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.
Featured Resources
Resource
The brief focuses on programmatic shifts at the intersection of resilience, gender equity, and social inclusion, which are essential in...
More Resources
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Resource
The brief focuses on programmatic shifts at the intersection of resilience, gender equity, and social inclusion, which are essential in situations like the 2004 tsunami or extreme drought conditions. Sourced from existing literature and the growing evidence base of what works, this brief...
Gender EquitySocial Inclusion -
Resource
The evidence, and the resulting discussion, presented during the 2017 Resilience Evidence Forum — hosted in Washington D.C. by the USAID Center for Resilience — are presented in the Resilience Evidence Forum Report.
Conflict and FragilityUrban ContextCollaboration and Collective ImpactValue for MoneySustainable Poverty EscapesDiversify Livelihood RisksSocial ProtectionGraduationSocial CapitalFinancial InclusionHuman CapitalAspirationsGender EquitySocial InclusionEcosystems and Natural Resource Management -
Resource
This research brief looks at the benefits and
comparative advantages of the group model for youth in agriculture in northern Uganda as well as
the possible challenges associated with youth
associations.AgricultureDiversify Livelihood RisksFinancial InclusionSocial Inclusion -
Training
Ce cours présente aux participants les bases de la résilience comme un concept analytique, programmatique et organisationnel et couvre le travail de résilience de l'USAID jusqu’à présent.
Value for MoneySocial Inclusion