Dinâmicas comunitárias em deslocados e não deslocados residentes em áreas de exclusão social em Barranquilla (Colômbia)

El sentido de comunidad, la participación y el empoderamiento permiten comprender el proceso de desplazamiento y reasentamiento en el contexto de recepción, así como las consecuencias derivadas de ambos fenómenos. Los objetivos de la investigación son a) evaluar los tres constructos mencionados, b) analizar la sinergia que existe entre estos y c) proponer estrategias para aumentar su capacidad de influencia en los procesos de toma de decisiones. Llevamos a cabo una investigación exploratoria y transversal con población desplazada (n=30) y no desplazada (n=32) en dos localidades de bajos ingresos en Barranquilla (Colombia). Existe retroalimentación positiva entre los procesos evaluados, aunque no se observan diferencias significativas entre el grupo de desplazados y el de no desplazados. La dimensión Pertenencia (sentido de comunidad) es la que mejor explica la varianza del empoderamiento y de la participación en ambos grupos. Presentamos iniciativas para reforzar el sentido de comunidad y facilitar el acceso a los recursos socio-comunitarios en población desplazada.The sense of community, participation and empowerment enable us to understand the process of displacement and resettlement in the context of reception, as well as the consequences of both phenomena. Our objectives are a) to assess the three constructs mentioned above, b) to analyze the synergy existing among them and c) to propose strategies for increasing their capacity to influence the decision-making processes. We carried out a cross-sectional exploratory study with displaced (n=30) and non-displaced (n=32) people in two low-income districts of Barranquilla (Colombia). There is positive feedback between the processes evaluated, although no significant differences are observed between the displaced and the non-displaced groups. The dimension of belonging (sense of community) is the one that best explains the variance of empowerment and participation in both groups. Finally, we present a set of initiatives to reinforce the sense of community and to facilitate access to the community’s social resources for the displaced population.O sentido de comunidade, a participação e o empoderamento permitem compreender o processo de deslocamento e reassentamento no contexto de recepção bem como as consequências derivadas de ambos os fenômenos. Os objetivos desta pesquisa são: a) avaliar os três construtos mencionados; b) analisar a sinergia que existe entre estes e c) propor estratégias para aumentar sua capacidade de influência nos processos de tomada de decisões. Realizamos uma pesquisa exploratória e transversal com população deslocada (n=30) e não deslocada (n=32) em duas localidades de baixa renda em Barranquilla (Colômbia). Existe retroalimentação positiva entre os processos avaliados, embora não se observem diferenças significativas entre o grupo de deslocados e o de não deslocados. A dimensão Pertencimento (sentido de comunidade) é a que melhor explica a variância do empoderamento e da participação em ambos os grupos. Apresentamos iniciativas para reforçar o sentido de comunidade e facilitar o acesso aos recursos sociocomunitários em população deslocada

Reappraisal of development at the micro-level

Meeting: Linking Development Bureaucracies, 16-18 Dec. 1985, Salatiga, I

Closing panel: Sharing wisdom and reflections on the enduring questions

This paper summarizes the discussion during the Closing Plenary Panel of the DIDR Conference. It revolves around three main themes: (i) Experiences and Views about Resettlement, (ii) Reflections on the DIDR Conference, and (iii) Suggestions for Future Work and Collaboration.   The main author (Susan Tamondong) organized the Panel and facilitated the closing session.  The Panelists considered to be “pioneers” in DIDR research and practice, shared their views on resettlement’s enduring questions, such as:  What is adequate compensation? Can socio-cultural disruption be compensated? How do we deal with socio-cultural changes, damage and re-organization of communities? Can we compensate memories of life in the old community?  Or, can a lost view of a community landscape and habitual prayer area by the mountain side be replaced? Do displaced people have the right to protest, or occupy a piece of public land? How do we deal with non-compensated public goods? In addition to these, specific questions were posed to the panel by the conference organizers which addressed the three themes (Themes 1, 2 and 3) of DIDR’s broader themes. Under these three themes, fifteen questions in total were divided and discussed by the panelists.  Their views, including those from the audience are summarized in this paper, with some direct quotes from the speakers, as transcribed from video tapes. Contributions from Panel members who could not physically attend were read during the session. As a conclusion, DIDR is a broad and diverse social phenomenon that affects not only the lives and livelihoods of people but also the global environment exacerbated by climate change. There are no clear answers to date, but an urgent need to address the enduring questions, and more inclusive fora involving all stakeholders from affected peoples, civil society, to those causing and financing projects causing development displacement.  DIDR needs more longitudinal studies to gain deeper understanding of displaced people, the role of social networks during reconstruction and the impact on their lives after displacement. These will provide academics and practitioners, not only insights whether human development also takes place, but also shape better ways of doing things, ideally without displacement and hopefully, to have answers to the enduring questions of resettlement

Closing panel: Sharing wisdom and reflections on the enduring questions

This paper summarizes the discussion during the Closing Plenary Panel of the DIDR Conference. It revolves around three main themes: (i) Experiences and Views about Resettlement, (ii) Reflections on the DIDR Conference, and (iii) Suggestions for Future Work and Collaboration.   The main author (Susan Tamondong) organized the Panel and facilitated the closing session.  The Panelists considered to be “pioneers” in DIDR research and practice, shared their views on resettlement’s enduring questions, such as:  What is adequate compensation? Can socio-cultural disruption be compensated? How do we deal with socio-cultural changes, damage and re-organization of communities? Can we compensate memories of life in the old community?  Or, can a lost view of a community landscape and habitual prayer area by the mountain side be replaced? Do displaced people have the right to protest, or occupy a piece of public land? How do we deal with non-compensated public goods? In addition to these, specific questions were posed to the panel by the conference organizers which addressed the three themes (Themes 1, 2 and 3) of DIDR’s broader themes. Under these three themes, fifteen questions in total were divided and discussed by the panelists.  Their views, including those from the audience are summarized in this paper, with some direct quotes from the speakers, as transcribed from video tapes. Contributions from Panel members who could not physically attend were read during the session. As a conclusion, DIDR is a broad and diverse social phenomenon that affects not only the lives and livelihoods of people but also the global environment exacerbated by climate change. There are no clear answers to date, but an urgent need to address the enduring questions, and more inclusive fora involving all stakeholders from affected peoples, civil society, to those causing and financing projects causing development displacement.  DIDR needs more longitudinal studies to gain deeper understanding of displaced people, the role of social networks during reconstruction and the impact on their lives after displacement. These will provide academics and practitioners, not only insights whether human development also takes place, but also shape better ways of doing things, ideally without displacement and hopefully, to have answers to the enduring questions of resettlement