Vernacular Resilience: An Approach to Studying Long-Term Social Practices and Cultural Repertoires of Resilience in Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo

10.19088/steps.2021.002 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dieunedort Wandji ◽

Jeremy Allouch ◽

Gauthier Marchais

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Social Practices ◽

Peace Studies ◽

Research Project ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Working Paper ◽

Socially Constructed ◽

Cultural Repertoires

This working paper aims to situate our research project within the various debates around resilience. It advocates a historical, cultural and plural approach to understanding how communities develop and share resilient practices in contexts of multiple and protracted crises. A focus on ‘vernacular’ resilience, as embedded in social practices and cultural repertoires, is important since conventional approaches to resilience seem to have overlooked how locally embedded forms of resilience are socially constructed historically. Our approach results from a combination of two observations. Firstly, conventional approaches to resilience in development, humanitarian and peace studies carry the limitations of their own epistemic assumptions – notably the fact that they have generic conceptions of what constitutes resilience. Secondly, these approaches are often ahistorical and neglect the temporal and intergenerational dimensions of repertoires of resilience. In addition to observable social practices, culture and history are crucial in understanding the ways in which vernacular and networked knowledge operates.

Download Full-text

Reported History of Measles and Long-term Impact on Antibody to Tetanus in Children 6–59 Months of Age Receiving DTP in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofx163.761 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. S323-S323 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hayley Ashbaugh ◽

James D Cherry ◽

Sue Gerber ◽

Stephen G Higgins ◽

Adva Gadoth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Past History ◽

Positive Control ◽

P Value ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

History Of ◽

Long Term Impact ◽

Induced Immunity

Abstract Background Recent studies suggest a measles-induced immune amnesia that could have long-term immunosuppressive effects via preferential depletion of memory B and T CD150+ lymphocytes. Methods We examined the association between past measles and tetanus antibody levels among children participating in the 2013–2014 Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Our sample consisted of 833 children aged 6–59 months whose mothers were selected for interview. Mothers reported (via recall) history of measles within the lifetime of the child. Classification of children who previously had measles was completed using maternal recall and measles immunoglobulin G (IgG) serostatus obtained via dried blood spot (DBS) analysis. A multiplex chemiluminescent immunoassay platform was used to obtain serologic results and Assay Score (AS) was calculated as a ratio to a positive control included in each run. Tetanus serostatus was categorized as being above or below the sample median serology AS value. Tetanus vaccination status was obtained via dated vaccination card and limited to children receiving the complete 3-dose vaccination series. Results The median AS for tetanus serology among the entire sample of 833 children was 0.085, while children with history of measles had a median AS of 0.053 (N = 41) and children with no history of measles had a median AS of 0.088 (N = 792), chi-square P-value < 0.05. A random intercept logistic regression model was used to examine the association between previous measles disease and odds of having below median levels of tetanus antibody. Controlling for potential confounding variables, the odds of a child with past history of measles having less than the median level of tetanus antibody was 3.86 (95% CI: 1.70, 8.78) among children fully vaccinated for tetanus. Conclusion The results suggest that, among children 6–59 months in DRC, measles may have a long-term impact on levels of pre-existing, vaccine-induced immunity to tetanus. These findings suggest the need for laboratory studies examining measles’ impact on pre-existing, vaccine-induced immunity and underscore the need for continued evaluation and improvement of DRC’s measles vaccination program. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Download Full-text

Target Gutahuka: The UN’s Strategic Information Intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Media and Communication ◽

10.17645/mac.v4i2.583 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 104-119

Author(s):

Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob

Keyword(s):

Civic Engagement ◽

Personal Development ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Positive Perception ◽

Strategic Information ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

International Media ◽

Media Intervention

This paper examines the nature and impacts of two information intervention radio programmes broadcast on Radio Okapi—the radio service of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A matched randomization technique was used to assign Rwandan Hutus and Congolese autochthons in South Kivu to listen to either of the two programmes within their naturalistic contexts for 13 months. At the end of the treatment, participants’ perceptions of barriers to peace; descriptive and prescriptive interventions; victimhood and villainity; opportunities for personal development and civic engagement; and knowledge of repatriation processes were assessed in 16 focus groups across four contexts. The study concludes that international media intervention programmes that provide robust information and a platform for objective analyses within a multiple narrative and participatory framework can enhance greater engagement with nascent democratic reforms, positive perception of long term opportunities for personal development and empathy with the ethnic Other.

Download Full-text

Robust Peacekeeping Mandates

Just Peace After Conflict ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198823285.003.0010 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 165-183

Author(s):

Marco Longobardo

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Central Government ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Jus Post Bellum ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Post Conflict ◽

Pros And Cons ◽

Just Peace

The chapter examines the connection between some recent robust mandates and jus post bellum, based on missions operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and South Sudan. In the framework of robust mandates, peacekeepers’ main responsibilities are to protect civilians and support the local central government in regaining full control over its territory. The author discusses the pros and cons of robust mandates to reach a just and stable post-conflict arrangement. He argues that some recent robust mandates can have some immediate positive effects, but also may make respect for post bellum principles more problematic in the long term. Their contribution to just peace is questionable and requires further study.

Download Full-text

Behind the Scenes of South Africa’s Asylum Procedure: A Qualitative Study on Long-term Asylum-Seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Refugee Survey Quarterly ◽

10.1093/rsq/hdz018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 26-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Liesbeth Schockaert ◽

Emilie Venables ◽

Maria-Teresa Gil-Bazo ◽

Garret Barnwell ◽

Rodd Gerstenhaber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

South Africa ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Asylum Seekers ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Asylum Procedure

Abstract Despite the difficulties experienced by asylum-seekers in South Africa, little research has explored long-term asylum applicants. This exploratory qualitative study describes how protracted asylum procedures and associated conditions are experienced by Congolese asylum-seekers in Tshwane, South Africa. Eighteen asylum-seekers and eight key informants participated in the study. All asylum-seekers had arrived in South Africa between 2003 and 2013, applied for asylum within a year of arrival in Tshwane, and were still in the asylum procedure at the time of the interview, with an average of 9 years since their application. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings presented focus on the process of leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo, applying for asylum and aspirations of positive outcomes for one’s life. Subsequently, it describes the reality of prolonged periods of unfulfilled expectations and how protracted asylum procedures contribute to poor mental health. Furthermore, coping mechanisms to mitigate these negative effects are described. The findings suggest that protracted asylum procedures in South Africa cause undue psychological distress. Thus, there is both a need for adapted provision of mental health services to support asylum-seekers on arrival and during the asylum process, and systemic remediation of the implementation of asylum procedures.

Download Full-text