Social Inclusion
Integrating and addressing the needs of traditionally marginalized groups into program design builds resilience by creating more effective activities.
Shocks and stresses do not affect all people in the same way. Marginalized groups (women, people with disabilities, older individuals, etc.) are uniquely vulnerable during and after shocks. Limited mobility, uneven access to resources, and power imbalances can mean assistance to these groups is delayed or denied after a disaster or crisis. Current research aims to show how social inclusion can increase sources of resilience (such as social capital and financial inclusion).
Approach
Integrating traditionally marginalized groups into society, feedback, and program design can increase resilience program and activity effectiveness. In a mixed-caste community, greater social inclusion helps people of lower socioeconomic status access informal finance. This is accomplished through connections with wealthier neighbors.
Involving youth, women, and older people in household decision-making also helps to increase resilience. It creates equitable approaches to financial decisions that affect the household. This leads to more financial stability when shocks occur. Market linkages for women and youth also increase and diversify household incomes.
Evidence
Most research on social inclusion in resilience has focused on gender. Empowered women are less likely to apply negative coping strategies or be food insecure.
More About Social Inclusion
Untapped Potential: Adolescents Affected by Armed Conflict
25 Aug 2022 - Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
This study considers the health, education, livelihood, protection and psychological and social needs of adolescents uprooted by armed conflict.
Cross-Organizational Commitments to Gender and Youth within the Food Crisis
01 Sep 2022, GMT -4 - Mercy Corps , Save the Children
Amid an evolving food crisis, GAYA and partners will discuss strategies to design programs that protect progress around gender and youth.
Gender and Youth Associate Award (GAYA) Survey on Gender and Youth Integration
25 Aug 2022 - Mercy Corps
Are you interested in reflecting on your organization's internal capacity gaps for gender and youth integration?
ResilienceLinks Webinar | Resilient Youth and Their Social Ecology
29 Sep 2022, GMT -4 - ResilienceLinks, in partnership with USAID's Center for Resilience
What is youth resilience, and what do we know about its relationship to young people’s socio-ecological context?