Stakeholders engagement at Magozi Rice Irrigation Scheme: Case study of moving from food-aid dependency to food self-sufficiency in Tanzania

For centuries, various denominations of Christian missionaries have contributed in a larger way towards the spread of Christianity among the people of Indian sub-continent. Each Church had its own principles of preaching the word of God and undertook welfare activities in and around the mission-stations. From establishing schools to providing medical aids, the Christian missionaries were involved in constant perseverance to improve the ‘indigenous’ societies not only in terms of amenities and opportunities, but also in spiritual aspects. Despite conversion being the prime motive, every Mission prepared ground on which their undertakings found meanings and made an impact over people’s lives. These endeavours, combining missiological and theological discourses, brought hope and success to the missionaries, and in our case study, the Basel Mission added to the history of the Christian Mission while operating in the coastal and hilly districts of Kerala during the 19th and the 20th centuries. Predominantly following the trait of Pietism, the Basel Mission emphasised practical matters more than doctrine, which was evident in the Mission activities among the Thiyyas and the Badagas of Malabar and Nilgiris, respectively. Along with addressing issues like the caste system and spreading education in the ‘backward’ regions, the most remarkable contribution of the Basel Mission established the ‘prototype’ of industries which was part of the ‘praxis practice’ model. It aimed at self-sufficiency and provided a livelihood for a number of people who otherwise had no honourable means of subsistence. Moreover, conversion in Kerala was a combination of ‘self-transformation’ and active participation which resulted in ‘enculturation’ and inception of ‘modernity’ in the region. Finally, this article shows that works of the Basel Mission weaved together its theological and missiological ideologies which determined its exclusivity as a Church denomination.

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Sinabung volcano: how culture shapes community resilience

Disaster Prevention and Management An International Journal ◽

10.1108/dpm-05-2018-0160 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 290-303

Author(s):

Marta Mori ◽

Ronan McDermott ◽

Saut Sagala ◽

Yasmina Wulandari

Keyword(s):

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

Aid Dependency ◽

Relief Operations ◽

Long Term Impact ◽

Cultural Experts ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how culture, including traditions and social structures, can influence resilience and how culturally sensitive relief operations can put affected people and their context at the core of any interventions. Design/methodology/approach A case study of the Mt Sinabung volcano area in Indonesia was undertaken. As part of the case study, an analysis of interventions was conducted, which was complemented by semi-structured interviews with Karo cultural experts and humanitarian organisations. Findings Culture influences the manner in which the Karo people react to volcano eruptions with varying implications for recovery. In addition, relief organisations which understand people’s actions through a cultural lens have better managed to tailor programs with long-term impact, thereby avoiding aid dependency. Practical implications Practical examples of disaster management activities that adequately account for the beneficiaries’ way of living prior to the eruptions are provided. Aid actors are provided with guidance concerning how to better tailor their activities in line with a cultural lens. Originality/value The study provides empirical grounding for claims concerning the role of culture in planning interventions in Indonesia and other similar contexts.

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Food Security: From Self-Sufficiency to Production Diversification and Regional Cooperation – A Case Study in Rice Security

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2097812 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Michael Ewing-Chow ◽

Melanie Vilarasau Slade

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Regional Cooperation ◽

Self Sufficiency

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All in it Together? Community Food Aid in a Multi-Ethnic Context

Journal of Social Policy ◽

10.1017/s0047279417000010 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 447-471 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

MADELEINE POWER ◽

BOB DOHERTY ◽

NEIL SMALL ◽

SIMON TEASDALE ◽

KATE E. PICKETT

Keyword(s):

The State ◽

Food Distribution ◽

Food Aid ◽

Religious Institutions ◽

Religious Groups ◽

Big Society ◽

Faith Based ◽

The North ◽

Demographic Context

AbstractThis paper derives from a study of community food aid in a multi-ethnic, multi-faith city in the North of England. The paper begins to make sense of the diversity of types of food insecurity assistance, examines the potential exclusion of certain groups from receipt of food aid, and explores the relationship between food aid providers and the state. Faith-based food aid is common in the case study area, particularly among food bank provision to the most ‘destitute’ clients. While food aid is adopting service responsibilities previously borne by the state, this does not imply an extension of the ‘shadow state’. Rather, it appears reflective of a pre-welfare state system of food distribution, supported by religious institutions and individual/business philanthropy, but adapted to be consistent with elements of the ‘Big Society’ narrative. Most faith-based providers are Christian. There is little Muslim provision of (or utilisation of) food aid, despite the local demographic context. This raises concerns as to the unintentional exclusion of ethnic and religious groups, which we discuss in the concluding sections.

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