Civil society participation in regional social policy: The case of HIV/AIDS in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréas Godsäter ◽  
Fredrik Söderbaum
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Southern African Development Community ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Main Role ◽  
African Development ◽  
Participatory Processes ◽  
Hiv Aids

This article expands our knowledge about the role of civil society in the formulation and implementation of social policy at the regional level, and it focuses on the issue of HIV/AIDS in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The analysis critically examines the conventional view that the involvement of civil society organizations in regional social policy contributes to participatory processes and reduces the democratic deficit of regional intergovernmental organizations. There are three key questions. Firstly, to what extent and how do civil society actors participate in SADC policy making and decision making in the field of HIV/AIDS? Secondly, what functions do civil society actors perform in regional policy design and implementation? Thirdly, what patterns of inclusion and exclusion exist? The study is based upon in-depth fieldwork and numerous semi-structured interviews with a range of policy makers, donors and civil society representatives. From these, it is concluded that SADC member states, and to some extent also the SADC Secretariat, limit and even undermine civil society involvement in decision making and policy formulation. By implication, civil society’s main role lies in service delivery and legitimating state-steered regional social policy at the expense of deeper, more genuinely participatory processes.

Health Movement and Civil Society Activism: An Interface of Overlap and Exclusion

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-217
Author(s):  
Skylab Sahu
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Health Movement ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Aids

Of late, the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has become a cause of concern for both the state and the non-state actors. The activism led by civil society on HIV/AIDS and health movements espouses the health needs and rights of HIV positive people. While playing politically active role, at times civil society organizations (CSOs) support health movements, and their activities overlap. Although these groups are different in nature, structure and strategies, there are some commonalities among them. This article discusses the opportunities for coalition between CSOs and health movement, and also analyzes problems that lead to exclusion. The joint efforts of movements and CSOs have influenced the policy formulation and implementation towards ensuring rights of HIV positive people. There are several conducive factors towards building a strong network between CSOs and health movement. However, due to limitations associated with their activities, a strong coalition has not been possible resulting in a lack of a strong social movement.

Participatory Social Policies: Diverging Patterns in Brazil and Bolivia

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Niedzwiecki ◽  
Santiago Anria
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Popular Participation

ABSTRACTBolivia and Brazil have universalized their pension and healthcare systems, respectively. Civil society organizations participated actively in social policy expansion, yet they have done so in starkly different ways, reflecting general patterns in each country. Whereas in Brazil, popular participation in social policies takes place through “inside” formal channels, such as conferences and councils, in Bolivia, bottom-up influence occurs mostly via “outside” channels, by coordinating collective action in the streets. Understanding forms of popular participation matters because policies that allow for popular input are potentially more representative, universal, and nondiscretionary. This article argues that differences in the forms of popular participation in social policy expansion can be explained by the characteristics of the institutional context and differences in the types of movements engaged in the policymaking process. By focusing on patterns of participation, these findings add nuance to the literature on Latin America’s welfare states.

Participation of People With Disabilities in the Decision-Making Process in Nepal

2022 ◽  
pp. 242-263
Author(s):  
Obindra B. Chand ◽  
Sudeep Uprety
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Meaningful Participation ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Municipal Level

Despite the significant social and political changes over the last five decades in Nepal, persons with disabilities (PwDs) still face challenges in their everyday lives. Lack of meaningful participation of PwDs in leadership and decision-making processes, social stigma, discrimination, and inaccessible physical facilities have excluded PwDs from freely exercising fundamental rights such as voting. Mass media and civil society occasionally raise issues and problems faced by PwDs. Equally, the dearth of data regarding disability has created further challenges to policymakers and planners to understand the diversity of PwD issues at large. Based on a qualitative study, this chapter aims to explore the participation of PwDs particularly in the different phases of policy formulation (such as consultation and participation) at the municipal level and calls for crucial actions for ensuring meaningful participation of PwDs in democratic processes in Nepal in the current federal context.

Between a rock and a hard place

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamama Afreen ◽  
Sushil Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Port Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Interactions

Purpose Development project implementation involving ecological and social externalities is an iterative process due to dynamic challenges emerging from the need to reconcile multiple, and often conflicting, interests of stakeholders. Stakeholder interactions result in learnings for project developers as well as policy makers. This paper aims to track corporate-civil society organizations-state interactions and learnings in case of a port development project in an eco-sensitive and socially challenging region of India. Design/methodology/approach The authors try to unpack the interactions among various stakeholders in the case of development of Dhamra Port being developed by the Dhamra Port Company Ltd, in the state of Orissa, India. Findings The authors find that sustainable development policy formulation and implementation is an evolutionary process involving plugging of governance gaps at each successive stage with civil society actors playing an active role. Research limitations/implications The study is based on single case of a major port development in India. Practical implications The paper highlights that development in emerging economies through large projects is unavoidable. The development-sustainability dilemma cannot be overlooked any further; rather, it needs to be resolved with complete participation of all involved stakeholders. Originality/value The paper provides account of long and complex interactions among various players involved in developmental project in an emerging economy. The learnings from the paper will be relevant for policymakers, corporate executives and civil society activists.

Policy analysis in civil society organisations

2018 ◽  
pp. 199-212
Author(s):  
Güneş Ertan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Current State ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Decision Making Processes

This chapter is mainly concerned with providing a concise synopsis of the state of civil society in Turkey and an overview of the decision-making processes at civil society organizations (CSOs) by combining data from various empirical studies. The chapter begins with a discussion of the roots of weak civil society in Turkey followed by an illustration of the current state of civil society as a space. The chapter will then examine policy analysis practices in CSOs with a focus on prevalent decision making structures and the role of external funds in addition to agenda setting and evaluation processes. The chapter concludes by arguing that CSOs in Turkey are still yet to become effective implementers of policy analysis tools.

scholarly journals Gender aspects of social policy formation in Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 110-118
Author(s):  
Tetiana Brus ◽  
Viktor Kovalov
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Gender Aspects ◽  
And Gender

The article considers gender aspects of social policy formation in Ukraine. It is determined that the European integration vector of development chosen by Ukraine requires observance of the principles of sustainable development and achievement of equality of women and men in all spheres of society. It was found that the perception of gender in society is not a stable category, but depends on cultural and social traditions, and may change with changing environments. Ukraine's steps over the past 5 years to implement the principle of gender equality are analyzed and it is established that Ukraine has a sufficiently developed regulatory framework, however, its practical implementation is still imperfect. The creation of gender profiles of regions has been studied and it has been found that they are a useful tool for developing strategies for the development of the region, in determining the priorities of social policy, monitoring and evaluation of activities, etc. It was found that gender mainstreaming in social policy-making will emphasize the special needs of women and men in need of state assistance, which will ensure more accurate policy formulation, efficient allocation of resources, targeted use of budget funds and gender-sensitive decision-making. Innovative approaches to gender mainstreaming in social policy-making at both national and regional levels are analyzed. It is established that gender audit will ensure gender parity of participants in the decision-making process, and gender analysis of decisions or policies in general is aimed at identifying problems and differentiating needs and interests, taking into account gender distribution. Their using in the process of formation and implementation of social policy will make it possible to prevent gender inequality and ensure the formation of gender-sensitive social policy.

Variance in Global Response to HIV/AIDS between the United States and Japan: Perception, Media, and Civil Society

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 514-535
Author(s):  
YOUNG SOO KIM ◽  
JOONGBUM SHIN
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Norms ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Media ◽  
Aid Policy ◽  
Hiv Aids

AbstractThe US and Japan, despite their shared reputation as leading donors for international development, remarkably varied in their foreign aid policy for HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike the US, who initiated and increased global AIDS funding dramatically, Japan was lukewarm in its contributions. I claim that the distinctive pattern depends on how the pandemic was domestically framed and understood. The policy commitment was more likely when the internationally shared idea (international norms) of threats requiring immediate international cooperation was congruent with the domestic perception of the epidemic. The research undertakes a comparative examination of the determinants of the distinctive domestic perceptions of the two cases, including the number of individuals infected with HIV, the attitude and role of the media, and the civil society organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS. They played significant roles as intervening variables that conditioned domestic diffusion or internalization of the international norms for foreign aid policy development. The US had a favorable domestic condition based upon the relatively large number of those infected with HIV, a media that adopted a constructive approach, and active civil society organizations associated with the disease. In contrast, in Japan the number of HIV cases was lower, the media had a distorted view of the epidemic, and civil society organizations were not strong enough to offer much support until the early 1990s.

WPS and Civil Society

2018 ◽  
pp. 427-438
Author(s):  
Annika Björkdahl ◽  
Johanna Mannergren Selimovic
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Local Ownership ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Just Peace

Civil society is often understood as a normative vehicle for the promotion of human rights and democracy, as it plays a central role in ensuring gender equality and advocating for local ownership in the decision-making processes of states. Civil society agents and organizations have been instrumental in promoting and advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. In this chapter, we examine the experiences of Bosnian Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and their activities to advance a gender-just peace. Drawing on examples from the Bosnian case study, we argue that women civil society organizations are key actors, as they not only set the agenda when it comes to WPS, they also play a key role in ensuring that the WPS principles are institutionalized and operationalized in policy. Moreover, we observe that women CSOs are particularly successful in advocating for the needs of victims of conflict-related sexual-based violence.

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