UNRISD Podcasts

From Evidence to Action: Understanding Global Implications of Gender Backlash

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:17:54 GMT

UNRISD Director Magdalena Sepúlveda sits down with UN Women Research Specialist Constanza Tabbush, the main author of the joint UNRISD–UN Women report Understanding Backlash Against Gender Equality: Evidence, Trends and Policy Responses. They unpack the key findings of this landmark global analysis, exploring how backlash unfolds across regions, its implications for human rights, and what effective policy responses look like. From rising anti-gender movements to strategic approaches that strengthen democratic resilience, Constanza and Magdalena offer insight into why understanding backlash is critical to advancing gender justice today. This episode brings listeners evidence and reflection at a moment when equality gains are under strain but collective responses are growing.

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Democracy in Decline: Resistance, Backlash, and Promoting Inclusive Rights, with Dr Yanina Welp

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:49:58 GMT

Democratic values are under threat across the globe. Rising authoritarianism, nationalist movements, and coordinated attacks on human rights have fueled a backlash against women, LGBTQIA+ communities, migrant communities, economically marginalized groups, and beyond.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Yanina Welp, Research Fellow at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, to explore the challenges facing democracy today. We explore how democratic decline intersects with rollbacks on rights, and how activists, organizations, and everyday citizens are pushing back. Dr. Welp unpacks emerging forms of civic engagement and the relationship between social and institutional change. We also consider real life examples from different parts of the world, in particular Chile, where movements have fought to reclaim democratic space. Tune in for a critical discussion on defending democracy and building a more inclusive future.

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The Algorithm of Inequality: How Technology Fuels and Fights the Gender Backlash, with Annika Ojala

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:37:38 GMT

Technology is transforming our world—and with it, the fight for equality. In this episode of Backlash Unfiltered, activist and global speaker Annika Ojala joins Karima Cherif (UNRISD) to explore how digital tools can both challenge and change gender inequalities. From tackling AI bias and online harassment to advancing inclusive design and feminist innovation, we look at how technology can become a powerful catalyst for empowerment. Tune in to discover how we can shape a more equitable digital future together.

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Mapping the Backlash: Global Attacks on Gender and LGBTQIA+ Rights, with Prof Clare Hemmings

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:03:16 GMT

Across the globe, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights are facing a coordinated backlash, but this resistance manifests in different ways depending on regional, cultural, and political contexts. In this episode, we are joined by Clare Hemmings, Professor of Feminist Theory at the LSE, to unpack the complexities of this pushback—examining the rollback of legal protections, the rise of anti-gender movements, and the broader societal shifts fueling these attacks. We also explore how narratives around "gender ideology" have evolved and why they hold such power today. Most importantly, we ask: how do we resist? Join us as we delve into the global landscape of this backlash and discuss strategies for pushing forward.

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Writing Hawa: The Power of Storytelling in the Face of Backlash in Afghanistan, with Najiba Noori

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:44:43 GMT

In this episode of Backlash Unfiltered, we sit down with Najiba Noori, the filmmaker behind Writing Hawa—a poignant documentary that intimately portrays the lives of three generations of Hazara women in Afghanistan. At the heart of the story is Hawa, a 52-year-old woman on a courageous journey of self-emancipation. Through her lens, we dive into the emotional, mental and spiritual toll of living under one of the most extreme forms of gender backlash and patriarchal control today. At a time when women in Afghanistan are being systematically erased, Najiba Noori’s work stands as a powerful act of resistance—amplifying voices that are marginalized and silenced. In our conversation, she shares the everyday acts of resistance that persist even in the darkest moments, and reflects on how storytelling can preserve dignity, where mainstream narratives often fall short, offering hope, and challenging dominant narratives that reduce women to victims.

This episode is a powerful tribute to the resilience, courage, and hope of Afghan women—those whose strength endures, even when the world looks away.

Tune in as we explore how Writing Hawa not only reclaims voice and visibility but also challenges us to rethink how we tell stories and reimagine solidarity in the face of gendered injustice. For those who’d like to learn more, you can visit www.writinghawa.com or follow the movie page on social media.

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Safeguarding Multilateralism in Times of Polarization

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:30:58 GMT

The multilateral system is facing its most serious crisis in 80 years. Growing nationalist and polarized movements are actively working to undermine global institutions by exploiting democratic systems, yet there is a lack of coordinated response to effectively counter these movements.

In this episode, we are joined by Giancarlo Summa, researcher and former Director of the UN information centers in Brazil, Mexico, and West Africa, to explore the impact of these attacks, the motivations behind them, and the implications for international cooperation. Despite the scale of the challenge, there are ways to push back. By recognizing the threat, strengthening alliances, and adapting strategies, the multilateral system can become more resilient and continue driving global progress.

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The Evolution of Anti-Gender Movements: Colonial Echoes, Professionalized Advocacy and Co-Opting Human Rights Discourses, with Dr Lata Narayanaswamy

Mon, 26 May 2025 15:10:51 GMT

In this episode, Karima Cherif, UNRISD Head of Communications and Outreach, speaks with Dr. Lata Narayanaswamy, Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development at the University of Leeds. They unpack the evolution of anti-gender movements and how they co-opt the language of human rights and development to legitimize regressive, exclusionary agendas in global policy spaces.

Dr. Narayanaswamy illustrates how anti-gender actors position themselves as defenders of religious freedom and the “global South,” while simultaneously undermining gender and LGBTQIA+ rights. She discusses the sophisticated discursive strategies these movements employ—blending academic authority, institutional participation, and populist storytelling to gain influence. By tracing the colonial continuities underpinning contemporary anti-gender ideologies, this episode calls for a decolonial, justice-driven reimagining of rights and development that challenges inequality at its roots and reclaims the narrative space.

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Following the Money: The Funding and Motivations Behind Europe’s Anti-Gender Movements

Fri, 09 May 2025 13:34:48 GMT

Who is funding the backlash against women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights in Europe, and why? In this episode, we sit down with Neil Datta, Executive Director of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, to unpack the financial networks fueling anti-gender movements. Drawing from his groundbreaking report Tip of the Iceberg, Neil reveals the key players, funding mechanisms, and ideological motivations behind these well-coordinated efforts. We also discuss his forthcoming publication The Next Wave and explore strategies for mobilizing progressive change to push back against the rise of anti-gender and illiberal movements across Europe.

Profile photo (c) Ludvík Hradilek, Deník N

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The North American Religious Right's Influence on the Global Gender Backlash

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:18:15 GMT

In this episode, Anna Eknor Ackzell, UNRISD Research Analyst, speaks with Dr. Haley McEwen, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg and Research Associate of the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, whose expertise focuses on the influence of the US Christian right on global anti-gender movements. They delve into the financial and political forces driving these movements, particularly in Africa, and explore how religious-right groups mobilize against LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive justice, and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE).

Dr. McEwen provides a nuanced perspective on the role of North American funding and narratives, addressing the disproportionate financial power of anti-gender movements in comparison to progressive ones. The conversation also challenges the idea of Africa as a "homophobic continent," offering insights into the geopolitical dynamics shaping the region’s gender and sexuality politics.

This episode underscores the importance of understanding these funding flows and explores resistance strategies to better navigate the global backlash in defense of gender justice.

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Responding to the Growing Impacts of Backlash Movements on Social Development

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:54:16 GMT

In this episode, UNRISD Director Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona speaks with Dr Ayesha Khan, Senior Research Fellow at ODI Global, a leading global affairs think tank, who specialises in the global backlash against gender equality. They discuss how patriarchal norms fuel this conservative phenomenon, linking anti-feminist movements to broader anti-rights agendas affecting, amongst others, LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive health, and democracy.

Dr Khan highlights the growing influence of religious groups, their financial backing, and how these forces shape policies across the global South. The conversation considers a wide range of affected regions, including Latin America, Africa and Central Asia. Ayesha also explores the role of US politics, particularly the resurgence of anti-gender policies, and the funding crisis threatening feminist movements worldwide.

The exchange underscores the urgent need for global feminist alliances, grassroots engagement, and stronger multilateral support to counteract these setbacks and defend inclusive social progress.

Further reading

Khan, A., Tant, E., Harper, C. 2023. Facing the backlash: what is fuelling anti-feminist and antidemocratic forces? ALIGN Framing paper. London: ODI.

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Health and Care Sector, with Jean-Pierre Girard

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:27:12 GMT

In this episode, we are joined by Jean-Pierre, an expert in cooperative, mutual, and associative movements within the health sector, both in Canada and internationally. Jean-Pierre shares his personal journey into the world of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and reveals what sparked his deep interest in coops, mutuals, and associations. Throughout the discussion, Jean-Pierre explains why SSE is particularly pertinent to current health issues. He delves into the critical role that SSE organizations play in addressing health challenges and promoting well-being, emphasizing their unique ability to foster community-based solutions and inclusive care models and introduces diverse types and forms of SSE organizations that are making a difference in health and care across various regions of the globe.

Read the encyclopedia’s entry on health and care sector.

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Cooperatives and Mutuals, with Chiyoge Sifa

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:21:31 GMT

In this episode, Chiyoge Sifa, the Regional Director of the International Cooperative Alliance–Africa, shares how she witnessed first-hand the way the actualization of the principles and values of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) such as equity, solidarity and participatory governance help improve the lives of those around her. She explains her conviction that SSE is intrinsic to humanity, cutting across many cultures in different regions around the world and stemming from the roots and origins of the way we work. She envisions the future potential of cooperatives and the SSE movement on the continent of Africa as paramount to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Read the encyclopedia’s entry on cooperatives and mutuals.

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Working Conditions and Wages, with Kunle Akingbola

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:09:37 GMT

In this episode, Kunle Akingbola, a professor of HR organizational behaviour and expert in the organizational dynamics of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) entities, explores the relationship between business schools, human resources management and the SSE and how they relate to working conditions and wages. He draws attention to how recruiting, retaining and motivating employees and engaging the community are central to the effectiveness of SSE entities, despite university courses and business schools not yet fully comprehending the importance of these connections. In his entry in the SSE Encyclopedia, he highlights how both internal (organizational mission and values) and external (funding predictability in the case of non-profits) factors influence how SSE organizations attract, retain and motivate employees, a critical component for understanding how employees, managers and even policy makers can positively impact the outcomes of the SSE.

Read the encyclopedia’s entry on working conditions and wages.

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Financing the SSE and the Finance Sector, with Riccardo Bodini and Gianluca Salvatori

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:12:51 GMT

In this episode, Riccardo Bodini and Gianluca Salvatori introduce the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE), its activities, and what the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) means to them. They explore why SSE is relevant in today’s world and the evolution of the SSE movement, moving from the margins to the mainstream. In their entries in the SSE Encyclopedia, Gianluca highlights the importance of “social” in social finance for addressing SSE needs and finance sector dynamics, while Riccardo discusses the positive impacts of SSE finance entities in meeting the needs of both SSE organizations and individuals, offering an alternative to conventional financing.

Read the encyclopedia’s entries on financing the SSE and the finance sector.

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Social Services, with Susanne Elsen

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:06:51 GMT

In this episode, Susanne Elsen, a professor of sociology, explores the innovative power of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) within the field of social services, especially in disadvantaged and remote regions. Within the context of social services, the SSE can be appealing to youth by giving young people the power to act and to be creative in broader community development for an eco-social transition. She highlights that the main difference between social services provisions from the SSE and the public is the bottom-up participation linking to collective action and the emphasis on concrete local needs. This, in turn, could stimulate local innovation and provide the enabling environment for self-determination and personal prosperity.

Read the encyclopedia’s entry on social services.

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Youth, with Davorka Vidović

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:18:20 GMT

In this episode, Davorka Vidović, a sociologist from the University of Zagreb, defines respect toward people and nature as both a key value of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and as an enabler of a human-centred economy. She shares that SSE can be attractive for youth because it can provide them with the space for creativity and the opportunity to participate and be engaged in decision making on aspects that matter in their life. Contrary to the mainstream model, which they may feel increasingly disconnected from, the SSE can provide youth with a sense of belonging and help build long-lasting and meaningful connections in their transition to adulthood.

Read the Encyclopedia’s entry on youth.

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Food, Agriculture and Reduction of Hunger and Poverty, with Judith Hitchman

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:38:00 GMT

In this episode, Judith Hitchman, a seasoned activist, shares her experiences on the relationship between food sovereignty and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). For Hitchman, the SSE provides the impetus toward system change necessary to achieve food sovereignty. She identifies the need for policy change to enable the SSE to further drive system change, including the empowerment of communities at the local level and within the water, health, finance and food systems. She emphasizes the promotion of indigenous systems, the SSE, and social movements within the food and agriculture system as levers for change to reduce poverty and hunger.

Read the eencyclopedia’s entries on reduction of hunger and poverty and food and agriculture.

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The Sustainable Development Goals, with Denison Jayasooria

Fri, 31 May 2024 12:35:01 GMT

In this episode, Denison Jayasooria, a sociologist by training who is currently active in social and community work at the grassroots level, shares his concerns regarding questions of justice and exploitation. He gives prominence to the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) as an alternative solution for addressing these concerns and shares how the SSE entities work toward self-reliance and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of the income generation model of the SSE entities as a key aspect of the SSE to ensure it is self-sustaining and elaborates on how the SSE entities at the grassroots and community levels can help achieve the SDGs. Read the encyclopedia’s entry on the SDGs and the SSE.

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Education sector, with Christina Clamp

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:23:32 GMT

In this episode, Professor of Sociology Christina Clamp, shares invaluable insights and wisdom gleaned from over 40 years of experience in cooperative movements across Central America, South America, North America and Asia. With a wealth of first-hand knowledge, Professor Clamp provides a comprehensive exploration of cooperative movements, rooted in her concerns about educational inequalities in deeply divided societies. As the co-author of an Encyclopedia entry on Education and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), she adeptly guides us through diverse forms of cooperative-led primary and secondary education, with examples from Brazil, Korea, East Africa, Germany and beyond, highlighting SSE’s profound importance for addressing failures within public education and engendering sustainable development. Read the encyclopedia’s entry on the education sector.

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Social Enterprises and Work Integration, with Marthe Nyssens

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:33:22 GMT

In this episode, Professor Marthe Nyssens, a distinguished economist at the University of Louvain in Belgium, delves into her journey of interest in the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). She sheds light on the pivotal role of social enterprises as a core activity in work integration and further elucidates why the SSE holds immense significance for individuals on the fringes of the labour market, offering insights into its impact and relevance for social and sustainable development. Read the encyclopedia’s entries on social enterprises and work integration.

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Legal Frameworks and Laws, with David Hiez

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:50:18 GMT

In this episode, David Hiez, Professor of Law at the University of Luxembourg, gives an overview of why it is important to recognize the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) through legislation and laws. For Hiez, alternative economies such as SSE can tell a different story and become a new model for economic and productive activities as well as for the ways in which we build societies and relate to each other. Even though legislation is important to find a common understanding across practices and to consolidate SSE on a larger scale, a cautionary tale must also be told so that international instruments such as legislation and legal frameworks do not risk curtailing the potential for change of SSE initiatives and enterprises by imposing parameters and technicalities too strict or limiting.

To read the encyclopaedia’s entry on legal frameworks and laws of SSE, click here.

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Partnership and Co-construction, with Marguerite Mendell

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:21:15 GMT

This episode explores Marguerite—Margie—Mendell’s work at the Karl Polanyi Institute around the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), as a camp and practice recently recognized by the United Nations in a 2023 General Assembly resolution. We hear from Margie herself about alternative economies as an ever-evolving field, key academic influences in her remarkable trajectory as well as stories of transformation of communities in Montreal and paradigmatic examples of local economic development. The author then introduces three urgent challenges to realize the vision and promises of the SSE as a transformative force, intellectually and on the ground.

To read the encyclopedia’s entry on partnership and co-construction, click here.

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Solidarity: An African Perspective on the New Eco-Social Contract: Bridging the Gap Between the Past and the Future, with Eseosa Joy Sowemimo

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:29:03 GMT

In this episode, Eseosa Joy Sowemimo, lecturer in the department of Economics at the University of Benin, Nigeria, walks us through some of the African philosophical, cultural and economic concepts and systems that have historically incorporated communitarian visions and spoused an eco-social contract.

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Gender Justice: Addressing Climate Change in India through Women-Led Climate Resilient Farming, with Naseem Shaikh and Priya Rakhunde

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 13:58:57 GMT

In this episode, UNRISD Senior Research Analyst Maggie Carter and UNRISD Senior Research Associate Manish Desai speak with Naseem Shaikh, Associate Director of Programs of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP)—an organization dedicated to inclusive and sustainable development through the empowerment of women in low-income climate-threatened communities—and Priya Rakhunde, a farmer and community organizer who has been working with SSP for the past five years. They discuss a grassroots initiative led by SSP that simultaneously addresses food insecurity, gender inequality and climate degradation in four Indian states using a model of Women-Led Climate Resilient Farming (WCRF), locally known as the one acre model. Since its inception in 2014, the project has engaged over 300,000 women farmers in India and was awarded the United Nations Development Programme’s Equator Prize in 2017. In this discussion, they reflect on the process of designing, implementing and growing the programme, the hardships and triumphs that women farmers participating in the program experience, and lessons they’ve gained that can inform and inspire similar efforts to transition to more sustainable livelihoods and empower vulnerable and marginalized groups.

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Human Rights for All: Putting People with Disabilities at the Heart of Eco-Social Contracts, with Natasha Trotman and Monica Pinilla

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 09:08:45 GMT

In this episode, Economic Policy Lead at the Green Economy Coalition Chris Hopkins speaks with Natasha Trotman, an award-winning British Afro-Caribbean international equalities designer, researcher and disability activist, and Dr. Monica Pinilla Roncancio, Assistant Professor at the University of the Andes and Deputy Director at the Centre of Sustainable Development for Latin America and the Caribbean (CODS), about the impacts and implications on inclusion for persons living with disabilities in climate change policy. They explore ways societies can be better at embedding people with disabilities and the natural world at the heart of new eco-social contracts that are intersectional and intentional. They argue that while persons living with disabilities currently benefit the least from climate change policies, methods and approaches, a human rights-based approach is possible by considering their unique needs, empowering marginalized communities, and improving the accessibility of information and action, from the local to the global.

Sources and additional resources

Mayor of London approves Disability-focused ULEZ Campaign for Concessions (UK): https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/kbs-news-events/2022/12/london-mayor-approves-dr-kush-kanodias-campaign-for-concessions/#

Mitigations for disabled people in ULEZ policy (UK): https://www.kent.ac.uk/kent-business-school/news/21451/alum-dr-kush-kanodia-success-in-campaigning-for-mitigations-for-disabled-people-in-ulez-policy

Effects of climate change (UK): https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate-change/effects-of-climate-change

Air pollution: https://www.who.int/news/item/22-09-2021-new-who-global-air-quality-guidelines-aim-to-save-millions-of-lives-from-air-pollution

CDP (PDF): chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://cdn.cdp.net/cdp-production/cms/reports/documents/000/006/915/original/CDP_UK_Cities_Report_EN_%282%29.pdf?1678720265

The impact of climate change on the rights of persons with disabilities - OHCHR and climate change: https://www.ohchr.org/en/climate-change/impact-climate-change-rights-persons-disabilities

Kimberle W Crenshaw, Intersectionality: https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/kim

(Longer listen) Professor Patricia Hill Collins Intersectionality and Democratic Possibilities (Explores of the Matrix of Domination) recommended time code 34:00- 38:00: https://youtu.be/0qU10tQ_rHo?si=uuoi5wyykv6N7I3Y

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Transformed Economies and Societies: Decarbonize, Diversify, Depolarize as Essential Actions for a New Eco-Social Contract, with Carlos Alvarado Quesada

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:35:21 GMT

In this episode, UNRISD Senior Research Coordinator Isabell Kempf talks to former President of Costa Rica, Mr Carlos Alvarado Quesada, about the experience of the Central American country in forming new eco-social contracts. Costa Rica has been a pioneer and world example in the race to halt the climate crisis. Alvarado explains how crucial to decarbonize the economy was diversifying it and putting people and common goods at the centre—instead of the extraction and exploitation of natural resources. This diversification, which has proven to be not only environmentally but also economically good for Costa Rica, is favored in healthy democracies, Alvarado argues, where social dialogue guides political processes and a sense of togetherness across the societal spectrum can prevent fragmentation and polarization. “It should not be taken literally, but Costa Rica’s example means that good change is possible.”

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Transformed Economies and Societies: Cooperatives, SSE and a New Eco-Social Contract, with Sifa Chiyoge

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:09:17 GMT

UNRISD Senior Research Coordinator Ilcheong Yi speaks in this episode to Sifa Chiyoge, Regional Director of the International Cooperative Alliance—Africa, about how cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy (SSE) align with a new eco social contract. They explore how cooperatives and the SSE inherently promote values like self-help, responsibility, democracy, equality, and solidarity, which are essential for creating just and equitable societies that respect the environment. Opportunities and challenges of these models highlight the need to address mistrust and misconceptions. Sifa also unpacks implications of the recent landmark resolution by the United Nations General Assembly recognising the potential of the SSE to accelerate achievement of the SDGs. SSE and cooperatives are vital to a more inclusive and community-based economic approach.

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Historical Injustices Addressed: Lessons from South Africa’s Post-Apartheid Constitutional Experience, with Imraan Valodia

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:29:04 GMT

Economist, activist and UNRISD Board member Imraan Valodia joins UNRISD Senior Research Coordinator Isabell Kempf to unpack South Africa's political vision for addressing historical injustices after apartheid. Focusing on the post-apartheid constitution, which guarantees comprehensive human rights and socio-economic rights, they explore the need for and impact of measures aimed at historical redress and redistribution in the face of the country’s extreme inequalities and how, despite remarkable progress, these have fallen short in some respects. Imraan highlights the importance of political systems in enabling or limiting the possibilities of constitutional change such as that South Africa experienced, pointing out that this bears important lessons for social contract processes in other parts of the world.

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A Contract for Nature: Bangladeshi Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Justice, with Mrinal Tripura

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:24:30 GMT

In this episode, UNRISD Research Analyst Paramita Dutta speaks to Mrinal Tripura, who among other roles, is Director of the Maleya Foundation and coordinates the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Network on Climate Change and Biodiversity (BIPNet). They discuss the importance of addressing historical injustices and climate justice for Indigenous communities in Bangladesh. Mrinal emphasizes the vulnerability of Indigenous peoples to climate impacts and the need for special attention to protect their rights, including land and access to resources. They also explore the challenges Indigenous communities face in accessing climate financing and benefit sharing at the local and national levels.

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Human Rights for All: Kenya’s Constitution and the Work of Realising Indigenous People’s Rights, with Joseph Ole Simel

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 14:16:10 GMT

In this episode, UNRISD Senior Research Coordinator Isabell Kempf speaks to Joseph Ole Simel, founder of MPIDO, an Indigenous and pastoralist Maasai organization in Kenya. They discuss the process of creating the Kenyan constitution, which involved participation from civil society, Indigenous peoples and minorities. The new constitution was hailed as progressive and inclusive, addressing historical marginalization and land rights. However, after its adoption in 2010, the government’s lack of commitment to implementation led to limited progress in realizing its promises. Joseph highlights the ongoing role of civil society in holding the government accountable and emphasizes the importance of linking local social contracts with international processes to ensure climate change adaptation and human rights are upheld.

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Justicia de género: Perspectivas indígenas en la construcción de un nuevo contrato ecosocial, con Tarcila Rivera Zea

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:45:10 GMT

En este episodio hablamos con la reconocida activista Quechua Tarcila Rivera Zea (Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de la ONU) sobre perspectivas indígenas para un nuevo contrato ecosocial. Para Rivera, reparar injusticias históricas causadas por el racismo estructural y la mentalidad colonial así como relacionadas con la desigualdad de género, es crucial para avanzar hacia naciones más justas y sostenibles tanto en el ámbito social como climático y ambiental. Para la activista peruana una visión contemporánea de un nuevo contrato ecosocial debe abarcar la agenda pendiente de los derechos individuales y colectivos de las mujeres y niñas indígenas como una forma de construir sociedades libres de violencia y discriminación.

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Solidarity: Multilateralism and the Crises of Inequality, with Georgios Kostakos

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 06:41:50 GMT

In this episode, Dr Georgios Kostakos, co-founder and executive director of the Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability, speaks to UNRISD director Paul Ladd about various crises that have eroded public trust in multilateral institutions, including the UN system. They discuss how multilateral institutions have fallen short with regard to global challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and how shifts in the global distribution of power call for an ethical approach and courage to renew multilateralism and rebuild trust. The conversation highlights ongoing efforts to reshape global governance and foster a more resilient and collaborative approach to address pressing global issues.

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«Un contrato con la naturaleza», el Pacto Ecosocial del Sur con Breno Bringel

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:47:28 GMT

Breno Bringel es miembro co-fundador del Pacto Ecosocial e Intercultural del Sur, una red de activistas, intelectuales, académicos y organizaciones sociales de América Latina que busca disputar los sentidos de las transiciones energéticas y ecosociales y de los llamados «pactos verdes» de nuestro tiempo. En este episodio, Breno nos cuenta cómo, desde una mirada crítica, el Pacto quiere aportar a la construcción de alternativas holísticas que integren ejes de transformación económica, ecológica, democrática y cultural para transiciones verdaderamente justas, guiadas por principios de ética interespecie y ecodependencia, que superen el paradigma del antropocentrismo y que se alejen de modelos de crecimiento económico indefinido así como de una lógica extractivista y colonial.

Para conocer más sobre el trabajo del Pacto Ecosocial del Sur, visita la página https://pactoecosocialdelsur.com

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WSWD 2022—Repositionner le travail sociale dans un monde écosociale (Points à retenir et étapes futures)

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:26:47 GMT

World Social Work Day has been celebrated around the globe since 1983. This year, UNRISD teams up once again with the Geneva and Fribourg Schools of Social Work and its international partners to mark the Day at UN in Geneva. World Social Work Day aims not just to showcase the achievements of social work and increase its visibility, but also to highlight its synergies with social development: shared commitments to social justice, inclusive development and human rights.

The world is slowly and unevenly resurfacing from the devastating global crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has destroyed millions of lives and livelihoods and exposed deep inequalities, unsustainable practices and entrenched patterns of social exclusion. In this context, how can we unite to build a more sustainable and equitable future?

By focusing on partnerships and alliances, the 2022 celebration of World Social Work Day at the United Nations in Geneva will contribute to the conversation on the values and proposals of different groups and communities for building a new eco-social world. At the heart of the discussion will be the transformative potential of social work in striving towards a new eco-social world that is inclusive of all people.

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WSWD 2022—Partnerships in Action: Working Together for Social and Climate Justice

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:19:28 GMT

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WSWD 2022—Integrar conocimientos indígenas en la práctica del trabajo social: experiencias en el peritaje judicial en contexto mapuche, Chile

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:14:18 GMT

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WSWD 2022—Positioning Social Work in an Eco-Social World (Opening Statement)

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:08:55 GMT

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Bringing Capitalism Back into Social Movement Studies

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:18:55 GMT

Greater analytical attention is again being paid to intersectional inequalities as a trigger of and challenge for progressive social movements. Using historical and current examples, Donatella della Porta sketches out new conceptual thinking on the interactions between capitalist transformations and social movements.

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Universities and Social Inequalities in the Global South

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 08:56:39 GMT

Higher education can be a key driver of development and a force for social mobility. It can also be a path to overcome inequalities across gender and race by fostering labour market opportunities. But such outcomes are not automatic. If higher education is not implemented equitably, it has the potential to entrench existing inequalities and create new ones. This problem is not new, but it has taken on renewed importance with the shift to remote learning—for some—during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Broadly speaking, higher education has expanded globally over the last several decades. This event explored what this has meant on the ground in several countries in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. Who can access these opportunities and at what cost, what disparities exist between such opportunities, and what are the implications for social mobility and inequality?

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“Climate action has to be fast but also fair”

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:38:13 GMT

With a new office in Bonn, launched on 6 February 2020, UNRISD aims to create new interagency collaborations and strengthen research uptake linkages to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. We sat down after the launch event for a short interview with Isabell Kempf, the newly appointed Head of UNRISD’s Bonn Office, who told us about her vast experience with knowledge challenges at the United Nations, the role of research in the face of the current climate crisis, how science and action can work together, and much more.

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Plunder of the Commons: A Manifesto for Sharing Public Wealth

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 13:12:35 GMT

Based on analysis from his recent book "Plunder of the Commons: A Manifesto for Sharing Public Wealth", Guy Standing introduces a new appraisal of the commons and how much of it has been privatized, from land and state housing, health and benefit systems, to justice systems, schools, newspapers and even the air we breathe. He proposes a charter for a new form of commoning, of remembering, guarding and sharing that which belongs to us all, to slash inequality and soothe our current political instability.

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Income Inequality Trends in Sub-Saharan Africa

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 12:17:03 GMT

The remarkable economic growth of sub-Saharan Africa in the first 15 years of the 21st century did not always go hand in hand with greater equality. While income inequality during the 2000s decreased in 17 countries, it went up in 12 countries. What were the determinants and consequences of these divergent trends?

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Global Inequalities and Unsustainability - A Conversation with Lucas Chancel

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:54:10 GMT

Lucas Chancel, Co-Director of the World Inequality Lab and of WID.world at the Paris Scool of Economics (PSE), presents new empirical research findings on global economic and environmental inequalities. He highlights the close link between social and environmental (in)justice, and discusses policy options that can address the unsustainability of economic inequality.

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Inequality and the 1%: Is a Transformative Fiscal Policy Possible?

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 14:03:26 GMT

Reducing inequality (SDG10) requires progressive and substantial shifts in fiscal policy and an essential equality-enhancing instrument with the potential to do three things: (1) raise necessary revenues for public spending which tackles vertical and horizontal inequalities; (2) stem market incentives for accumulation of income and wealth at the top; and (3) forge a credible fiscal compact between citizens and the state. But how can such progressive policies be implemented while those in power benefit from the status quo? Experts from the United Nations, the IMF, Oxfam and the research community discuss these and many more questions on fiscal policy and socioeconomic disparities, in the context of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the United Nations main platform to review progress and provide guidance and recommendations on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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Transforming Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal Cities

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 14:30:18 GMT

Despite the knowledge of the scale and urgency of climate change, current climate action is insufficient to successfully tackle its impacts. Recognition of the problem is not translating into decisions that address root causes and promote transformative change and climate justice. Rapidly urbanizing coastal regions face the complex challenge of adapting to increasing climate impacts and ensuring equitable development while overcoming poverty and sharp inequalities—a particularly difficult set of tasks for local policy makers.

Based on examples from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Jakarta, Indonesia, the speakers at this seminar discussed issues of land rights and informality that shape uneven vulnerability to climate change in coastal zones, and highlighted the need for more integrated and transformative approaches to adaptation.

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We Want Equal Access! Austerity Politics vs. Feminist Activism

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 13:53:23 GMT

Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality are being undermined by austerity policies, from cutbacks in access to public services and rights, such as sexual and reproductive health and shelters for victims of gender-based violence, to greater precarity in employment contracts. This podcast is based on the recordings of the Official Side Event "We Want Equal Access! Austerity Politics vs. Feminist Activism", a panel at CSW63 where austerity measures and their negative impacts women’s access to public services—particularly in Europe—were discussed, as well as feminist strategies to counteract these adverse times.

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Where Do We Go From Here? Safeguarding Trans* People's Rights

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 11:07:56 GMT

What is needed to safeguard trans* people's rights? At this Side Event of the 38th Session of the Human Rights Council, policy makers, influencers and practitioners discussed good practices and lessons from policy formulation and implementation at the national level, the role of civil society, the impact of social research and the effects of the 2030 Agenda on human rights discourse, the rights of LGBTQI+ populations and policy change.

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Localizing the SDGs through Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable and Resilient Societies

Tue, 17 Jul 2018 07:51:50 GMT

As an integrated and balanced approach to development, social and solidarity economy (SSE) has the potential to function as an intelligent means of localizing the 2030 Agenda.

At this side event, speakers presented new research evidence and local government experience of SSE, and the enabling conditions—such as institutional arrangements, political forces and economic possibilities—which are needed for it to succeed in diverse contexts.

In keeping with the mandate of the HPLF to provide guidance and recommendations on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the panellists at this event shared knowledge and experience on how SE is contributing to realizing the 2030 Agenda’s vision of transformation, and achieving the goals and targets at the local level, in particular in cities.

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Overcoming Refugee and Migrant Precarity: What Role for Social and Solidarity Economy?

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 10:13:37 GMT

Refugees and migrants face enormous threats and impediments to the enjoyment of their human rights. Ambassador Anna Korka from the Permanent Mission of Greece in Geneva tells us how recent legislative endeavours in Greece aim to create an environment that enables new types of economic activity, combat long-lasting socioeconomic problems—such as unemployment—and protect the fundamental human rights of vulnerable populations arriving in the country.

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Protecting Vulnerable Urban Groups in Contentious Times

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 09:13:31 GMT

Since 2008, many countries in Europe have been hit by a series of crises—economic, political, migratory. According to Maria Maxi (Institute of Citizenship Studies, University of Geneva) even more intractable than these, and exacerbating them, is one caused by a profound lack of solidarity. In this podcast, she introduces a new research project and outlines its potential insights for fostering solidarity in and outside the European context.

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Promoting Livelihoods: Creating Opportunities for Refugees through Artisanal Work

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 09:09:17 GMT

Many would be sceptical at the idea of fashion brands as a strategy for helping mitigate the migratory crisis in Mediterranean Europe. Heidi Christ, Artisan Value Chain Expert at UNHCR, walks us through experiences that show that employment opportunities can be created by combining artisanal work, creative humanitarian programmes and the cultural richness that refugees bring with them.

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The Potential of Social and Solidarity Economy to Address Refugee and Migrant Precarity

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:51:50 GMT

A robust body of evidence shows that Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) can foster the economic, social and cultural rights of individuals and communities. Ibrahim Said, UNRISD Research Analyst, argues that the emancipatory and developmental potential of SSE could make responses to humanitarian emergencies, such as Europe’s refugee crisis, empowering and transformative.

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A Rights-Based Approach to Migration Governance

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:43:27 GMT

Three things could better equip us to overcome refugee precarity, according to UNRISD Senior Research Coordinator Katja Hujo: (i) a clearer understanding of what we mean by "precarity" and “vulnerability” in the context of involuntary (forced) migration, (ii) moving from migration management to a rights-based approach to migration governance and (iii) unlocking the potential of the 2030 Agenda to help realize and harness the development potential of those who migrate.

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Migration and Decent Work: The Role of Cooperatives in Social and Economic Integration

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:30:47 GMT

Most international migrants are migrant workers, many of whom find themselves in vulnerable situations, up against the risks and insecurity of the informal economy. Simel Esim (ILO) has investigated how cooperatives can help enable a decent work environment for migrant workers, hence opening pathways toward improved livelihoods.

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Policy Innovations Responding to Gender-Based Violence Pushing the International Agenda

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 05:56:53 GMT

Links between gender-based violence and the world of work, and how policies are changing to address them, are the subject of this interview with Jane Aeberhard-Hodges, former Director of the ILO's Bureau for Gender Equality and currently an UNRISD Senior Research Associate. Jane discusses recent policy innovations in Australia in which employers are recognising the impact of domestic violence on the workplace. She looks at how these changes have come about and how they might inform a new international standard on violence in the world of work, as well as discussing the potential impact of global policy making.

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Actions de SIG dans la transition énergétique

Thu, 18 May 2017 12:02:48 GMT

Matthias Rüetschi presents the work he and his team lead at Services Industriels de Genève (SIG) in engaging with the current Swiss energy transition strategy. Matthias offers an overview of local programmes that aim to optimize energy efficiency while reducing CO2 emissions in Geneva, a city that as of 2017 runs entirely on renewable energy. Nora Kronig Romero, Counsellor, and Head of the Office of Specialized Institutions, at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva, closes the seminar reflecting on the Swiss popular vote that will allow citizens to choose the source of the country’s energy.

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Energy transition through an eco-social lens

Thu, 18 May 2017 12:00:23 GMT

Dunja Krause (UNRISD) explains why energy transition is a social issue as much as a political, environmental and a technological one. Drawing from UNRISD’s most recent research, Dunja considers the energy transition through an eco-social lens, and sees social barriers and challenges as well as policy responses and exemplary innovations from Africa and Europe.

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Green jobs, employment and a just transition

Thu, 18 May 2017 11:54:23 GMT

Marek Harsdorff walks us through the implications and opportunities of the energy transition in the field of work. Marek, an economist in the Green Jobs Programme at the International Labour Organization (ILO), shares some guiding principles for a just transition to sustainable economies.

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Energy transition and the 2030 Agenda: an Introduction

Thu, 18 May 2017 11:53:21 GMT

SDG 7 holds the promise of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, as well as a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. But what are these commitments likely to translate to, in practice? In this UNRISD seminar, we teamed up with local and global thinkers and actors to discuss the types of transformations required to produce energy sustainably, and what that means for the economies, societies and environments in which global energy systems function.

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Environmental Dimensions of Family Planning

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 18:07:11 GMT

Urbanization, migration and displacement, climate change and development are all inextricably linked. In this video, Elizabeth Maclean analyses how sexual and reproductive health and rights can be integrated with environmental justice as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Elizabeth is Research Coordinator at the International Center for Migration, Health and Development, and her presentation took place at Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Realizing Health and Human Rights, an Official Side Event of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council organized by UNRISD and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

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Fast-tracking Social Protection to End AIDS

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 18:02:15 GMT

In this podcast, David Chipanta discusses social protection in the context of sexual and reproductive health and rights. His presentation touches on the rights of key groups such as trans men and women, prisoners, sex workers and people who use intravenous drugs. David is Senior Social Protection Advisor at UNAIDS, and his presentation took place at Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Realizing Health and Human Rights, an Official Side Event of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council organized by UNRISD and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

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Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Kenya

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:59:48 GMT

In this podcast, Agnes Odhiambo presents the policy and practices related to adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in Kenya. Agnes is Senior Women’s Rights Researcher at Human Rights Watch in Nairobi, and her presentation took place at Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Realizing Health and Human Rights, an Official Side Event of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council organized by UNRISD and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

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Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights during Conflict

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:56:55 GMT

In this podcast, Paola Daher explains how sexual and reproductive health and rights can be protected in conflict situations. She also analyses the effects of international policy changes curtailing funding for abortion. Paola is Global Advocacy Advisor at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and her presentation took place at Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Realizing Health and Human Rights, an Official Side Event of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council organized by UNRISD and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

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Global Trends in Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:49:11 GMT

In this podcast, Meghan Doherty discusses current global trends in safeguarding and advancing sexual and reproductive health rights. Megan is Global Policy and Advocacy Officer at Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, and her presentation took place at Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Realizing Health and Human Rights, an Official Side Event of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council organized by UNRISD and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

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Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:43:56 GMT

Listen to the introduction of Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Realizing Health and Human Rights, an Official Side Event of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council, was organized by UNRISD for socialprotection-humanrights.org, in collaboration with the Sexual Rights Initiative.

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Innovation and Sustainable Development

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:24:59 GMT

Closing remarks of "Innovation and Sustainable Development", an UNRISD Seminar in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

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China’s Industrial Innovation for Sustainable Development

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:12:17 GMT

In this podcast, Yanghua Huang, walks us through China’s industrialization pattern, the country’s main achievements in poverty reduction and employment, the effects and challenges of an industrialization-driven model, and possible solutions towards sustainable production. Yanghua Huang is Research Fellow at the Institute of Industrial Development at CASS and is presentation was part of "Innovation and Sustainable Development", an UNRISD Seminar in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

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Innovation and the Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of ICTs

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:08:01 GMT

In this podcast, Paul Conneally talks about the central role of technology and innovation to achieve the SDGs. He presents case studies highlighting the intricate relation between information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and the realization of quality education (SDG4), gender equality (SDG5), industry and infrastructure sustainability (SDG9) in cities, and innovative partnerships (SDG17) that can bridge gaps in ICTs development concerns. Paul Conneally is Head of Corporate Communications at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and his presentation was part of "Innovation and Sustainable Development", an UNRISD Seminar in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

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Social Policy Innovation in China

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:11:25 GMT

In this podcast, Dian Yang gives us a historical outlook on China’s social policy scheme as well as a presentation of policy innovations designed to alleviate poverty in China. Dian Yang is Research Fellow at the Institute of Sociology at CASS and his presentation was held at "Innovation and Sustainable Development", an UNRISD Seminar in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

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Policy Innovations for Transformative Change: Examples of Eco-social Policies

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:08:49 GMT

In this podcast, hear the three key messages of the UNRISD 2016 Flagship Report, "Policy Innovation for Transformative Change" presented by UNRISD Research Coordinator, Katja Hujo, complemented by examples of what eco-social policies are and what they should be, as well as what is needed to maximize their potential and thus enable sustainability presented by UNRISD Associate Expert, Dunja Krause. Their presentations were given at "Innovation and Sustainable Development", an UNRISD Seminar in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

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2016 UNRISD Flagship Report Launch: Policy Innovations for Transformative Change

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 07:38:25 GMT

In this podcast, recorded at the Geneva launch of the UNRISD 2016 Flagship Report (http://www.unrisd.org/flagship2016) “Policy Innovations for Transformative Change”, panellists discuss how to put the vision of the 2030 Agenda into action, exploring how innovative policies that integrate and balance the social, environmental and economic dimensions can lead to inclusive societies that leave no one behind. Drawing on numerous policy innovations from the Glabal South, the UNRISD Flagship Report goes beyond buzzwords and brings to the development community a definition of transformation which can be used as a benchmark for policy making towards the 2030 Agenda, and explores what transformative change really means for societies and individuals.

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How Change Happens

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 07:27:15 GMT

How can we understand the events, individuals and institutions that change the world? Can we use this to change things for the better? During this Geneva stop on his global book tour, Duncan Green introduced the arguments of his new book, "How Change Happens", which combines research with practical experience to explore the topic of social and political change. Drawing on many first-hand examples and insights from studying and working on international development, the book offers the latest thinking on what works to achieve progressive change.

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The Evidence on "Graduation" Programmes

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 06:52:49 GMT

In this podcast, Stephen Kidd (Development Pathways), presents a critical view of the graduation approach in the context of social protection schemes. In his view, research evidence mines both the effectiveness and the sustainability of the approach in being instrumental to help people escape poverty.

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The Ultra Poor Graduation Approach

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 06:45:23 GMT

In this podcast, Lauren Whitehead explains how the graduation programmes led by BRAC increase productivity and household income while aiming to strengthen livelihoods of those who are often left behind by development policies and do not benefit from non-inclusive economic growth.

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Informality and Income Insecurity: Is Basic Income a Universal Solution?

Tue, 31 May 2016 09:08:28 GMT

Is a universal (or unconditional) basic income (UBI) an effective way for states to meet their social protection commitments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Is it a utopian vision within reach of only the richest countries, or as several pilot schemes have shown, a realistic option for developed and developing countries alike to reduce poverty and increase social justice? The Swiss popular vote on 5 June 2016 on the introduction of a UBI give UNRISD the opportunity to explore these issues with a panel of experts familiar with key experiences from countries in the Global North and the Global South.

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Gender and the Sustainable Development Goals: Are the SDGs Good News for Women?

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 08:56:38 GMT

Agenda 2030 is ambitious in its vision, "transforming our world", broad in its 17 goals and 169 targets, and universal in its application to all countries. Women's rights are explicit in the preamble, and in Goal 5 "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls", and are mainstreamed in several other goals. In this event, part of the UNRISD Seminar Series, experts from the UN and academia reflect on the SDGs’ potential, strengths and weaknesses from a gender perspective, and the challenges of their implementation. This was the Geneva launch of the open access Oxfam journal Gender & Development devoted to the Sustainable Development Goals, co-edited by Valeria Esquivel and Caroline Sweetman.

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Food Trade, Food Security and the SDGs

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:08:13 GMT

In addition to SDG2, which aims to end hunger, food security and food trade have implications for other goals related to energy, equity and global partnerships. But there would seem to be some disconnect between the vision of the SDGs and the current global food trade architecture. In this podcast, Sophia Murphy, UNRISD Visiting Fellow, discusses: (1) whether countries can create and enforce trade rules that respect other global commitments to sustainable and inclusive human well-being, (2) how the international community can rebuild confidence in international food markets and the rules that govern them, and (3) how governments should reform multilateral trade rules to limit future risks to food security while ensuring everybody’s food needs are met in a sustainable way. After her presentation, Susan Mathews, Human Rights Officer working at the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, brings another perspective to the discussion of trade from a social development and human rights angle. She explains why and how OHCHR is engaging on trade as a human rights issue, highlight some lessons learned from past experiences with human rights impact assessments of trade agreements, and describes current efforts to initiate a human rights impact assessment of the Continental Free Trade area agreement in Africa, focusing on agriculture, including food security and livelihoods, as well as employment.

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Implementing Rights-based Access to WASH in a Social Protection Framework: Best Practices and Challenges

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:29:52 GMT

In this podcast, members of national governments, international agencies and non-governmental organizations discuss challenges and best practices of implementing rights-bases access to WASH in a social protection framework.

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Existing Legal Frameworks in Implementing the Right to Water and Sanitation

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:25:55 GMT

In this podcast, members of national governments, international agencies and non-governmental organizations discuss existing frameworks in implementing the right to water and sanitation.

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Partnerships, Power and the SDGs

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 08:05:02 GMT

Partnerships, and their accompanying networks, are now presented as an essential ingredient for fair SDG implementation, to mirror the participatory spirit in which the Goals were created. But what happens in practice? Network analysis reveals how development ‘partners’ may in fact informally depart from established rules and relationships, with the end result that networks may amplify the very disparities of power they were intended to reduce. In this podcast, Moira Faul argues that with a better understanding of how partnership works, network members could rewire relationships for more inclusion, and ultimately better policy and practice solutions.

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Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 08:05:14 GMT

Listen to Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky (Independent Expert On Foreign Debt and Human Rights) at "Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights", an official Side Event of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2016).

The event aimed to contribute to current debates on the development and rights implications of inequality by exploring the linkages between wealth and income inequality and human rights, with a particular focus on economic and financial crises. It discussed how policies and institutions that are grounded in a human rights framework can contribute to reducing inequalities and strengthening resilience. The event aimed to forge stronger linkages between analytical work on economic inequality, financial crisis and human rights, and the work of UN human rights monitoring bodies. The report of the UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, submitted to the Human Rights Council at its 31st session, constituted a basis for the discussion (A/HRC/31/60).

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Systemic Economic Crises, Income Inequality and the Lack of Countervailing Powers

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 08:00:56 GMT

Listen to Stephanie Blankenburg (UNCTAD) at "Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights", an official Side Event of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2016).

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Tax (Evasion), Inequality and Human Rights

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 07:55:10 GMT

Listen to Mark Herkenrath (Alliance Sud) at "Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights", an official Side Event of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2016).

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Inequality, Shame and Inferiority

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 07:52:17 GMT

Listen to Richard Wilkinson (The Equality Trust) at "Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights", an official Side Event of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2016).

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João Lucas Quental Novaes de Almeida on Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 07:45:55 GMT

Listen to João Lucas Quental Novaes de Almeida (Permanent Mission of Brazil, Geneva) at "Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights", an official Side Event of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2016).

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Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights: ILO Perspectives

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 07:40:32 GMT

Listen to Isabel Ortiz (Social Protection Department, ILO) at "Economic Inequality, Financial Crises and Human Rights", an official Side Event of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2016).

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Capacity Building for Global Action to Achieve Agenda 2030

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:00:41 GMT

In September 2015, heads of state adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an ambitious set of goals that will change the global approach to development. If all our planet's inhabitants are to be able to enjoy the dividends of the Sustainable Development Goals, everyone will have to contribute, participate and adapt their behaviour. But many countries and stakeholders will need to increase their capacity before they can engage effectively.

At this event, organized by the UNOG Library, UNRISD Director Paul Ladd will speak on a panel of UN experts in training and research, and member state representatives, discussing what capacity is needed to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and what the UN is planning to do to research and design tools to help countries generate this capacity.

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Claiming Their Rights: How Women's Movements Mobilize for Policy Change

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:30:00 GMT

Women across the global South are increasingly claiming their rights. Indian women have successfully mobilized across the country demanding amendments to the laws on sexual assault since mid-1970s; while Indonesian women benefitted from the new democratic context after the fall of Suharto to build a large alliance of civil society organizations leading to the approval of the Domestic Violence Law, 2004. On another front, both Indonesian and Indian domestic workers are organizing in ever greater numbers to demand the recognition of their work and for it to be included in national labour laws. In India and in China, women have demanded and gained access to land and property since the 1950s.

So, how do these changes happen?

What are the conditions and the factors which allow women’s movements to successfully trigger policy change? How do women participate in the negotiation processes behind policy change? What are the mechanisms and the strategies used by women advocates to ensure that issues get on policy agendas? And why are certain issues left out of the policy agenda of movements and states, while others become priorities?

The external project coordinator Nitya Rao will explore these questions presenting the research findings from the UNRISD research project When and Why do States Respond to Women's Claims? Understanding Gender-Egalitarian Policy Change in Asia.

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Addressing Multiple Forms of Migrant Precarity – Beyond “Management” of Migration to an Integrated Rights-Based Approach

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 07:30:37 GMT

At this workshop, hosted jointly by UNRISD and Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), researchers from an international consortium will present their findings from a recently concluded study of migrant precarity, looking in particular at the linkages between migration and social protection from a rights perspective.

As well as presentations of the seven papers prepared for the project, the workshop also features an interactive panel discussion with international policy makers and practitioners from UN agencies and non-governmental organizations located in Geneva, a hub for migration, social policy and human rights issues.

The project, which focused on intra-regional migration in different regions (Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia) considered policies and practice related to three key groups of migrants: 1. unaccompanied children, 2. refugees and 3. labour migrants.

Using the combined expertise of the three universities, the consortium has been able to produce a cross-regional and inter-group comparative analysis of the kind that has not yet been carried out.

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Substantive Equality for Women: Connecting Human Rights and Public Policy

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 14:44:38 GMT

A Research-Advocacy-Policy Workshop—Panel 2

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Substantive Equality for Women: Connecting Human Rights and Public Policy

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 13:53:00 GMT

In this podcast, human rights and policy specialists quit their silos and dialogue productively across disciplines in the first panel of the research-advocacy-policy workshop Substantive Equality for Women: Connecting Human Rights and Public Policy organized by UNRISD, UNWomen and OHCHR on 15 June 2015. In order to achieve substantive gender equality, human rights have to inform public policy. The speakers in the panel argue in favour of overcoming gender stereotypes in laws, policies and institutions, and identifying the obligations of human rights activists to dismantle them. They say that culture, which is often accused of being the key obstacle preventing women’s human rights from being included in public policy, should in fact be recognized as a set of rules and norms in continuous evolution and change, and not as a something given and natural.

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Substantive Equality for Women: Connecting Human Rights and Public Policy

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 12:47:06 GMT

The speakers in this panel argue that human rights obligations should be applied to macroeconomic policies and guide policy formulation; however there is often resistance to applying human rights to macroeconomic policies. It is possible to create fiscal space for the implementation of human rights because countries can choose where to make their expenditures.

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Substantive Equality for Women: Connecting Human Rights and Public Policy

Mon, 15 Jun 2015 11:57:38 GMT

The speakers in this panel argue that austerity has worsened women’s living conditions, both social and economic. Gender parity should be promoted and implemented in economic and business areas in the same way as it has been promoted in politics. Unpaid care work is a barrier that prevents women from choosing how to spend their lives. Social policies often still discriminate against women and lack gender awareness,and gender stereotypes frequently still inform social policy. Women have to be key stakeholders in the social policy-making process.

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A Global Policy Laboratory: Reforming Pensions in Developing and Transition Countries

Tue, 12 May 2015 08:17:11 GMT

Pension systems are one of the most dynamic areas of social policy reform. But what is their developmental role? How does pension reform contribute to poverty reduction and social development? What are the reform trends, toward which models of pension policy, and what drives them?

In this UNRISD seminar, speakers will discuss the pension system reform strategies and outstanding challenges of powerful emerging markets, as well as selected countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

Drawing from country case studies, the speakers will provide evidence and insights on managing pension systems and how they can work to drive social and economic development.

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The Power of Knowledge: UNRISD Classics Launch

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 08:27:13 GMT

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Global Goals as National Goals: Lost in Translation?

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 10:17:51 GMT

The MDGs were important as shared global goals. However, Charles Gore argues that the misunderstood translation of those global goals into national goals shifted responsibilities and national priorities. As a result, the poorest and least powerful countries in the world made the most national effort to achieve the goals. This outcome has been damaging for them. Is there a danger that the SDGs will be misunderstood in the same way?

This seminar will consider what it means to agree global goals and to act together to achieve them. In doing so, it will shed new light on ongoing SDG policy discussions, including issues such as: universality; the strengths and weaknesses of a partnership approach; the principle of common and differentiated responsibilities; and accountability mechanisms.

Charles Gore is currently Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Glasgow and an UNRISD Visiting Research Fellow. He has directed UNCTAD’s research on Africa and on least developed countries, and been team leader and principal author of its Least Developed Countries Report. In 2003-2006, he was a member of the UN Millennium Project’s UN Experts Group. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK) in 2014.

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Women's Mobilization for Gender-Egalitarian Policy Change in the 20 Years since Beijing

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:36:10 GMT

UNRISD organized a Side Event at the 59th Commission on the Status of Women in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (New York Office) as part of its activities in engaging with Beijing+20. The event was a huge success with over 90 participants, and more who had to be turned away for lack of space.

The Fourth World Conference on Women set out an expansive vision and set of commitments for achieving gender equality in the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The past two decades have seen the gender equality become a priority in policies and advocacy across the world, at national and international levels. As a result of advocacy, several states have put in place new policies and laws on issues such as violence against women, domestic workers’ rights, access to land and property, women’s political participation, and sexual and reproductive health rights.

However, women’s advocacy tends to focus on certain issues while paying less attention to others that are equally important to women’s lives and well-being. For instance, in some cases, it has been easier to adopt quota systems in national assemblies than to challenge customary practices and laws governing marriage, divorce, property rights and inheritance.

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Reinventing Social Contracts: Feminists, Rights and Power

Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:07:04 GMT

The social contracts of the 20th century face myriad challenges today: economic, financial and ecological crises; growing uncertainty; backlash against human rights and social justice. Civil society, grassroots organizations and social movements are calling for new social contracts, challenging the underlying power relationships and the intersections between them.

At this panel discussion, organised in collaboration with UNOG Library, Gita Sen and her co-panelists speak about the role of feminist movements in the remaking of social contracts. They will help untangle some of the complex power relationships that need to be addressed if new social contracts are to fulfil the promise of human rights and gender justice.

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A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:51:32 GMT

2015 is the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta: The first attempt to limit the powers of the King of England by law and protect the rights of his subjects, in a document imposed on him by those very subjects.

It is time, according to Guy Standing, for a Precariat Charter.

In his 2011 book, Guy Standing introduced us to the precariat: An increasingly global social phenomenon, an emerging mass class characterized by insecurities and lack of occupational identity, doing labour beneath its educational level and experiencing a systematic erosion of rights. The precariat rejects old mainstream political agendas: part of it is attracted by populists playing on people’s fears; part is searching for a new progressive politics.

In his presentation, he discusses how rights—political, civil, social, cultural and economic—have been denied to the precariat, and explains how it is moving from “dangerous class” to “class-for-itself”. He then goes on to consider the kind of progressive politics that might form the vision of a Good Society in which inequality, and the instability it produces, is reduced. The Precariat Charter that he proposes is a programme to revive the Great Trinity of freedom, equality and fraternity, and advance emancipatory income redistribution.

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Where Do Great Ideas Come From? A Discussion with The Rockefeller Foundation

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:05:08 GMT

How can we distinguish a good idea from a great one that bears potential to transform lives throughout the world?

How can we identify new ways to address old problems?

How can we collaborate to better understand and impact the changing world around us?

Representatives from The Rockefeller Foundation will explore these questions and share the organization’s current approach to sourcing and assessing new opportunities to address global development challenges, using the specific examples of urban food insecurity, waste and spoilage in agriculture, and competition for fresh water. Our two speakers are from The Rockefeller Foundation's Strategic Research Department, which works to identify and assess innovative, new opportunities to make transformative impacts on pressing global challenges.

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A Model for Social Protection in Africa? Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP)

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:13:48 GMT

Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) was introduced in 2005 to provide support to approximately eight million chronically food insecure people. Ever since, the programme has been promoted as a model of social protection and has already been influential in the design of schemes in other African countries.

Tom Lavers’ seminar will draw on recent research published in the Journal of Modern African Studies to discuss: the PSNP and the root causes of poverty and food insecurity; the government’s political motivations for pursuing the PSNP.

The presentation will argue that most past research on the PSNP has involved narrow impact evaluations, without setting the programme within its political and socioeconomic context. Drawing on a case study conducted in Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, this research examines the links between the PSNP, the government’s rural development strategy and its policy of state land ownership. In the case study area, the PSNP has been used to constrain urban migration in the interests of social and political stability, with problematic implications for resolving the problem of food insecurity.

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Migration and Health in China

Tue, 06 May 2014 11:56:55 GMT

People are on the move in their millions in China in search of better jobs and better lives, mostly migrating to cities from the countryside. In 2009, there were approximately 230 million migrants in China, with 145.3 million rural inhabitants moving temporarily to cities, trying to improve their livelihoods.

This movement has huge implications for the health of the Chinese population, the patterns and transmission of disease, China’s health care system and related social welfare policies. These issues have been largely neglected by researchers and consequently have not been adequately addressed by public policy—a major research and policy gap.

The UNRISD/IOM Panel Discussion on Migration and Health in China brings together researchers from the UNRISD project of the same name to reflect on their findings and what they imply for public policy in China and other developing nations with high population mobility. Questions to be addressed include: - What evidence is there of the impact of migration on health in China? - What are the knowledge gaps on migration and health in China? - What are the key policy challenges faced by China in promoting migrant health? - What lessons can be learned by other countries also addressing health challenges posed by massive internal movement of the population?

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New Directions in Social Policy: Towards a Post-2015 Agenda

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:14:01 GMT

The MDGs re-emphasized the important role of social policies in development, illustrated in particular by the massive expansion of social protection since the turn of the millennium. However, much more is happening in countries in the global South. Many are responding to crises and adjustment, globalization and global environmental change, demographic transition and new social movements, among other risks and challenges, with an expanding repertoire of social policies and programmes. In some cases, poverty and inequality are being reduced, and more resilient systems of welfare provision established.

What are the changing contexts for social policy in emerging and low-income economies?
What policies are being pursued and why?
Are we seeing the emergence of new welfare systems that will be more resilient to the challenges of the 21st century?
And what will this mean for a post-2015 development agenda?

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Good Jobs and Social Services: How Costa Rica Achieved the Elusive Double Incorporation

Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:14:05 GMT

Few developing countries have succeeded in simultaneously providing good jobs and access to social services for all. Yet Costa Rica has made one of the most successful efforts to secure the double incorporation of job creation and expansion of social services among developing countries.

A well-paid job is the best tool to improve household income and reduce poverty. At the same time, people need rights-based entitlements to protect themselves against risks and contingencies. Accomplishing this double objective is one of the most significant challenges facing developing countries.

How has Costa Rica achieved its unique success?
What lessons can other small developing countries learn from Costa Rica?

In this Seminar Diego Sánchez-Ancochea will discuss his recent book, co-authored with Juliana Martínez Franzoni, on Costa Rica’s historical success and recent challenges in securing the elusive double incorporation. An UNRISD Research and Policy Brief is available for download here, which summarizes the main findings from the research on Costa Rica. This case study was carried out as part of the UNRISD project, Poverty Reduction and Policy Regimes.

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Pension Reform in China: Five Pillars of Transformation?

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:20:00 GMT

China’s pension system is facing many challenges. As income disparity increases and the population ages, how can the system be reformed to enhance its equity, efficiency, and financial sustainability?

Since 1990, China’s public pension system has shifted from enterprise-based to locality-pooled programmes and coverage has expanded rapidly. Yet China’s public pension system has several problems: it is fragmented, inequitable and there are serious questions about its long-term financial sustainability.

The Chinese government plans further reforms to its social insurance system to “expand coverage, ensure basic retirement incomes, develop a multi-pillar system and enhance sustainability” (National People’s Congress, 2010). The question is how to devise feasible and operational reform measures to achieve these aims.

In this seminar Professor Xuejin Zuo proposes a five-pillar pension system that would greatly enhance the equity, efficiency, and sustainability of pensions in China. It would ensure adequate retirement incomes for the elderly, and contribute to increases in domestic consumption, stable growth, and the construction of a harmonious society.

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Piloting Basic Income in India: A Transformative Policy?

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:33:40 GMT

In what may be a unique social experiment, three pilot basic income schemes were conducted in India between 2010 and 2013, in which over 6,000 men, women and children received universal, equal and completely unconditional monthly cash payments. Guy Standing reports on the main outcomes, looking at the effects on sanitation, nutrition, health, schooling, economic activity, women’s status, specific vulnerable groups, and social attitudes more broadly.

The results are based on data generated by a multi-round evaluation and a modified randomized control trial methodology, in which those receiving the basic incomes were compared with others not receiving them. A second parameter for comparison was the presence or absence of a collective body, or "Voice organization", representing the interests of the vulnerable in the villages studied.

SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) was the implementing organization for the schemes, which were largely funded by UNICEF.

A summary of results of the project was released on the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) website.

You can also read a A UNICEF publication released prior to the project titled Cash Transfers: A Review of the Issues in India.

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Institutions, Governance and Policy Space: Redesigning the International Economic Architecture for Development

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:37:44 GMT

Is the current international economic architecture helping or hindering development? Is it enabling the transformation of national economies, creating productive jobs and better standards of living? Or is it standing in the way of equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic and social development?

Because the economies of developing countries are highly integrated into the international economy, its design is crucial for the success or failure of their development paths. In this UNRISD Seminar, Manuel Montes of The South Centre shows how the current international economic system is in many ways preventing developing countries from achieving the transformation of their economies which is necessary to raise productivity and levels of living.

Focusing on aspects which hinder investment in new economic activities in developing countries, Montes puts forward proposals to redesign three areas of the international economic architecture:

improve international institutional arrangements
create more national policy space
improve the responsiveness of international governance structures

Montes presents elements of a new global deal to enable developing countries to transform their economies.

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The Legend of China's Growth

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 13:44:00 GMT

China has experienced an unprecedented 3 decades of annual economic growth of around 10 per cent. What has fuelled this boom? And can it be sustained?

Professor Li Yang, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, discusses the Chinese growth miracle and considers its impact, positive and negative, on China and the world.

At the end of the seminar, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by representatives of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and UNRISD.

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Green Urbanization in Asia: Paradox or Win-Win Scenario?

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:49:55 GMT

Environmental sustainability and rapid urbanization in Asia seem to stand in opposition to each other, but is this really the case?

Asia is home to almost half of the global urban population and is urbanizing at a pace faster than any other region, resulting in unprecedented growth in the number of urban residents and of densely populated megacities. Consequently, the region will be confronted with major environmental challenges such as air pollution, congestion, increasing CO2 emissions, lack of water and basic sanitation, and growing vulnerability to natural disasters.

But with urbanization comes the rise of the middle-class and property ownership, the development of the service sector, declining fertility, increased educational attainment and, more importantly, innovations in green technology. These urbanization-related forces can help in combining environmental improvement and economic growth to produce positive outcomes.

In this seminar, Guanghua Wan explores the environment-urbanization nexus in Asia and offers a cautiously optimistic environmental perspective for the region as it urbanizes. He also advances suggestions for government interventions to ensure a green pathway to urbanization in Asia.

His presentation draws on “Green Urbanization in Asia”, the special chapter leading the ADB’s Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012 report, for which Dr. Wan was the lead author.

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The Human Rights Approach to Social Protection

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:39:28 GMT

The rapid manner in which social protection has gained predominance and political support in the context of the development and poverty reduction discourse over the past few years is almost without precedent. The current political momentum around social protection provides a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the development agenda.

At the same time, despite some landmark developments such as ILO Recommendation No. 202 on Social Protection Floors, there remains a pressing need to further examine the human rights implications and outcomes of social protection systems.

Considering the extensive human rights obligations which States possess by virtue of the multitude of international human rights treaties, and given that all UN agencies have committed to mainstreaming human rights throughout the UN system, the lack of a systematic discussion of social protection from a human rights perspective is a significant conceptual gap.

In this seminar, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda will explore the human rights framework for social protection. She will address how human rights obligations should be taken into account in the design, implementation and monitoring of social protection systems around the world.

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Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:21:18 GMT

UNRISD convened a methodology workshop for its project, Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization for Social Development, on 2 and 3 May in Geneva. Following a Call for Expressions of Interest, four countries were selected for in-depth multidisciplinary research, two in Latin America—Bolivia and Guatemala—and two in sub-Saharan Africa—Uganda and Zimbabwe.

At the workshop team leaders from the four countries presented their research proposals and discussed issues related to research design and methodology, as well as communication and outreach activities, with external experts and UNRISD staff.

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Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:15:41 GMT

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Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:07:59 GMT

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Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:52:54 GMT

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Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:05:12 GMT

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Politics of Domestic Resource Mobilization

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:23:41 GMT

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Food security and social protection: Two sides of the same coin?

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:47:39 GMT

How to ensure that everybody has enough to eat in order to survive is one of the oldest development dilemmas. Food security was a dominant topic in the development discourse in the 1980s and 1990s, but it fell out of favour in the 2000s when social protection rose rapidly to prominence. Superficially, the two agendas seem to complement each other: food insecurity describes an inability to secure subsistence needs, and the mandate of social protection is to ensure that subsistence needs are met by public means whenever private means are inadequate. But how well is this mandate being fulfilled?

Stephen Devereux presents the evidence on whether social and productive safety net programmes and policies are successfully reducing food and nutrition insecurity across the globe. In his presentation he will draw on the June 2012 report Social protection for food security commissioned by the FAO’s Committee on World Food Security.

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Uncovering the Politics of "Evidence"

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:43:53 GMT

Hard evidence, rigorous data, tangible results, value for money – all are tantalizing terms promising clarity for the international development sector. Yet behind these terms lie definitional tussles, vested interests and contested world views that Rosalind Eyben’s presentation aims to uncover in order to make the results-and-evidence agenda a legitimate subject of debate. And, in doing so, encourage development practitioners to devise strategies to expand the politico-bureaucratic space for flexible and creative support of locally generated and transformative change.

Arguing the importance of being critically aware of how power sustains and reinforces the development sector’s results-and-evidence discourses, Eyben will explain how the resulting tools and methods, such as logical framework analyses and theories of change, shape our working practices. These tools and methods can have perverse consequences because of their hidden and invisible power to determine what knowledge counts. Hierarchical ways of working (in both donor and recipient organizations) block communication and dialogue.

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Wages, Inequality and Development: Time to Turn the Wheel?

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:19:27 GMT

The current Great Recession is a painful reminder of the "price of inequality", casting doubt on the conventional wisdom that growth should be in the driver’s seat and distribution in the backseat. A corollary of this deep-rooted belief is the view that wage moderation can boost economic growth and hence reduce poverty.

Dr. Sangheon Lee challenges this view by examining recent changes in wages (or more broadly, labour income) and their social and economic impacts, with a focus on two types of distribution: personal and functional distribution. He argues that in both cases inequality has been growing and that, more importantly, these increases in inequality have had negative impacts on economic growth and stability.

Having shown that the changes in inequality can to a large extent be attributed to policy factors, Lee argues that policy shifts towards more equitable income distribution must be an essential part of post-crisis socioeconomic strategies and should inform debates about a post-2015 development agenda.

The presentation draws on Lee’s recent research, published in the ILO’s Global Wage Report (2010 and 2012) and in a special issue of the International Labour Review entitled "Low Paid Work in Emerging Economies".

Presentation by Sangheon Lee, Research and Policy Coordinator, Conditions of Work and Employment Programme, International Labour Office.

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New Directions in Social Policy

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:15:37 GMT

Around the world, social policies are evolving or transforming in response to new risks and challenges that were not faced by European welfare states in their developmental phase.

While the MDGs placed social issues more firmly back on the development agenda, social policy has remained largely residual – principally as protection against severe forms of adversity. However, recent innovations in social policy and practice in the global South offer more universal, participatory and potentially transformative approaches. We see expanding coverage and service provision, enhanced redistribution and inclusion, increased mobilization of domestic resources, and efforts to address structural inequalities and strengthen social rights.

What can we learn from these new approaches? Are we seeing the basis of new solidarity-based social contracts that can generate more inclusive, equitable societies and sustainable development paths?

This side event will consider emerging directions in social policy, particularly in the South, what we can learn from them, and how this should be reflected in a new global development agenda.

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A Rights-Based, Gender-Equitable Approach to the Regional Governance of Migration: An Elusive or Achievable Prospect?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:25:03 GMT

Solutions to the challenges of international labour migration are typically sought at the global level. But in practice, most developments related to migration governance have taken place at the national, bilateral and regional levels. The past few decades have seen many initiatives to remove barriers to intra-regional labour movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America. These have often had more ambitious, rights-based goals—at least on paper—than similar projects in developed regions. Yet implementation of these initiatives has been slow or non-existent, and often triggered other difficulties for migrants.

This policy forum brought together a panel of experts from diverse fields and professional experience to discuss the status quo and future potential of the regional governance of migration.

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