Showing papers on "Empowerment published in 2010"
TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical model linking empowering leadership with creativity via several intervening variables was built and tested, and they found that, as anticipated, empowering leadership positively affected psychological empowerment, which in turn influenced both intrinsic motivation and creative process engagement.
Abstract: Synthesizing theories of leadership, empowerment, and creativity, this research built and tested a theoretical model linking empowering leadership with creativity via several intervening variables. Using survey data from professional employees and their supervisors in a large information technology company in China, we found that, as anticipated, empowering leadership positively affected psychological empowerment, which in turn influenced both intrinsic motivation and creative process engagement. These latter two variables then had a positive influence on creativity. Empowerment role identity moderated the link between empowering leadership and psychological empowerment, whereas leader encouragement of creativity moderated the connection between psychological empowerment and creative process engagement.
2,123 citations
TL;DR: The empowerment approach is clarified and common misconceptions have been corrected and it is confirmed that patient are in control of their daily diabetes care.
721 citations
10 Apr 2010
TL;DR: The state of the art of feminism in HCI is summarized and ways to build on existing successes to more robustly integrate feminism into interaction design research and practice are proposed.
Abstract: Feminism is a natural ally to interaction design, due to its central commitments to issues such as agency, fulfillment, identity, equity, empowerment, and social justice. In this paper, I summarize the state of the art of feminism in HCI and propose ways to build on existing successes to more robustly integrate feminism into interaction design research and practice. I explore the productive role of feminism in analogous fields, such as industrial design, architecture, and game design. I introduce examples of feminist interaction design already in the field. Finally, I propose a set of femi-nist interaction design qualities intended to support design and evaluation processes directly as they unfold.
683 citations
TL;DR: Efforts to expand maternal health service utilization can be accelerated by parallel investments in programs aimed at poverty eradication, universal primary education, and women's empowerment.
Abstract: Background
Relative to the attention given to improving the quality of and access to maternal health services, the influence of women's socio-economic situation on maternal health care use has received scant attention. The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between women's economic, educational and empowerment status, introduced as the 3Es, and maternal health service utilization in developing countries.
Methods/Principal Findings
The analysis uses data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 31 countries for which data on all the 3Es are available. Separate logistic regression models are fitted for modern contraceptive use, antenatal care and skilled birth attendance in relation to the three covariates of interest: economic, education and empowerment status, additionally controlling for women's age and residence. We use meta-analysis techniques to combine and summarize results from multiple countries. The 3Es are significantly associated with utilization of maternal health services. The odds of having a skilled attendant at delivery for women in the poorest wealth quintile are 94% lower than that for women in the highest wealth quintile and almost 5 times higher for women with complete primary education relative to those less educated. The likelihood of using modern contraception and attending four or more antenatal care visits are 2.01 and 2.89 times, respectively, higher for women with complete primary education than for those less educated. Women with the highest empowerment score are between 1.31 and 1.82 times more likely than those with a null empowerment score to use modern contraception, attend four or more antenatal care visits and have a skilled attendant at birth.
Conclusions/Significance
Efforts to expand maternal health service utilization can be accelerated by parallel investments in programs aimed at poverty eradication (MDG 1), universal primary education (MDG 2), and women's empowerment (MDG 3).
646 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: The 2010 Human Development Report continues the tradition of pushing the frontiers of development thinking as discussed by the authors, with an introductory reflections by the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, who worked with series founder Mahbub ul Haq on the conception of the first human development report and contributed to and inspired many successive volumes.
Abstract: The first Human Development Report in 1990 opened with the simply stated premise that has guided all subsequent Reports: "People are the real wealth of a nation." By backing up this assertion with an abundance of empirical data and a new way of thinking about and measuring development, the Human Development Report has had a profound impact on development policies around the world.This 20th anniversary edition features introductory reflections by the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, who worked with series founder Mahbub ul Haq on the conception of the first Human Development Report and contributed to and inspired many successive volumes.The 2010 Report continues the tradition of pushing the frontiers of development thinking. For the first time since 1990, the Report looks back rigorously at the past several decades and identifies often surprising trends and patterns with important lessons for the future. These varied pathways to human development show that there is no single formula for sustainable progress — and that impressive long-term gains can and have been achieved even without consistent economic growth.Looking beyond 2010, this Report surveys critical aspects of human development, from political freedoms and empowerment to sustainability and human security, and outlines a broader agenda for research and policies to respond to these challenges.
571 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that self-stigma appears to be common and sometimes severe among people with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders in Europe.
476 citations
TL;DR: The empowerment process model builds on prior work in taking the following steps: articulating empowerment as an iterative process, identifying core elements of that process, and defining the process in a way that is practically useful to both researchers and practitioners with terms that are easily communicated and applied.
Abstract: In this article, we propose a model of the process of empowerment. The notion of empowerment is compelling and much employed across many subfields inside and outside of psychology, but the lack of consistency in the ways prior literature has defined it is an obstacle to meaningful synthesis of findings and consistent application in practice. Our empowerment process model builds on prior work in taking the following steps: articulating empowerment as an iterative process, identifying core elements of that process, and defining the process in a way that is practically useful to both researchers and practitioners with terms that are easily communicated and applied. The components of the model are personally meaningful and power-oriented goals, self-efficacy, knowledge, competence, action, and impact. Individuals move through the process with respect to particular goals, doubling back repeatedly as experience promotes reflection. We make specific recommendations for research and practice and discuss applications to social justice.
446 citations
TL;DR: The contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to development is easy to detect as discussed by the authors, but the focus has only recently shifted along the ICT-for-development value chain from these indicators of ICT readiness and availability, to the question of development impact.
Abstract: This editorial introduces the three papers in this Policy Arena on the contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to development Contribution in terms of technology diffusion and use – especially of mobile phones – is easy to detect But focus has only recently shifted along the ‘ICT-for-development value chain’ from these indicators of ICT readiness and availability, to the question of development impact
In part, the absence or poor quality of ICT impact assessment to date derives from its lack of conceptual foundations This editorial maps out the intellectual roots of the emerging sub-discipline of ‘development informatics’ to show where such foundations may come from It also summarises the conceptualised contributions made by each of the Policy Arena papers The papers draw on models of enterprise value chains, empowerment and Sen's capability theory to demonstrate ICTs' contribution to conceptions of development as economic growth, as sustainable livelihoods, and as freedom
Of course, not all ICT initiatives succeed, and the editorial provides a good practice summary drawn from experiences of success and failure It moves beyond the perennial call for practitioners and policy makers to incorporate impact assessment as part of this good practice First, by identifying the need to address motivational and structural issues around impact assessment Second, by calling on policy makers to be more aware of the transformational potential of ICTs in development; so-called ‘Development 20’ Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
422 citations
TL;DR: Women from rural area and Terai region needs specific empowerment programme to enable them to be more autonomous in the household decision making, and rich women are less likely to have autonomy to make decision in own healthcare.
Abstract: How socio-demographic factors influence women's autonomy in decision making on health care including purchasing goods and visiting family and relatives are very poorly studied in Nepal This study aims to explore the links between women's household position and their autonomy in decision making We used Nepal Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2006, which provided data on ever married women aged 15-49 years (n = 8257) The data consists of women's four types of household decision making; own health care, making major household purchases, making purchase for daily household needs and visits to her family or relatives A number of socio-demographic variables were used in multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship of these variables to all four types of decision making Women's autonomy in decision making is positively associated with their age, employment and number of living children Women from rural area and Terai region have less autonomy in decision making in all four types of outcome measure There is a mixed variation in women's autonomy in the development region across all outcome measures Western women are more likely to make decision in own health care (12-16), while they are less likely to purchase daily household needs (06-09) Women's increased education is positively associated with autonomy in own health care decision making (p < 001), however their more schooling (SLC and above) shows non-significance with other outcome measures Interestingly, rich women are less likely to have autonomy to make decision in own healthcare Women from rural area and Terai region needs specific empowerment programme to enable them to be more autonomous in the household decision making Women's autonomy by education, wealth quintile and development region needs a further social science investigation to observe the variations within each stratum A more comprehensive strategy can enable women to access community resources, to challenge traditional norms and to access economic resources This will lead the women to be more autonomous in decision making in the due course
384 citations
379 citations
TL;DR: This work uses an empowerment framework, rooted in evidence-based findings, to identify five types of youth participation: (1) Vessel, (2) Symbolic, (3) Pluralistic, (4) Independent and (5) Autonomous.
Abstract: Research suggests that increasing egalitarian relations between young people and adults is optimal for healthy development; however, the empirical assessment of shared control in youth–adult partnerships is emerging, and the field still requires careful observation, identification, categorization and labeling. Thus, our objective is to offer a conceptual typology that identifies degrees of youth–adult participation while considering the development potential within each type. We use an empowerment framework, rooted in evidence-based findings, to identify five types of youth participation: (1) Vessel, (2) Symbolic, (3) Pluralistic, (4) Independent and (5) Autonomous. The typology is constructed as a heuristic device to provide researchers, practitioners and policy-makers with a common language for articulating degrees of youth participation for optimal child and adolescent health promotion.
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of organizational culture and empowerment on innovation capability is analyzed and the peculiarities of these effects are examined by applying bot-based methods to test the hypotheses.
Abstract: This study analyzes the impact of organizational culture and empowerment on innovation capability, and examines the peculiarities of these effects. The study's hypotheses are tested by applying bot...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether access to and marketing of an individually held commitment savings product lead to an increase in female decision-making power within the household and found positive impacts, particularly for women who had below median decisionmaking power in the baseline.
TL;DR: In this paper, the outcomes of Egyptian women's practices of sociality are analyzed in the context of economic empowerment of women via finance, and they are shown to serve as an economic infrastructure for projects oriented around the pursuit of profit.
Abstract: In this article, I draw on ethnographic research in Cairo to analyze outcomes of Egyptian women's practices of sociality. In Cairo, “phatic labor” creates a social infrastructure of communicative channels that are as essential to economy as roads, bridges, or telephone lines. Projects to empower Egyptian women via finance made these communicative channels visible as an economic infrastructure for projects oriented around the pursuit of profit. A social infrastructure that had functioned as a kind of semiotic commons became visible as a resource that could be privatized or formatted as a public good.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the impact of empowering leadership behaviors (ELBs), psychological empowerment, and individual-level power values on a broad range of employee behaviors, and found that psychological empowerment was more strongly related to challenging behaviors.
Abstract: In this research we examined the impact of empowering leadership behaviors (ELBs), psychological empowerment, and individual-level power values on a broad range of employee behaviors. Drawing on self-determination theory (Gagne and Deci, 2005), we hypothesized that ELBs would have direct effects on in-role and affiliative extra-role behaviors, but that the impact of ELBs on challenging extra-role behaviors would be mediated by psychological empowerment. Further, we hypothesized that individual-level power values (Schwartz, 1992) would moderate the mediated effect of ELBs on challenging behaviors. Responses to questionnaires from 541 employees and their supervisors were obtained from 16 hotel properties located in 11 Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Results supported our hypotheses of direct and mediated effects of ELBs on employee behaviors, and supported moderated mediation involving psychological empowerment and power values such that psychological empowerment was more strongly related to challenging...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the impact of three dimensions of gender: economic factors, such as availability of wage employment, dowry expectations, and wedding expenses, indicators of familial empowerment, and markers of gender performance.
Abstract: Research on marriage in developing countries has been somewhat narrow in scope because of both conceptual and data limitations. While the feminist literature recognizes marriage as a key institutional site for the production and reproduction of gender hierarchies, little is known about the processes through which this relationship operates. This article uses data from the newly collected India Human Development Survey 2005 for 27,365 ever-married women aged 25–49 to explore ways in which different dimensions of gender in Indian society shape the decisions regarding age at marriage. We explore the impact of three dimensions of gender: (1) economic factors, such as availability of wage employment, dowry expectations, and wedding expenses; (2) indicators of familial empowerment, such as women’s role in household decision making and access to and control over resources; and (3) markers of gender performance, such as observance of purdah and male-female separation in the household. Results from hierarchical linear models confirm the importance of markers of gender performance but fail to demonstrate a large role for economic factors and familial empowerment.
13 Aug 2010
TL;DR: The differences between these two groups of nurses show that empowerment does not generate the same results in all countries, and reflects empirical evidence from most cross cultural studies on empowerment.
Abstract: ahmad n. & oranye n.o. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management18, 582–591
Empowerment, job satisfaction and organizational commitment: a comparative analysis of nurses working in Malaysia and England
Aims To examine the relationships between nurses’ empowerment, job satisfaction and organizational commitment in culturally and developmentally different societies.
Background Employment and retention of sufficient and well-committed nursing staff are essential for providing safe and effective health care. In light of this, nursing leaders have been searching for ways to re-engineer the healthcare system particularly by providing an environment that is conducive to staff empowerment, job satisfaction and commitment.
Methods This is a descriptive correlational survey of 556 registered nurses (RNs) in two teaching hospitals in England and Malaysia.
Results Although the Malaysian nurses felt more empowered and committed to their organization, the English nurses were more satisfied with their job.
Conclusion The differences between these two groups of nurses show that empowerment does not generate the same results in all countries, and reflects empirical evidence from most cross cultural studies on empowerment.
Implications for nursing management Nursing management should always take into consideration cultural differences in empowerment, job satisfaction and commitment of nursing staff while formulating staff policies.
TL;DR: It is argued that empowered nurses are more likely to empower their patients, which results in better patient and system outcomes and strategies for managers to empower nurses and for nurses to empower patients are suggested.
Abstract: spence laschinger h.k., gilbert s., smith l.m. & leslie k. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management18, 4–13
Towards a comprehensive theory of nurse/patient empowerment: applying Kanter’s empowerment theory to patient care
Aim The purpose of this theoretical paper is to propose an integrated model of nurse/patient empowerment that could be used as a guide for creating high-quality nursing practice work environments that ensure positive outcomes for both nurses and their patients.
Background There are few integrated theoretical approaches to nurse and patient empowerment in the literature, although nurse empowerment is assumed to positively affect patient outcomes.
Evaluation The constructs described in Kanter’s (1993) work empowerment theory are conceptually consistent with the nursing care process and can be logically extended to nurses’ interactions with their patients and the outcomes of nursing care.
Key issues We propose a model of nurse/patient empowerment derived from Kanter’s theory that suggests that empowering working conditions increase feelings of psychological empowerment in nurses, resulting in greater use of patient empowerment strategies by nurses, and, ultimately, greater patient empowerment and better health outcomes.
Conclusions Empirical testing of the model is recommended prior to use of the model in clinical practice.
Implications for Nursing Management We argue that empowered nurses are more likely to empower their patients, which results in better patient and system outcomes. Strategies for managers to empower nurses and for nurses to empower patients are suggested.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between psychological empowerment, job insecurity and employee engagement and found that affective job insecurity had a main effect on three dimensions of psychological empowerment (i.e., meaningfulness, competence, self-determination and impact) and on employee engagement.
Abstract: Orientation: The psychological empowerment of employees might affect their engagement. However, psychological empowerment and employee engagement might also be influenced by job insecurity. Research purposes: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological empowerment, job insecurity and employee engagement. Motivation for the study: Employee engagement results in positive individual and organisational outcomes and research information about the antecedents will provide valuable information for the purposes of diagnosis and intervention. Research design, approach and method: A correlational design was used. Survey design was conducted among 442 employees in a government and a manufacturing organisation. The measuring instruments included the Psychological Empowerment Questionnaire, the Job Insecurity Inventory, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Main findings: Statistically significant relationships were found between psychological empowerment, job insecurity and employee engagement. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that affective job insecurity had a main effect on three dimensions of psychological empowerment (viz. competence, meaning and impact) and on employee engagement. Affective job insecurity moderated the effect of psychological empowerment on employee engagement. Practical implications: The implication of the results is that interventions that focus on the psychological empowerment of employees (viz. meaningfulness, competence, self-determination and impact) will contribute to the engagement (vigour, dedication and absorption) of employees. If job insecurity is high, it is crucial to attend to the psychological empowerment of employees. Contribution: This study contributes to knowledge about the conditions that precede employee engagement, and shows that the dimensions of psychological empowerment (namely experienced meaningfulness, competence, impact and self-determination) play an important role in this regard.
TL;DR: Results offer significant support for the use of Kanter's theory in the newly-graduated nurse population, with specific strategies in place to combat incivility and disempowerment in the workplace.
Abstract: smith l.m., andrusyszyn m.a. & laschinger h. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management 18, 1004–1015
Effects of workplace incivility and empowerment on newly-graduated nurses’ organizational commitment
Aim The purpose of the present study was to test an expanded model of Kanter’s theory by examining the influence of structural empowerment, psychological empowerment and workplace incivility on the organizational commitment of newly-graduated nurses.
Background The early years of practice represent a significant confidence-building phase for newly-graduated nurses, yet many new nurses are exposed to disempowering experiences and incivility in the workplace.
Method A predictive non-experimental design was used to examine the impact of structural empowerment, psychological empowerment and workplace incivility on the affective commitment of newly-graduated nurses (n = 117) working in acute care hospitals.
Results Controlling for age, 23.1% of the variance in affective commitment was explained by structural empowerment, psychological empowerment and workplace incivility [R² = 0.231, F5,107 = 6.43, P = 0.000]. Access to opportunity was the most empowering factor, with access to support and formal power perceived as least empowering. Perceived co-worker incivility was greater than perceived supervisor incivility.
Conclusion Results offer significant support for the use of Kanter’s theory in the newly-graduated nurse population.
Implications for Nursing Management Without specific strategies in place to combat incivility and disempowerment in the workplace, attempts to prevent further organizational attrition of new members may be futile.
TL;DR: There is an urgent need for a ‘fourth generation’ of approaches in the theory and practice of HIV/AIDS management, one which pays far greater attention to the wider contextual influences on programme success.
Abstract: Many biomedical and behavioural HIV/AIDS programmes aimed at prevention, care and treatment have disappointing outcomes because of a lack of effective community mobilisation. But community mobilisation is notoriously difficult to bring about. We present a conceptual framework that maps out those dimensions of social context that are likely to support or undermine community mobilisation efforts, proposing that attention should be given to three dimensions of social context: the material, symbolic and relational. This paper has four parts. We begin by outlining why community mobilisation is regarded as a core dimension of effective HIV/AIDS management: it increases the "reach" and sustainability of programmes; it is a vital component of the wider "task shifting" agenda given the scarcity of health professionals in many HIV/AIDS-vulnerable contexts. Most importantly it facilitates those social psychological processes that we argue are vital preconditions for effective prevention, care and treatment. Secondly we map out three generations of approaches to behaviour change within the HIV/AIDS field: HIV-awareness, peer education and community mobilisation. We critically evaluate each approach's underlying assumptions about the drivers of behaviour change, to frame our understandings of the pathways between mobilisation and health, drawing on the concepts of social capital, dialogue and empowerment. Thirdly we refer to two well-documented case studies of community mobilisation in India and South Africa to illustrate our claim that community mobilisation is unlikely to succeed in the absence of supportive material, symbolic and relational contexts. Fourthly we provide a brief overview of how the papers in this special issue help us flesh out our conceptualisation of the "health enabling social environment". We conclude by arguing for the urgent need for a 'fourth generation' of approaches in the theory and practice of HIV/AIDS management, one which pays far greater attention to the wider contextual influences on programme success.
TL;DR: Empirical empowerment conditions positively impacted individual psychological empowerment which had significant direct effects on empowered behaviour, job satisfaction and care quality and Empowered workplaces support positive outcomes for both nurses and patients.
Abstract: purdy n., laschinger h.k.s., finegan j., kerr m. & olivera f. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management 18, 901–913
Effects of work environments on nurse and patient outcomes
Aim To determine the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of their work environment and quality/risk outcomes for patients and nurses in acute care settings.
Background Nurses are leaving the profession as a result of high levels of job dissatisfaction arising from current working conditions. To gain organizational support for workplace improvements, evidence is needed to demonstrate the impact of the work environment on patient care.
Method A multi-level design was used to collect data from nurses (n = 679) and patients (n = 1005) within 61 medical and surgical units in 21 hospitals in Canada.
Results Using multilevel structural equation modelling, the hypothesized model fitted well with the data [χ2 = 21.074, d.f. = 10, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.985, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.921, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.041, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) 0.002 (within) and 0.054 (between)]. Empowering workplaces had positive effects on nurse-assessed quality of care and predicted fewer falls and nurse-assessed risks as mediated through group processes. These conditions positively impacted individual psychological empowerment which, in turn, had significant direct effects on empowered behaviour, job satisfaction and care quality.
Conclusions Empowered workplaces support positive outcomes for both nurses and patients.
Implications for nursing management Managers employing strategies to create more empowered workplaces have the potential to improve nursing teamwork that supports higher quality care, less patient risk and more satisfied nurses.
TL;DR: The findings of a systematic review examining the relationship between structural empowerment and psychological empowerment for registered nurses suggest creation of an environment that provides structural empowerment is an important organizational strategy that contributes to RN's psychological empowerment and ultimately leads to positive work behaviours and attitudes.
Abstract: wagner jij, cummings g, smith dl, olson j, anderson l & warren s (2010) Journal of Nursing Management18, 448–462
The relationship between structural empowerment and psychological empowerment for nurses: a systematic review
Aim To describe the findings of a systematic review examining the relationship between structural empowerment and psychological empowerment for registered nurses (RNs)
Background Workplace empowerment research reveals a link between empowerment and positive work behaviours and attitudes Research demonstrating the essential relationship between structural empowerment and psychological empowerment will provide direction for future interventions aimed at the development of a strong and effective health care sector
Methods Published research articles examining structural empowerment and psychological empowerment for nurses were selected from computerized databases and selected websites Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were completed for the included research articles
Results Ten papers representing six studies reveal significant associations between structural empowerment and psychological empowerment for RNs
Implications for nursing management Creation of an environment that provides structural empowerment is an important organizational strategy that contributes to RNs’ psychological empowerment and ultimately leads to positive work behaviours and attitudes Critical structural components of an empowered workplace can contribute to a healthy, productive and innovative RN workforce with increased job satisfaction and retention
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue for the need to rethink children's participation as a more diverse set of social processes rooted in everyday environments and interactions, arguing that children may not feel empowered despite the existence of formal structures for participation.
Abstract: The participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them is now mainstream in social and public policy in the UK. Yet for many young people formal participation opportunities are abstracted from everyday lives and concerns. Children may not feel empowered despite the existence of formal structures for participation. This raises questions about how ‘spaces’ for participation are constructed. This paper critiques prevailing models of participation in formal structures and instead, argues for the need to rethink children's participation as a more diverse set of social processes rooted in everyday environments and interactions.
TL;DR: In this article, an integrative analysis of the theory and practice literature on social inclusion in higher education is presented, and the notion of quality is uncoupled from the necessity of a neoliberal framing allowing broader interpretations arising from more inclusive ideologies.
TL;DR: Findings suggest that an empowerment-based, DSMS intervention is promising for improving and/or maintaining diabetes-related health, particularly A1C.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the empowerment effects of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on rural women in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh are examined. But, the authors do not consider the impact of gender discrimination.
Abstract: Using a field survey, this paper examines the empowerment effects of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on rural women in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. It argues that women workers have gained from the scheme primarily because of the paid employment opportunity, and benefits have been realised through income-consumption effects, intra-household effects, and the enhancement of choice and capability. Women have also gained to some extent in terms of realisation of equal wages under the nregs, with long-term implications for correcting gender skewness and gender discriminatory wages prevalent in the rural labour market of India. Despite the difficulties and hurdles for women, prospects lie, inter alia, in their collective mobilisation, more so in laggard states.
TL;DR: This paper conducted workshops and in-depth interviews in two "communities" to develop insight into Yolngu peoples' observations and perspectives on climate change, and their ideas and preferences for adaptation.
Abstract: Despite growing global attention to the development of strategies and policy for climate change adaptation, there has been little allowance for input from Indigenous people. In this study we aimed to improve understanding of factors important in integration of Yolngu perspectives in planning adaptation policy in North East Arnhem Land (Australia). We conducted workshops and in-depth interviews in two ‘communities’ to develop insight into Yolngu peoples’ observations and perspectives on climate change, and their ideas and preferences for adaptation. All participants reported observing changes in their ecological landscape, which they attributed to mining, tourism ‘development’, and climate change. ‘Strange changes’ noticed particularly in the last five years, had caused concern and anxiety among many participants. Despite their concern about ecological changes, participants were primarily worried about other issues affecting their community's general welfare. The results suggest that strategies and policies are needed to strengthen adaptive capacity of communities to mitigate over-arching poverty and well-being issues, as well as respond to changes in climate. Participants believed that major constraints to strengthening adaptive capacity had external origins, at regional, state and federal levels. Examples are poor communication and engagement, top-down institutional processes that allow little Indigenous voice, and lack of recognition of Indigenous culture and practices. Participants’ preferences for strategies to strengthen community adaptive capacity tended to be those that lead towards greater self-sufficiency, independence, empowerment, resilience and close contact with the natural environment. Based on the results, we developed a simple model to highlight main determinants of community vulnerability. A second model highlights components important in facilitating discourse on enhancing community capacity to adapt to climatic and other stressors.
Book•
01 Apr 2010
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe two basic strategies that groups of farmers can use to improve their incomes: vertical and horizontal integration, and show how development organisations have helped them do this.
Abstract: This is a book of hope for Africa's smallholder farmers. It shows how they can earn more from their crops and livestock by taking control over the value chains they are part of - chains that link them with consumers in Africa's towns and cities, as well as in other countries. The book is written in easy-to-understand language and is richly illustrated with line drawings. The book describes two basic strategies that groups of farmers can use to improve their incomes: vertical and horizontal integration. Vertical integration means taking on additional activities in the value chain: processing or grading produce, for example. Horizontal integration means becoming more involved in managing the value chain itself - by farmers' improving their access to and management of information, their knowledge of the market, their control over contracts, or their co-operation with other actors in the chain. This book contains 19 case studies showing how groups of farmers throughout Africa have adopted one or both of these strategies to improve their incomes. It shows how development organisations have helped them do this - how they have succeeded, and how they have sometimes failed. It shows the need to invest in improving the quality of existing products, developing new products, establishing market linkages, and building farmer organisation and capacity. The book provides numerous insights for those striving to empower smallholder farmers to develop markets. It will be of particular interest to government policymakers and staff involved in agricultural development, non-government organisations, university faculty and students, trainers, evaluators, and donors seeking ways to promote agriculture in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.