Modern Slavery, Environmental Degradation and Climate Change: Fisheries, Field, Forests and Factories

In this commentary paper, the current state of research on the tightly connected and bi-directional relationships among modern slavery, environmental degradation and climate change is critically assessed and reviewed. An emerging branch of research has begun to conceptualize linkages between slavery and environmental change. Responding to a gap in the extant literature, this paper synthesizes and makes sense of this emerging research base and proposes a future research agenda for exploring the slavery–environment nexus. Through an exploration of 19 key texts which explicitly examine the relationship between slavery and environmental change, spanning across diverse disciplines and spatial scales, we draw out two key arguments that can be adopted in proposing a future research agenda. Firstly, we identify the sectoral emergence of the nexus, forming primarily around four key sectors: (i) Fisheries, (ii) Fields, (iii) Forests and (iv) Factories. The review suggests that a sufficient exploration of slavery–environment linkages needs to transverse these sectoral boundaries. Secondly, the paper highlights the bi-directional interactions among modern slavery, climate change and environmental degradation. Accordingly, we argue for a holistic lens which explores how slavery practices and environmental change are continually shaping one another. Existing research has provided initial understandings of the relationship among modern slavery, environmental destruction and climate change. However, there remains considerable scope for the connections between the three to be further interrogated and unpacked. Based on the review, the paper sets out three key research agendas, highlighting the need to move beyond a spatially and sectorally confined exploration of slavery–environment interactions towards an integrated and sophisticated interrogation of the nexus. Additionally, we propose the future examination of the deep underlying drivers of slavery–environment interactions and to situate these within contemporary capitalist social and economic relations

Taking the Long View: What Does a Child Focus Add to Social Protection?

Recognising that many indicators of vulnerability among children, such as malnutrition or poor educational performance, might reflect intergenerational problems has profound implications for the design and implementation of social protection programmes. Treating the symptoms of these problems is of course essential: a malnourished child needs immediate nutritional support and a child who is failing at school needs special attention. But the argument of this paper is that ‘taking the long view’ is imperative if the reasons why children are malnourished, or failing, are to be correctly identified and adequately addressed. Importantly, the analysis implies directing interventions not exclusively at the children who are at risk, but at others in society who are responsible for the care of children

Tanzania Essential Health Interventions Project (TEHIP)

The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright ActThrough the Tanzania Essential Health Interventions Project (TEHIP), a series of management tools have allowed district health teams to vastly improve their health systems and bring about startling health improvements. These tools are designed to allow health planners to do more with existing resources. In both pilot program regions, the introduction of TEHIP tools significantly improved budget allocation. In the 5 years following the introduction of evidence-based planning, child mortality in the two districts fell by over 40% and death rates for men and women between 15 and 60 years old declined by 18%

Social-ecological system resilience for WASH

In a rapidly changing world, WASH services are often exposed to a range of unpredictable social, environmental, economic, and physical disturbances that disrupt WASH access. Social-ecological system (SES) resilience thinking can inform WASH service delivery approaches that adapt to changing conditions in order to sustain access for users rather than resist change. In this chapter, we familiarize readers with SES resilience thinking and consider its application to WASH services. We outline three key processes that practitioners can follow to get themselves and other stakeholders into an SES resilience mindset: mapping WASH systems, considering SES resilience principles, and identifying areas for interventions. We provide illustrative examples and resources to assist practitioners in thinking about how SES resilience concepts can be used to plan for WASH services that are flexible and adaptive. We also consider some limitations and pitfalls to SES resilience concepts to encourage readers to take a critical approach

The consultation practice of Northern NGOs: a study of British organizations in Guatemala

This paper presents the findings of research carried out in 1998-99 into the practices of seven British NGOs and solidarity organizations in consulting with local partner organizations in Guatemala. It considers this practice in the context of both the academic literature and the statements and intentions of the NGOs studied. The research found that while there was consultation on country-specific issues, there was limited consultation on their broader programmes, strategies or advocacy work. Although the British NGOs claimed that they consulted for their own effectiveness, to strengthen local organizations and strengthen their partnership with these organizations, there was little evidence to suggest that their actual practice of consultation achieved these aims. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.