongoing conversation on their role in tacking inequality amidst the political transition.
Numerous inequalities are threatening to further divide an already fractured Myanmar. According to Oxfam's research, the gap between the rich and poor is widening - few have become extremely wealthy, while most live below or around the poverty line - and the voices of ethnic minorities and women are routinely ignored. Conflict and instability are fueling these inequalities, which Oxfam is in a unique position to demonstrate given its humanitarian and development work in fragile areas of Myanmar. Oxfam in Myanmar's inequality report - the first of its kind - finds the "vertical inequalities" such as income and wealth and "horizontal inequalities" like ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability are deeply embedded.
Our evidence suggests progressive taxation; public service provision and worker's rights - all areas in need of significant improvements in Myanmar - are pathways to reducing some types of inequalities. Still emerging from decades of military rule, CSOs continue to play an important role in providing services as well as defending human rights, especially in ethnic minority areas. However, contrary to many people's expectations in the ongoing transition towards democracy, civic space is shrinking, which is impacting CSOs' ability to tackle inequality effectively. This means a concrete dialogue between those actively working to reduce inequality in Myanmar is vital.
Paper short abstract:
As people's representatives, parliamentarians have an authoritative voice on speaking about how inequalities affect their citizens. What Parliament is doing in combating global inequalities and the opportunities for it to do even more, including partnership with development actors is analysed.
Paper long abstract:
It has been observed that various actors in development such as civil society organisations (CSOs), faith based organisations and academicians are involved in combating global inequalities. This is not surprising as the effects of global and national inequalities have unleashed unprecedented negative consequences on people's lives across the world and it is urgent that solutions be found to counteract these impacts.
The experts, CSOs and others well versed in global inequalities have voiced the hopelessness and anguish of those affected and has even gone further to offer solutions. However, are there still more voices which need to be heard on behalf of those affected by global inequalities? In answering that question, this paper directs attention to the role that Parliament and its Members can play in combating national and global inequalities.
Parliament is a bridge between people and the Executive wing of government. Parliament can strengthen the bridge between the people and development actors. By including Parliament and its Members in combating global inequalities, the voice of the people is heard even louder. The solutions offered get to be a reflection of what people want locally or nationally, as well as globally. By involving Parliament, almost every corner of the world is represented in combating national and global inequalities.
This paper is a critical analysis of the role parliament has played or is playing in Zambia towards combating inequalities.
Paper short abstract:
The civil society can play vital role in addressing the vulnerability of Spousal violence of the female garments workers in Bangladesh. Research shows that Economic empowerment of women sometimes enhances the scope of SV. Men engagement could be an effective approach to deal with this situation.
Paper long abstract:
A recent study, conducted by the ICDDRB shows that half of the female garments workers in Bangladesh faces spousal violence. The study shows that women with a savings of more than 50,000 taka are more vulnerable to SV. Savings increases her vulnerability to SV several times. This vulnerability includes physical, sexual and economic SV. (The Daily Observer, 2018). One of the major reasons behind this vulnerability of women is the "superiority complex of men" caused by the unequal gender relationship and could be addressed through the sensitization of men. In most of the cases the garments factories have limited scope to work directly with the husbands of their female workers as they are not the part of the RMG labour force. The Civil society in this respect can play vital role by engaging men to address Spousal violence in Bangladesh. The men engagement approach, led by the civil society may be beneficial from three different aspects. Firstly, introducing non-violent form of manhood, which will reduce the scope of SV. Secondly, caring and sharing of household work will reduce the double burden of women. Thirdly, non-violent and cooperative environment in the home will enhance the productivity of the female workers by reducing depression and illness.
In this paper, I would try to draw a road map for the civil society to engage men to ensure decent work for the working women in the RMG sector of Bangladesh.
Paper short abstract:
Drawing from the theory of organizational legitimacy the evolving strategies to reach the organizational goal of tackling inequalities vis-á-vis different audiences such as power holders, beneficiaries, members and donors in a gender NGO are examined.
Paper long abstract:
The NGOnization of civil society in development has been under critical scrutiny. The legitimacy of professionalized NGOs has been challenged on the basis of the detachment from the grassroots, assumed right to intervene, and their inability to address structural inequalities. However, at the same time, a number of NGOs hold tackling inequalities as their organizational goal. Drawing from the theory of organizational legitimacy in organizational institutionalism, the paper explores the ways this particular goal is made legitimate vis-á-vis different audiences. On the basis of an example of and Ugandan gender NGO with a history of over 30 years, it identifies simultaneous strategies of realizing the goal and gaining legitimacy vis-á-vis the decision-makers, rural populations, members, and international donors. The strategies and the explicit practical perceptions of inequality have changed over the years through organizational encounters, and the NGO has remarkable achievements in many fronts. Taking the perspective of one particular NGO, the paper scrutinizes the roles, possibilities, and challenges of tackling inequalities within organizational manifestations of civil society.
Paper short abstract:
This paper examines the impacts of introduction of human rights language in the development practice. It focuses on rights based projects for bonded labourers and discusses the potentials and limitations of rights based approach to support the liberation of bonded labourers.
Paper long abstract:
Human rights are one of the most characteristic ideas of our time and human rights talk is widely used today in connection to different issues for justification of economic and political sanctions to explanation of poverty. The concept of human rights is present in development practice as well, and human rights based approaches are adopted by various development actors, including international organizations, donors and NGOs. This paper aims to examine how the concept of rights affects the development practice, using the example of rights based programs for bonded labourers in India and Nepal. The practice of bonded labour as exploitative interlinking of labour and credit agreement is declared as a form of modern slavery in several international legal acts and it explicitly prohibited in both international and national legislations. However, despite the prohibition of this practice, bonded labour is still one of the most widespread forms of slavery in the modern world. This paper focuses on the anti-bondage programs of rights based NGOs in Indi and Nepal. The paper demonstrates links between the concepts of rights, empowerment and participation and discusses potential and limitations of rights based approaches to support marginalized people in general, and bonded labourers in South Asia in particular. The paper is based on qualitative fieldwork that took place between November 2015 and December 2016.
Paper short abstract:
This paper argues for a parallel capacity strengthening for civil society organisations in their roles and stronger engagement of so far neglected or under represented forest law enforcement actors to enhance equitable access by forest dependent communities to forest sector benefits and resources.
Paper long abstract:
Systemic corruption, the lack of political will, illegal logging, forest degradation and deforestation from illegal forest conversion - present significant challenges to sustainable forest management, the fight against climate change, inclusive economic development and improvement of the livelihoods of forest dependent communities in the Congo Basin. Since the development of its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan in 2003 by the European Union and subsequent engagements made by Congo Basin timber producing countries to stem illegal logging and related trade, there is little evidence of improvements in forest governance and benefits for forest dependent communities. While the role of civil society is widely acknowledged, over a decade of engagement of civil society organisations to monitor forest governance and advocate for change have not led to demonstrable improvements for forest dependent communities. This paper argues for a parallel capacity strengthening for civil society organisations in their roles and stronger engagement of so far neglected or under represented forest law actors including the judiciary, law makers and media in national forest governance processes in the Congo Basin.
Paper short abstract:
This paper suggests an applicability framework based on initial findings and literature review of organisational social media use by development NGOs. The discussion will primarily focus on the developmental implications when assessing the organisational use of social media for development purposes.
Paper long abstract:
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are important players in the field of international development, both as providers of aid and services to underprivileged communities as well as policy advocates. NGOs exist in many varieties with various (developmental) goals and strategies. The rise of mobile phone and internet use have brought up new ways of using social media in emerging countries. How social media is used in the area of development is a key issue for NGOs.
Based on literature study a taxonomy has been derived. The taxonomy forms the starting point for assessing appropriate social media activities in the context of development according to the NGO's goals and strategies. Social media delivers potential to send out information to or communicate (both ways) with communities or collect data, for example, monitoring and evaluation purposes. However, disadvantages of social media have been emerging as well. NGOs and their staff try to make sense of social media and its value for development projects while they lack complete knowledge of these modern technologies or are overwhelmed by the various social media and their applications.
This paper builds further on early research findings and literature review that has been presented at an Information Systems conference by discussing an applicability framework of social media in development context aligned to NGO's goals and strategies. Its intention is to create discussion on the practical implications of organisational social media use for development with both researchers and practitioners in the field of development studies, as well as ICT for development.