Social exclusion

Social exclusion and the wider policy environment

This page locates social exclusion within the wider policy environment and other approaches to development and poverty. In some cases, donors may deal with the causes or results of social exclusion without necessarily identifying their approach as being centred on social exclusion.  The resources below examine the implications of a social exclusion analysis for the millennium Development Goals, within the preparation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, for a rights agenda, for analyses of economic growth and poverty reduction and within actions targeting the spread of HIV and AIDS.

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 The Millennium Development Goals

There is a small, but growing, body of work which examines how social exclusion may affect the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The documents below highlight cases where social exclusion analysis has been applied to the MDGs, both generally, and from the perspective of particular excluded groups.

Kabeer, N., 2005, ‘Social Exclusion: Concepts, Findings and Implications for the MDGs’, Paper commissioned as background for the Social Exclusion Policy Paper, Department for International Development, London
What insights does the concept of social exclusion offer the development studies literature? How is it relevant to key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)? This background paper for the Department for International Development’s Social Exclusion Policy Paper, tackles these questions. It argues that the challenges that social exclusion presents to current policy concerns suggest that the ‘business as usual’ approach to development has been inadequate.
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Kabeer, N., 2006, ‘Social Exclusion and the MDGs: The Challenge of ‘Durable Inequalities’ in the Asian Context’, Paper presented at ASIA2015 Conference, March 2006, Overseas Development Institute, London
Economic growth in Asia has been rapid, but inequality is a major factor curtailing the impact of growth on poverty reduction. Which groups have not taken advantage of this growth? What are the obstacles preventing them from accessing new opportunities? This paper, prepared for the Asia 2015 conference, tackles these questions. It argues that understanding the social dimensions of inequality provides a new lens through which to view chronic disadvantage.
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Lennox, C., 2003, Minority and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and the Millennium Development Goals, Minority Rights Group International, London
How can human rights and poverty alleviation best be achieved among minorities and indigenous people? This report, by the Minority Rights Group, argues that greater effort is needed to ensure that these groups benefit fairly from development and the international commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Governments and development agencies need to review their MDG policies immediately to ensure that the rights and needs of minorities and indigenous peoples are fully considered.
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Thomas, P., 2005, ‘Disability Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals: Relevance, Challenges and Opportunities for DFID’, Disability Knowledge and Research, London
What progress has the UK Department for International Development (DFID) made in mainstreaming disability? What are the challenges and opportunities ahead? This final report from the Policy Project of the DFID Disability Knowledge and Research (KaR) Programme reviews progress on addressing disability issues during the last year and identifies barriers to and opportunities for taking work forward. It finds that there are several challenges to overcome before DFID can be said to be implementing the twin-track approach to disability.
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HelpAge International, 2000, ‘MDGs Must Target Poorest Say Older People’, HelpAge International, London
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Social exclusion in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)

The extent to which excluded groups have been included in Poverty Reduction Strategy consultation processes has been heavily scrutinised, particularly by civil society organisations. So too has the inclusion of issues relating to excluded groups in PRSP documents. Questions have been raised about whether inclusive consultation processes are enough to ensure that excluded groups’ interests are adequately represented.

In some cases, donor support has helped governments build measures for social inclusion into their PRSPs.  In the case of Nepal, for example, preliminary work by DFID and the World Bank helped identify the excluded through a national Gender and Social Exclusion Assessment (GSEA).  In other cases, attention to issues of exclusion has been the direct result of lobbying by civil society organisations representing excluded groups.

Dube, A. K., 2005, ‘Participation of Disabled People in the PRSP/PEAP Process in Uganda’, Disability Knowledge and Research, London
What are the lessons learnt from disabled people’s participation in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process in Uganda? This paper from the Disability Knowledge and Research Programme finds that time constraints, among other things, limited the involvement of Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO) in the PRSP process. Sustaining a policy environment conducive to disabled people’s involvement requires substantial capacity building of DPOs, including recruitment of skilled staff to implement strategic programmes.
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Tomei, M., 2005, ‘Indigenous and Tribal Peoples: An Ethnic Audit of Selected Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers’, International Labour Office, Geneva
How effectively have Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) addressed the needs of indigenous and tribal peoples (ITPs)? This paper from the International Labour Office surveys 14 PRSPs from countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to evaluate the extent to which they address the varieties of economic, social and political exclusion faced by these communities. It argues that improved targeting, data-collection and ITP participation in PRSPs are required if they are to tackle poverty more successfully.
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Bradshaw, S., and Linneker, B., undated, ‘Challenging Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Exclusion in Nicaragua: Some Considerations for Poverty Reduction Strategies’.  Managua, Centro de Información y Servicios de Asesoría en Salud, Nicaragua
Is the Nicaraguan Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) likely to achieve real reductions in poverty? What are the specific issues that should be considered when designing PRS’s in the context of vulnerability and social exclusion? While the government claims that rural poverty was reduced in the 1990s, the poor of Nicaragua associate this period with a decline in their well-being. This contradictory finding implies that the PRS is based on inadequate poverty measures and a weak conceptual foundation. This paper considers the policy context for the production of the PRS in Nicaragua and concludes that benefits are not reaching the poor.
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Social exclusion and the rights agenda

There are clear links between social exclusion and a rights-based approach to development. Social exclusion analysis can help to identify which groups are being denied access to their rights, and which actors or organisations are blocking their access. However, donor approaches differ, with some choosing to avoid the overtly political language of rights.  A social exclusion analysis is useful even when rights are not on the agenda, because it can help focus attention on those within society who are denied access to resources, institutions or decision-making processes. Social exclusion therefore also links to development agendas focusing on citizenship, participation, democratization and accountability.

Sadeque, S. Z., 2003, ‘Fighting Chronic Poverty with Social Inclusion and Establishing Rights at Work: Reconstructing the Livelihood of the Kamaiya Ex Bonded Labourers of Western Nepal’, Paper Presented at the International Conference on Staying Poor: Chronic Poverty and Development Policy, Chronic Poverty Research Centre, Institute for Development Policy and Management, 7-9 April 2003, Manchester
How can chronically poor and disenfranchised groups in Nepal be reached by poverty reduction efforts? This draft paper, prepared for the Chronic Poverty Research Centre, discusses measures for the social inclusion of ex-bonded labourers, and for promotion of their rights at work. It argues that the chronic poor require more than just economic support if they are to lift themselves out of poverty.
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Both of the following reports take a rights-based approach:

Beall, J., and Piron, L. H., 2005, ‘Department for International Development Social Exclusion Review’, London School of Economics and Overseas Development Institute, London
Social exclusion is a concept commonly used in development, particularly following the World Social Summit in Copenhagen in 1995. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) has worked on social exclusion for some years at country level, and recently the concept has gained greater prominence at policy level. This report from the Overseas Development  Institute reviews and synthesises experiences of working on social exclusion within DFID and other agencies.
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UNICEF, 2006, ‘The State of the World's Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible’, UNICEF, New York
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Social exclusion, growth and poverty

There is some evidence to show that policies designed to tackle social exclusion can lead to more equitable forms of growth as excluded groups gradually gain greater access to education, employment and business opportunities.  Excluded sections of the population can often be quite large (for example, racial groups in Latin America), so targeted policies can have an impact on increasing human capital and widening economic markets, whilst reducing the risk of political instability and its overall impact on economic growth.

Justino, P., and Litchfield, J., 2005, ‘Economic Exclusion and Discrimination: The Experience of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, Minority Rights Group International, London
What is the link between economic exclusion and discrimination against ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples? What are the implications for poverty reduction and development strategies? This paper by Minority Rights Group International finds sufficient evidence to suggest that discrimination is often a strong contributing factor to the exclusion of minorities and indigenous people. Discrimination on the basis of membership of an ethnic, religious or linguistic group should be examined alongside other forms of discrimination to strengthen policy strategies for overcoming economic exclusion.
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Zoninsein, J., 2001, ‘The Economic Case for Combating Racial and Ethnic Exclusion in Latin American and Caribbean Countries’, Research Report, Inter-American Development Bank, New York
What economic gains would come from ending racial and ethnic exclusion in Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC)? This working paper from the Inter-American Development Bank employs Brimmer’s methodology to analyse household survey data from Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Peru. It presents some potential gains in terms of aggregate production and income. Ending long term social exclusion could expand the economies of LACs by up to 36 percent. This would bring gains to society as a whole, not just to the excluded groups.
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Florez, C. E., and Medina, C., 2001, ‘Understanding the Cost of Social Exclusion Due to Race or Ethnic Background in Latin American and Caribbean Countries’, Inter-American Development Bank, New York 
Since the early sixteenth century, indigenous peoples, blacks, and mestizos have been mistreated on the American continent. After the abolition of slavery, many expected that the inequities would vanish – but racial differences remained. This study by the Inter-American Development Bank illustrates the past and current socioeconomic situation of excluded groups in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Proper classification of and data on groups that are discriminated against is required to promote equitable growth.
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Social exclusion, HIV and AIDS

Social exclusion can increase the risk factors leading to HIV infection, making the disease much harder to prevent.  The stigma associated with the infection also means that in many countries people living with HIV and AIDS are likely to be socially excluded. Some groups will find their exclusion compounded by contracting the virus and find themselves blamed for their condition, for example gay men, young women and widows. This can make HIV and AIDS more difficult to treat. 

Terrence Higgins Trust, 2001, ‘Social Exclusion and HIV’, A Report, Terrence Higgins Trust, London
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UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNIFEM, 2004, ‘Women and HIV/AIDS: Confronting the Crisis’, UNAIDS, Switzerland, UNFPA, New York, UNIFEM, New York
How should the international community respond to the HIV crisis confronting women? This joint report, from the Joint United Nations (UN) Programme on HIV/AIDS, the UN Population Fund and the UN Development Fund for Women, is a call to action to address the triple threat of gender inequality, poverty and HIV/AIDS. It reviews various aspects of a comprehensive response. It argues that stronger leadership is needed, more resources should be mobilised and women should be empowered to claim their own rights.
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What other resources are available on the GSDRC?

• Aid instruments and aid effectiveness topic guide 
• Human rights topic guide
• Pro-poor growth topic guide
• HIV and AIDS topic guide

Additional information resources

The European Roma Rights Centre provides human rights and advocacy training to Roma groups throughout Europe (including transition countries).

The Asian Human Rights Commission has highlighted the human rights of Dalit groups in Nepal, mobilising media support and utilising national and international human rights legislation.

UNDP has also focused some of its work on the rights of excluded indigenous communities under its Human Rights Strengthening Programme.

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