Social exclusion

Tackling social exclusion

Tackling social exclusion requires a long-term strategic response on the part of all institutions and organisations.  Resources on this page consider the various ways in which governments, civil society, donors and international bodies have worked to tackle social exclusion. Responses have ranged from legislative measures to tackle discrimination at a national level to civil society movements focused on ensuring a voice for the excluded.  Many donor measures have been concerned simply with mapping the processes of exclusion and identifying the excluded in a given country, an important task when such groups may previously have been excluded from development interventions.

Page contents 

Public policy

Social policies can enhance or moderate group consciousness and can exacerbate or reduce exclusion. Most states now have legislation to ban overt discrimination. In some countries, governments have introduced targeting through various forms of affirmative action.

Tackling social exclusion at a national level requires a concerted and long term effort Measures can range from implementing legal frameworks which assure basic rights of all groups to access the institutions and resources of society, to affirmative action policies (within, for example, employment, education and political representation). Governments may even attempt to identify forms of exclusion at all levels of government action.  Governments must be careful, however, not to confuse inclusion with cultural assimilation; cultural inclusion must mean that excluded and minority group cultures are accorded space and respect by a country’s dominant national culture.

Piron, L. H., and Curran, Z., 2005, ‘Public Policy Responses to Exclusion’, Overseas Development Institute, London
How have governments in Brazil, South Africa and India sought to address exclusion in those three societies? What lessons can be learnt from their experiences? This paper from the Overseas Development Institute reviews recent research on policymakers’ responses to exclusion to evaluate the success of various strategies aimed at addressing inequality in developing countries. It argues that, while affirmative action and inclusive politico-legal frameworks contribute to anti-exclusion efforts, coordinated public policy and an equitable political economy are also necessary to ensure successful policy implementation.
Access full text: available online

Sheth, D. L., 2004, ‘Caste, Ethnicity and Exclusion in South Asia: The Role of Affirmative Action Policies in Building Inclusive Societies’, Human Development Report Office, Occasional Paper, UNDP, New York
Social inequality and exclusion in South Asia originates in the caste system. What is the region’s experience with affirmative action (AA) policies in addressing social exclusion? Can affirmative action help rebuild inclusive societies? This background paper for UNDP’s Human Development Report 2004 outlines how the outcome of AA policies in South Asia has depended on each country’s approach to nation-building. In India, an ethno-neutral state, it has contributed to making the society more inclusive. In ethno-majoritarian states like Pakistan and Sri Lanka it has mainly been used as an instrument for appeasing the majority.
Access full text: available online

National Planning Commission, 2003, ‘The Tenth Plan (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper) 2002-2007, Summary, Kathmandu
Access full text: available online

Stewart, F., undated, ‘Policies Towards Horizontal Inequalities in Post-Conflict Reconstruction’, CRISE Working Paper 7, Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford
Horizontal Inequalities (HIs) are a major potential source of conflict. In cases where they are identified as a significant cause of conflict they must be addressed to avoid further outbreaks of violence. What types of policies reduce HIs in post-conflict settings? What are the potential risks of such policies? This working paper, from the Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity (CRISE), considers the types of policies likely to reduce HIs and discusses evidence of how far post-conflict policies in Mozambique and Guatemala have taken HI considerations into account.
Access full text: available online

Civil society

Civil society organisations (CSOs) can provide both immediate relief and longer term transformatory change – strengthening the demand side of rights, promoting participation, influencing decision making as well as being directly involved in service delivery. In this way, excluded groups can be effective drivers of their own change by forming or participating in organisations that represent group interests. CSOs also play an important role in conducting research to raise the profile of excluded groups.

HelpAge International Africa Regional Centre, 2004,  ‘Summary of Research Findings on the Nutritional Status and Risk Factors for Vulnerability of Older People in Africa’, HelpAge International, Nairobi
As the global population of older people (OP) is increasing, it is important to recognise and respond to their specific needs. This report, by HelpAge International, brings together key issues affecting the nutrition and health of OP, drawing on a range of surveys in Africa. There is an urgent need to develop and implement geriatric nutrition policy in African countries, requiring intersectoral co-operation between government ministries, NGOs and donors.
Access full text: available online

Human Rights Watch, 2001, ‘Caste Discrimination: A Global Concern’ A Report by Human Rights Watch for the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, September 2001, Durban 
How does caste discrimination continue to inflict cruelty and exploitation on communities worldwide? What measures should governments implement to end these discriminatory practices? This report from Human Rights Watch surveys the inequalities and human rights abuses that lower-caste groups continue to experience in South and East Asia and West Africa. It argues that governments must enact new legislation, respect existing international agreements and fund socio-economic programmes to extend full human rights to all their citizens, regardless of caste.
Access full text: available online

Donors

The resources below outline the approaches being taken to exclusion by a number of key donors.

DFID

In terms of its work with partner governments to tackle social exclusion, DFID’s policy paper on Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionality clearly states that DFID should develop partnerships on the basis of international rights legislation:

UK Government, 2005, Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionality, A UK Policy Paper, Department for International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and HM Treasury, London
In recent years the UK has been moving away from traditional approaches to conditionality. This paper sets out the current UK government's position on effective aid partnerships. Produced jointly by the Department for International Development (DFID), HM Treasury and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it is based on a broad range of international experience and evidence. While good policy matters for development, it has proven ineffective for donors to impose policies on developing country governments. Donors should support countries to decide what policies should be included in poverty reduction plans.
Access full text: available online

In addition, DFID’s policy paper on social exclusion, ‘Reducing Poverty by Tackling Social Exclusion’ argues that DFID should be clear about its core values:

Department for International Development, 2005, ‘Reducing Poverty by Tackling Social Exclusion’, Department for International Development, London
Who is socially excluded and how is social exclusion (SE) related to poverty, conflict and insecurity? How can governments, civil society and donors reduce SE? This policy paper from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) explores the causes, effects and solutions to SE worldwide. Governments, civil society and donors should tackle the challenges posed by SE. Not only for reasons of equality, but also to reduce poverty, improve the productive capacity of societies and reduce conflict and insecurity.
Access full text: available online

In preparing the policy paper, DFID commissioned a number of papers, including one on aid instruments and exclusion:

Booth, D., and Curran, Z., 2005, ‘Aid Instruments and Exclusion’, Overseas Development Institute, London
To what extent have Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) addressed exclusion issues? How can the new aid modalities be used to encourage anti-exclusion policies in the developing world? This paper from the Overseas Development Institute surveys PRSPs worldwide to ascertain the responsiveness of the new aid modalities to excluded groups. It argues that donor countries should promote participatory consultations and national ownership of anti-exclusion policies in PRSPs, while monitoring the use of new funding instruments to encourage action on exclusion
Access full text: available online



DFID has also conducted a review of its work on social exclusion:

Beall, J., and Piron, L. H., 2005, ‘Department for International Development Social Exclusion Review’, 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.
Access full text: available online

World Bank

Community Empowerment and Social Inclusion (CESI) Programme

The Inter-American Development Bank

Inter-American Development Bank, ‘Social Inclusion in Action’ Social Inclusion Trust Fund (SITF) Annual Report 2003-2004, Inter-American Development Bank, New York 
Access full text: available online

European Commission

European Commission, 2000, ‘Fight Against Poverty and Social Exclusion – Definition of Appropriate Objectives’, European Commission, Brussels
The fight against poverty and social exclusion is one of the central tenets in the modernisation of the European social model. Social cohesion is important to the EU’s global strategy of becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.  This European Commission paper outlines the objectives for the fight against poverty and social exclusion as finalised by the European Council in 2000. This includes commitment that policies for combating social exclusion should be coordinated.
Access full text: available online

 

The UN System

ILO

The ILO has been a leading proponent of a social exclusion approach since the early 1990s. For the ILO, the approach has particular strength in terms of the analysis of the processes and mechanisms which lead to long term unemployment.  Its Strategies and Tools Against Social Exclusion and Poverty’ programme continues to provide project support and incisive research into the topic of social exclusion, employment and poverty.

Estivill, J., 2003, ‘Concepts and Strategies for Combating Social Exclusion: An Overview’ International Labour Organisation, Geneva
Where does the concept of social exclusion originate, and how does it differ from other concepts such as poverty? What is the purpose of endeavouring to eradicate it, and what are the principal strategies intended to address it? This paper from the International Labour Organisation attempts to answer these and other questions. It outlines how the concept of social exclusion emerged, examines manifestations of exclusion and strategies for tackling it and concludes with tasks and challenges for the future.
Access full text: available online

The Centre for Informatic Apprenticeship and Resources in Social Inclusion (CIARIS) aims to improve the impact of local initiatives to combat exclusion   

UNICEF

UNICEF is currently one of the most vocal international agencies regarding social exclusion; its 2006 report, entitled ‘Excluded and Invisible’, focuses specifically on identifying the global exclusion of children and youth and on the appropriate public policy and civil society measures to confront this:

UNICEF, 2006, ‘The State of the World’s Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible’ UNICEF, New York
How can children be included in the millennium agenda? Meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the broader aims of the Millennium Declaration would transform the lives of millions of children: saving them from illness, premature death, extreme poverty and malnutrition and helping them gain access to safe water and decent sanitation facilities, and primary schooling. However, with the MDGs focused on national averages, children in marginalized communities risk missing out on essential services such as health care, education and protection. This UNICEF paper discusses the root causes of the exclusion and invisibility of some children, and how the MDGs can be met so that they are included and protected.
Access full text: available online

UNDESA

UNDESA has been active in several areas which overlap with social exclusion, including activities directed towards inclusion and integration of different generations, the disabled and indigenous peoples. More information can be found at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/sib/index.html

In addition, UNDESA recently facilitated an online discussion on ‘Peace Dialogue in the Social Integration Process: Building peaceful social relationships by, for and with people’, which looked at the way in which social integration can be used in building long-lasting and equitable social structures.

UNStats

UNStats has also done some work on analysing ethnocultural characteristics within census data, which may be of use in identifying excluded groups.

UNDP

Some of the UNDP’s work in its Human Rights Strengthening Programme (HURIST) is also of relevance to a social exclusion approach, particularly work on indigenous peoples.  Pilot projects in Ecuador and Kenya are working to strengthen the voice of indigenous people.

The UK Government’s Social Exclusion Unit

The UK Government’s Social Exclusion Unit was set up by the Prime Minister in 1997 to lead thinking on social exclusion within the UK Government and tackle the myriad forms of social exclusion within the UK.  There are many resources and reports on its website which may be of use to someone wanting to see how UK lessons may be applied in a wider context.

What other resources are available on the GSDRC?

• Social protection topic guide
• Human rights topic guide

Additional information resources

There is growing evidence that social protection initiatives can alleviate the negative affects of exclusion on certain groups over the long term. Link to social protection guide.

The importance of social protection in order to tackle exclusion and vulnerability over the long term is recognised in Our Common Interest’ a report for the Commission for Africa:

Commission for Africa, 2005, ‘Our Common Interest’, Commission for Africa, London
Access full text: available online

Participatory budgeting initiatives have attempted to involve excluded groups in formulating and monitoring national budgets, as well as tracking the impact of government spending on excluded groups.

For a number of policy briefs relating to affirmative action, visit the ODI website at: http://www.odi.org.uk/inter-regional_inequality/papers_policycases.html

New additions