Despite the availability a variety of yardsticks ranging from ‘income poverty’ to ‘capability poverty’, measurement of poverty has always been problematic. From the experience of its member associations, IPPF found that individuals who were below the conventional ‘poverty lines’ quite often had superior managerial skills, and were making more efficient use of resources, and thereby were capable of meeting their SRHR needs better. Similarly, those who were above ‘poverty lines,’ quite often failed to meet their SRHR needs. It is in this context IPPF SARO has developed a tool called Entitlement Index, by taking forward the discourse on ‘capability poverty’ and also by incorporating the ‘entitlement approach’ proposed by Amartya Sen. A forthcoming regional workshop in Nepal from 16-19 July 2007 will share the experiences of field testing the index and will also finalize the index for wider use, even outside the IPPF. To know more about this workshop, write to access@ippsar.org
Research Summary: ‘Capacity building’ is a mystery. Despite all the attention given to ‘capacity building’ we are not sure what works and why. To build capacity effectively, stakeholders need to articulate more clearly and negotiate a shared understanding of ‘capacity building’. This understanding should be rooted in the specific context and culture in which it takes place. We also need to appreciate the degree of difficulty entailed in building capacity. Changing complex human systems by making shifts in relationships and power is not a straightforward endeavour. Often ‘capacity building’ disturbs the status quo and is therefore uncomfortable (sometimes painful). Strong internal incentives (motives) to change must exist to overcome the inherent resistance to change. Methods that retain and develop ownership in ‘capacity building’ are those that are people-centred and relational; engage with peoples’ values and emotions; use experiential approaches where appropriate; and those explicitly adapt to context and culture. We mistakenly assume that once a capacity building event has taken place, capacity has been built. Yet we know that planning to change is different from changing itself. We fail to implement good intentions because the opportunity to practice what we have learnt is not there. To build capacity effectively, we need to pay more attention to managing and resourcing the implementation of change. There is a need for able accomplices (consultants, coaches, trainers) to support capacity building. The real capacity building mystery is ‘why we do not implement it’. There are undoubted resource constraints (both skills and money), but mostly what is lacking is the will to implement them. (Summarized from ‘Investigating the Mystery of Capacity Building’ - a research paper by James and Wrigley, available at http://www.eldis.org/go/topics/resource-guides/manuals-and-toolkits/managing-ngos/working-with-donors&id=31343&type=Document ).
Resources: Access the ‘Global perspectives on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents: patterns, prevention, and potential’ from the recent Lancet Series on Adolescent Health at:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607603675/abstract
News: The year 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the historic Safe Motherhood Initiative. Launched at the global Safe Motherhood Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, the Initiative sought to address the near-silent tragedy of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth.
Events: Women Deliver is a landmark global conference (October 18-20, 2007) at the ExCel Centre, London, which will focus on reducing maternal and newborn deaths around the world. The theme of the conference is Invest
in Women-It Pays. See details at:
http://www.womendeliver.org/index.htm
Please send your feedback/information etc. to access@ippfsar.org
IPPF SARO Team