OVERVIEW Transformations to Equity and Sustainability - Research for Social Change
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Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Research for
Social Change
OVERVIEW
Transformations
to Equity and
Sustainability
UNRISD Strategy
2016–2020
The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous research institute within the United Nations system that undertakes multidisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues. Through our work, we aim to ensure that social equity, inclusion and justice are central to development thinking, policy and practice. UNRISD depends entirely on voluntary contributions from national governments, multilateral donors, foundations and other sources. The Institute receives no financial support from the regular budget of the United Nations. In supporting UNRISD, our donors contribute to the crucial but often neglected goal of assuring a diversity of views and voices on development issues at the highest level in the global system. UNRISD, Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland T: +41 (0)22 9173020 info@unrisd.org www.unrisd.org November 2015 Copyright © United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). Photo credits: Cover and backcover: Jeremy Rotsztain; in-text photos in order of appearance: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Shreyans Bhansali, andlun1, Olivier Jeannin, JC McIlwaine (UN Photo), Asian Development Bank, CIFOR, Fardin Waezi (UNAMA), Kevin Jordan (UN Photo), Lana Slezic (DFATD, MAECD), Quinn Dombrowski, Shawn (Common Creatives via Flickr). Icon attribution: Brennan Novak, Simple Icons, Piotrek Chuchla, Tommy Lau, Dabid J. Pascual (Common Creatives via The Noun Project).
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Contents
3
Overview
6
Shaping the UNRISD Research
Agenda: Contemporary
Development Challenges
p. 8 • Inequalities
p. 9 • Conflict
p. 10 • Unsustainable Practices
11
Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes
and Approach
21
Framing a Transformative
Research Agenda
p. 23 • Inclusion
27
Pathways to Transformation
p. 13 • Social Policy and Development p. 24 • Institutions
p. 15 • Gender and Development p. 25 • Intersections
p. 17 • Social Dimensions of p. 26 • Innovation
Sustainable Development
30
Communicating Research
for Social Change
32
UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020:
Expected Results
p. 32 • Overall objective
p. 33 • Specific objectives
p. 33 • Activities and outputs
Boxes, Figures, Annexes
p. p.
Box 1: How UNRISD Defines Social Development 4 Figure 1: Addressing Global Challenges
through UNRISD Research 19
Box 2: Combating Poverty and Inequality:
Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics 8 Figure 2: Pathways to Transformation:
UNRISD’s Policy-Engaged Research Process 28
Box 3: Hallmarks of UNRISD Research
and Ways of Working 12 Annex 1: UNRISD Research 2016–2020 35
Box 4: Approach, Methods and Data 20 Annex 2: Budget and Financing 36
Box 5: The Four “I”s: Elements of a Shared
Conceptual Framework 22 Annex 3: Consultation Process 36
Box 6: Tracking and Assessing Impact 34
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Overview
T
his Strategy sets out the main priorities and themes of UNRISD research for the coming five
years within an overarching institutional framework that links research, communications, policy
engagement, results and impact. Developed through extensive consultations with a wide range of
stakeholders, the UNRISD Strategy responds to contemporary development trends, policy concerns and
scholarly debates, and aims to fill identified knowledge gaps, while also anticipating social issues that are
not yet part of mainstream discourse.
A changing global context resolving tensions and trade-offs between
them. From a social development perspective
The Strategy has been finalized at a moment
(see box 1), three overarching challenges
of significant change in the international
capture many of the most pressing problems
development landscape. The millennium
of the contemporary era reflected across the
consensus to end extreme poverty has been
new goals: inequalities, conflict and unsus
replaced by a new Agenda for Sustainable
tainable practices. It is to these challenges
Development that will shape policy priorities
that UNRISD research most directly responds.
and funding flows through 2030. The new
global commitments contain ambitious
Addressing global challenges
promises of solidarity and transformation,
combining a continued focus on the most Within the UNRISD Strategy—subtitled
disadvantaged people in low-income Transformations to Equity and Sustainability—
countries with universal strategies to ensure research will analyse and explore the
greater equity and sustainability—social, innovations and pathways that can lead
ecological and economic. towards more inclusive development
outcomes. It will also consider critical
This global agenda has been negotiated in obstacles and how they can be overcome.
a complex and challenging environment:
a range of new or exacerbated risks and An overarching goal for the Institute is to
vulnerabilities, including recurrent crises, ensure that social development concerns
health epidemics, environmental disasters and objectives remain prominent in the
and conflict, intensify livelihood insecurities implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
and undermine progress already made. Sustainable Development. This will involve
And its implementation will need to an assessment of the synergies and trade-
address difficult and intersecting problems, offs among different dimensions and goals;
ensuring coherence across a diverse set of analysing and assessing the appropriateness
Sustainable Development Goals, and often of the institutional architecture for ensuring
3
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
OVERVIEW
A changing global context
Addressing global challenges
Policy-engaged research
Implementation and funding
coherence among them; and identifying
institutional arrangements and innovations Box 1 How UNRISD Defines Social Development
that can support transformative processes
and outcomes—defined in terms of equity and
Social development is a process of change that leads to
inclusion.
improvements in human well-being and social relations
Work will be organized in three programme that are equitable and compatible with principles of
areas: Social Policy and Development, democratic governance and justice. It includes material
Gender and Development, and Social achievements, such as good health and education;
Dimensions of Sustainable Development. sustainable access to the resources, goods and services
Building on past and ongoing research and necessary for decent living in a viable environment; social
reflecting the distinctive capacities of the and cultural attributes, such as a sense of dignity, security
Institute, each programme identifies key and the ability to be recognized as part of a community; and
questions and topics that contribute to political achievements related to agency, participation and
addressing the challenges identified above. representation.
A common analytical framework will unify the
research across programmes.
Transformative social development must involve changes
Policy-engaged research in social structures, institutions and relations, including
patterns of stratification related to class, gender, ethnicity,
The UNRISD Strategy is also shaped by strong religion or location that may lock people (whether current
ties with the normative foundations and or future generations) into positions of disadvantage or
operational processes of the United Nations constrain their choices and agency. Transformative social
system, and by an impact approach through
development must also support the transition to sustainable
which policy-engaged research is informed by
and responsive to potential users to ensure production and consumption, and be accompanied by
relevance and uptake. Taking full advantage change in economic structures and relations—to enhance
of UNRISD’s strategic institutional location productivity in an environmentally sound manner, and
and relations within the UN system, and ensure equitable distribution of its benefits.
its mandate to undertake policy-relevant
research on social development issues, The achievement of desirable development outcomes
the Institute engages with a wide range of through just and participatory processes is ultimately a
stakeholders—bridging academia, policy and political project at the core of which lie power configurations
decision makers, practitioners and advocates at the household, local, national, regional and global
within and among countries around the levels. Social change inevitably involves contestation
world—to ensure that ideas, knowledge and of ideas and interests between different groups, and
evidence inform processes of change.
requires the redistribution of resources and entitlements,
Implementation and funding and improvements in the institutions of governance that
manage collective concerns at different levels.
UNRISD receives no funding from the
General Budget of the United Nations. The
Institute must fully mobilize all the financial
resources necessary to implement the
strategy for research, communications,
policy engagement, results and impact
that is outlined in this document. Within
the framework of this strategy, UNRISD will
remain flexible and responsive to the changing
context, emerging priorities and specific
demands for research from United Nations
entities and other key users and funders. The
nature of activities and specific content of the
research may therefore be modified, subject
to discussion and approval by the UNRISD
Board.
4
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
“One of the strengths of UNRISD is its
capacity to recognize the changing nature of
the development landscape to which social
policy must adapt: the shifting geography
and profile of poverty; growing inequalities;
the accelerating pace of globalization; and
expanding risks associated with climate
change and environmental degradation.
This strength is a crucial resource that can
help the UN system become more agile and
responsive.”
—Mr. Wu Hongbo
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs1
1
Message for the UNRISD Stakeholder Consultation, 1 September 2014, Geneva, Switzerland.
5
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
01
Shaping the UNRISD
Research Agenda:
Contemporary
Development Challenges
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
01
Shaping the UNRISD Research Agenda:
Contemporary Development Challenges
Inequalities
Conflict
Unsustainable Practices
“Undue privileges, extremes of wealth of the key concerns of Copenhagen, prominent in the new 2030 Agenda
and social injustice persist or have including full and decent employment for Sustainable Development. So too
become even more pronounced during and social inclusion. Inequality and are structural questions such as how
the decade. … While various social unemployment have risen in many parts to transform patterns of production,
services have continued to widen their of the world, generating tensions, protest consumption and distribution that
coverage, problems of distribution, and conflict. Twenty years after Beijing, degrade the environment and perpetuate
content and costs remain formidable. … progress on gender equality is also inequalities.
Even in the high-income industrialized mixed. Gains related to the presence
countries a pervasive sense of crisis in of women in the public sphere have Implementation of the ambitious new
life-styles and uncertainty concerning the not always translated into substantive agenda must engage with a number
future is evident. The plausibility of these improvements in women’s well-being, of global challenges—from new 21st
societies as models for development or security and rights. Indeed, in many century risks to the exacerbation of older
for welfare state policies has dwindled, contexts they have been accompanied problems: pandemics; demographic
along with their capacity to respond by increasing workloads and precarious shifts; aging populations in some regions,
coherently to the kinds of demands forms of employment, rising levels of and high youth unemployment in others;
made on them”. gender-based violence, and reversals continued casualization of labour;
of gains around reproductive and intra-state and transnational conflict,
The above description of the state of the other rights. And twenty years after escalating humanitarian crises and
world sounds current: it was in fact written Rio, we have failed to make significant displaced populations; an increase in
by UNRISD in 1979 at the end of the UN’s progress with respect to sustainable and precarious and undocumented migration
second development decade. Today, two equitable resource use, protection of the and human trafficking; and increased
decades after the World Summit for environment, and reduction of climate- pressure on essential resources, such as
Social Development was convened in damaging emissions, or in resolving the water, as part of a wider climate crisis,
Copenhagen in 1995 to address such tensions between the environment and urbanization and resource-intensive
problems, the world’s social situation the rights of low-income countries to production and consumption patterns.
appears more complex and contradictory. development.
Since the turn of the millennium national Within this broad context, three
governments, international organizations Despite this mixed record, renewed overarching challenges—inequalities,
and non-state actors have proactively attention to the social question in conflict and unsustainable practices—
sought to improve social outcomes in global development debates creates capture many of the most pressing
the development process. Initiatives and opportunities for UNRISD: a demand problems of the contemporary era, and
innovations, often associated with the for knowledge and evidence that can it is to these challenges that the new
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), facilitate more transformative, equitable UNRISD agenda and strategy most
provide signs of an incipient social turn and sustainable processes of social directly respond. They represent a broad
in development policy and practice: change. The global effort to design set of intersecting issues, which are core
evidence includes commitments to a set of goals to succeed the MDGs to the global sustainability and social
social protection floors, cash transfer and explicitly recognized the need for an inte justice agenda of the SDGs, and on which
universal health programmes, enhanced grated and transdisciplinary approach UNRISD is well-placed to lead research
social and environmental standards that connects social, economic and and contribute expertise. While other
for business, and renewed attention to environmental dimensions in ways that issues will also be addressed through
women’s empowerment. minimize trade-offs and take advantage the research, the overall results of the
of potential synergies. Issues that were 2016–2020 Strategy should contribute
Significant gains in a number of social marginalized within the MDGs, including knowledge to inform policy and practice
indicators are, however, juxtaposed inequality, employment, livelihood and on these overarching challenges.
against limited progress towards some food security, and accountability, are
7
Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Inequalities
A
wareness of inequality as a decent employment, expanded social
social, political and development provisioning and political voice. From
issue has risen dramatically in a human rights perspective, questions
the past decade (see box 2). Concepts range from the lack of accountability of
of inclusive growth, shared prosperity corporations to the treatment of citizens
and multidimensional inequalities have as “beneficiaries” of social programmes
gained prominence, and the SDGs rather than as bearers of rights.
explicitly aim to “leave no one behind”.
Yet responses often focus on those at the
bottom of the income pyramid and social Box 2 Combating Poverty and Inequality:
hierarchy, ignoring drivers of inequality Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics
and failing to tackle the structures UNRISD Flagship Report 2010
that reproduce it. These include the
concentration of wealth and power,
and the complex role of economic and Combating Poverty and Inequality was the first major United Nations
political elites—now popularly referred to report of the new millennium to draw attention to inequality as a problem
as “the 1%”—at one end of the spectrum, for development, and as an impediment to the poverty reduction objective
and intersecting forms of disadvantage of the MDGs.
and exclusion along lines such as gender,
The report examined not only increasing disparities of income and wealth
ethnicity or location at the other.
at global and national levels, but also horizontal or group inequalities (by
gender, age and ethnicity, for example) and intergenerational inequalities.
Addressing these issues requires a It highlighted the role that intersecting or multidimensional inequalities
focus on the relations, institutions and exclusion play in perpetuating poverty. It also discussed the underlying
and structures that generate unequal structural causes of such inequalities, and the policies and politics
outcomes, as well as interventions required to address them—covering areas such as labour markets, trade
that ameliorate the position of the and macroeconomic policies, fiscal and social policies, and governance
least advantaged. It requires attention arrangements.
to broader macroeconomic, financial,
fiscal and regulatory frameworks and “The most important report of the past 20 years about
policies; the formation of social pacts poverty and inequality.”
or compromises conducive to more — Timo Voipio,
equitable development outcomes; Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Finland, 2010
and the inclusion of groups through
8Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Conflict
R
ising inequalities and the absence common ground to live together. Even
of social cohesion fuel social in settings nominally free from conflict,
tensions and, at the extreme, levels of violence may pose a challenge
generate violent conflict. The early to state authority, often leading to the
21st century is witness to highly visible implementation of heavy-handed security
forms of violence along a spectrum from policies. The role of social institutions
“normalized” insecurity and vulnerability and social policies in the prevention or
to civil, interstate and transnational mitigation of violence in these fragile
conflict. Poverty and rapid urbanization contexts, as well as the role of social
contribute to everyday forms of viol policy in humanitarian assistance, and
ence and insecurity, while escalating in peace- and state-building processes,
transnational conflicts are forcing has not been explored sufficiently: such
people to flee their homes at numbers institutions and policies could play
never seen in modern history. Other a critical role in transitions towards
manifestations include crime, gangs more stable development trajectories,
and gun use; gender-based violence reinforcing social cohesion and pre
and high femicide rates; trafficking and venting future conflicts.
exploitation of women, children and
migrants; unprecedented numbers
of refugees and internally displaced
persons; ethnic and religious tensions;
as well as the criminalization of poverty
and militarization of police.
Conflicts not only cause severe hardship
and harm for those directly affected;
they also undermine states’ legitimacy
and capacity to govern, posing obvious
challenges for meeting international
development goals. In fragile contexts,
any “return to normal” is complex given
the disruption of the social fabric and the
multiplicity of groups that need to find a
9Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
Unsustainable Practices
E
cological and climate challenges The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
have called into question social Development demands a transformative
and economic systems, and related and integrated approach that connects
production and consumption patterns, that economic, social and environmental
depend on the unsustainable exploitation dimensions. As a universal agenda, it
of natural resources. These unsustainable provides an opportunity to build consensus
practices have major economic and for action from local to global levels. This
social repercussions, often reinforcing implies commitments, implementation
or exacerbating inequalities. Proposed and governance mechanisms that go
alternatives, such as green growth or green beyond states and individuals to include
economy approaches, have generally the accountability of market actors, with
failed to address critical questions and incentives and regulatory frameworks
responsibilities related to the distributional for environmentally sound practices that
or equity dimensions of policies—whether are also socially inclusive and equitable.
among or within countries, and particularly Realizing these ambitious goals, however,
among countries at different levels of presents many risks and challenges,
income, as well as among social groups particularly from the perspective of
whose livelihoods depend directly on their countries that are still catching up in terms
relationship with nature. of the growth dynamics and structural
change necessary to achieve higher levels
While technology and resource efficiency of development.
are likely to be crucial elements of
any solution to current climate and
environmental challenges, alone they
will be insufficient. They may even be
counter-productive without profound
changes in a number of areas: the
organization of production; consumption
and lifestyle behaviours; the distribution,
use and control of resources; and
systems of governance and enforceable
accountability mechanisms for actions
that cause lasting harm.
10Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
02
Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research
Programmes and ApproachResearch for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
02
Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes and Approach
Social Policy and Development
Gender and Development
Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development
Research in the UNRISD Strategy 2016–
2020 responds to the overarching global
Box 3 Hallmarks of UNRISD Research and Ways of Working
challenges identified above. It is organized
in three programme areas—Social
Policy and Development, Gender and Addressing emerging and neglected issues
Development, and Social Dimensions of We focus on the often neglected social content and impacts of development
Sustainable Development—reflecting the processes, and the role of social institutions, relations and actors in
strengths and expertise of the Institute shaping development policies and pathways.
developed through past and ongoing
work. Figure 1 illustrates the links
between UNRISD research programmes Global networks
and global challenges. We engage researchers, policy makers and civil society actors from the
global North and South in generating and sharing knowledge, in order to
Each research programme reflects shape policy frameworks and inform policy implementation within and
elements of continuity, building on the beyond the UN system.
Institute’s global track-record of high-
quality, relevant, credible research in the
respective fields. Presented below, the Capacity building
programmes identify gaps in knowledge We collaborate intensively with individual and institutional partners in
or analysis that have come to light the global South. Through the co-production of knowledge in the design,
through past work, and propose new implementation and delivery of research projects, our ways of working help
research on topics of significance and to develop the research capacities of our partners and foster processes of
potential policy influence. mutual learning.
Work within each programme is realized
as a collaborative endeavour with Convening power
extensive networks of researchers, We provide a space for the exchange of ideas, giving prominence to
policy makers and civil society actors marginalized viewpoints, often challenging mainstream development
that UNRISD has built up over decades. thinking and offering alternative policy options.
The programmes undertake country-
based studies in partnership with
researchers located in countries of
concern, particularly in the South, while The success and longevity of UNRISD resides in large part in its flexibility
also benefiting from strong engagement and capacity to re-focus in response to the major development challenges
with leading scholars globally. They of the day. We are forward looking, anticipating future concerns, while
build on the distinctive hallmarks of being responsive to immediate policy questions and priorities. UNRISD
UNRISD’s approach (see box 3), aiming identifies neglected or less-visible issues as well as exploring the
to contribute evidence that supports consequences of today’s policies for the future.
efforts at local, national and global
levels to progress along sustainable and
equitable development pathways.
12Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
SOCIAL
POLICY AND
DEVELOPMENT
U
NRISD research and policy analysis are at
the forefront of progressive international
development thinking that has reasserted
the centrality of social policy in development
strategies. Having been less visible for many
decades, social policy is now accorded more
attention in international development discourse,
illustrated, for example, by the expansion of social
assistance programmes (such as cash transfers
and employment guarantee schemes), the global
Social Protection Floor initiative, and the United
Nations resolution on affordable universal health
care and related national-level initiatives.Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
02
Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes and Approach
Social Policy and Development
Gender and Development
Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development
UNRISD understands social policy as public and how social policy interfaces with economic
interventions that aim to guarantee adequate and and environmental policy to address complex
secure livelihoods, income and well-being, and intersections between policy domains.
that enable all individuals to strive for their own
life goals. This is a purposefully broad definition Work within the UNRISD Social Policy and
that goes beyond interventions designed only to Development Programme will focus on
protect the most vulnerable. UNRISD research has understanding, analysing and engaging with
demonstrated, for example, the transformative processes of policy change around the following
role that state-led social policy can play in questions:
development contexts, illustrating its crucial • What innovations in social policy are being
function in enhancing productive capacities, pursued in emerging economies and less
underpinning economic growth, sharing the burden developed countries to meet contemporary
of social reproduction, reducing inequalities, and challenges?
promoting social inclusion and the enjoyment of • Why and how are some countries extending
rights. It has demonstrated that social welfare is coverage and moving towards universalism in
tightly bound to economic progress, as well as the their social policies?
role of social policy in strengthening citizenship, • How can social policy and human rights be
political participation and social cohesion. linked up for more equitable, inclusive and just
outcomes?
The contemporary challenge is to build on the • How can social policy contribute to productive
expansion of social policies and programmes transformation and economic development?
related to the MDGs, which have largely focused • What are the building blocks of a new social
on ameliorating problematic outcomes of contract, including its fiscal underpinnings?
development processes, to generate a more • How can countries mobilize the financial
transformative approach to social policy that resources required to implement sustainable
responds to the global challenges identified development strategies?
earlier, and identifies and addresses structural • What is the potential role of social policy
inequalities and their drivers. These include the in preventing and overcoming conflict,
rise of precarious employment and unemployment, moving beyond humanitarian assistance,
particularly among youth; the gender division and contributing to development and peace-
of labour and the unequally shared burden of building in violent or fragile contexts?
care; complex forms of social disintegration, • How can human rights-based social policy be
displacement, violence and conflict; and designed to address multiple forms of migrant
unsustainable environmental practices. precarity and strengthen the development
potential of migration?
The UNRISD Social Policy and Development
Programme will examine how social policies
can be instrumental to economic development,
and financed in a sustainable and progressive
way, while maintaining their intrinsic goals of
protection, equity and social inclusion. It will pay
particular attention to new directions in social
policy being pursued in low- and middle-income
countries, examining the policies and innovations
being adopted by governments and other actors to
address contemporary development challenges,
and the politics of social policy change. It will also
explore how social policy is being, or could be,
harnessed at regional and global levels to deal with
issues that cross borders—such as migration, and
environmental or conflict-induced displacement;
14Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
GENDER AND
DEVELOPMENT
U
NRISD research has both led and
continually challenged the field of gender
and development, contributing to feminist
scholarship and activism, and bringing evidence
to bear on the practice of development. For more
than three decades, the Institute has highlighted
the diverse and often contradictory effects of
liberalization and globalization on women, and the
centrality of gender relations in patterns of growth,
structural transformation, democratization and
social change. Recent analysis of the gendered
structure of social welfare regimes, and of the
social and political economy of care, have shed
light on how the unequal distribution of care
work in the economy shapes gender and other
inequalities. This work has elevated the issue of
unpaid care on the global policy agenda, leading
to its inclusion in the SDGs.Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
02
Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes and Approach
Social Policy and Development
Gender and Development
Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development
Gender equality is now a legitimate political claim and to identify innovative policy interventions to
at local, national and global levels. But despite address them. Feminist scholarship indicates
progress and greater attention to some issues, that violence affects women differently according
such as violence against women, advances remain to class and social hierarchies, and the urban
limited in others and reversals are frequent. space they inhabit. However, the relationship
Many claims for rights and equality fail to achieve between violent urban contexts and violence
visibility, while understandings of gender are often against women in the public space remains largely
narrow and restrictive. Demands are often made unexplored, as if the latter were independent of
on behalf of women as a homogeneous group, other forms of violence affecting women in cities,
neglecting difference, for example, by age, class or and the former had no relation to unequal gender
ethnicity. Where women have gained voice through relations more broadly. In extreme cases, such as
activism and increased political representation, conflict and post-conflict situations, gender-based
this does not necessarily translate into substantive violence is disproportionately high, indicating the
equality, or social and economic gains. Gender pressing need for gender-sensitive humanitarian
inequalities in resources, opportunities and aid and post-conflict peace building if these are to
power continue to be a persistent and integral be socially sustainable.
feature of the modern world and its institutions—
whether markets, states, political parties, social Work within the UNRISD Gender and Development
movements, communities or the family. Programme will focus on understanding, analysing
and engaging with processes of policy change
For these reasons the UNRISD Gender and around the following questions:
Development Programme will continue to focus • How can women’s movements transform
on the structures and relations that underpin power relations at the local, national, and
gendered outcomes (and structure other international levels and make states and other
inequalities), including the linkages between powerful actors respond to women’s claims?
production and social reproduction, between • What are the employment and social
economic and social policies, and between outcomes of non-traditional agricultural exports
women’s movements and state institutions. These for different groups of women (in terms of age,
linkages will be explored, for example, through class, caste and ethnicity)?
research at the macro level on the relationship • What is needed to advance the
between patterns of growth and gender inequality, implementation of care policies within the
including the political economy of gender- SDGs?
egalitarian macroeconomic policy in different • What political processes can generate and
country contexts, or the implications for women’s sustain gender-egalitarian macroeconomic
well-being and empowerment of their engagement policies?
in non-traditional agricultural exports; and at the • How can women’s participation in SSE
micro level on the terms in which women engage organizations transform gender and economic
in social and solidarity economy (SSE) initiatives, power relationships?
and the conditions under which feminist agendas • What policy changes are needed to overcome
are taken on board by them. the gendered implications of violent urban
settings, for women and girls, particularly those
The UNRISD Gender and Development Programme that live in poverty?
will also maintain its focus on the intersectionality • How can humanitarian aid and development
of gender with factors such as age, class and assistance be improved to tackle the gender
ethnicity, leveraging its pioneering contributions dimensions of humanitarian crises more
and expanding the analysis of care policies in effectively?
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. New research will aim
to deepen the conceptual understanding of the
gendered impacts of “civic” conflict—gang warfare,
riots or violent crime—in violent urban contexts,
16Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
SOCIAL
DIMENSIONS OF
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
S
ince the 1970s, UNRISD has consistently
emphasized the imperative of integrating
the social, environmental and economic
dimensions in a holistic and “unified” approach
to transformative development processes and
outcomes. Research has examined the wide range
of factors that impact complex human/nature
interactions and both social and environmental
change, including the role of social norms,
institutions and actors, power asymmetries
and technology. It has explored the social
consequences of processes of economic and
environmental change; and the ways people and
communities organize and mobilize collectively
to enhance their well-being while managing or
protecting their natural resources.Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
02
Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes and Approach
Social Policy and Development
Gender and Development
Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development
UNRISD research has demonstrated that unequal environmentally sound economic system, and the
social structures and relations have repercussions possibilities for transferring lessons and scaling-
for how societies employ their natural resources, up. Research on SSE will explore the ways to
and that social inequalities and ecological measure and assess the contribution of SSE to
degradation tend to be mutually reinforcing. sustainable development, as well as the enabling
Recent work has documented innovative efforts to conditions that may leverage this contribution.
simultaneously address social and environmental
issues at local and national levels through, Work within the UNRISD Social Dimensions of
for example, socially sensitive environmental Sustainable Development Programme will focus
policies that strengthen the coping capacities and on understanding, analysing and engaging with
resilience of vulnerable groups, social protection processes of policy change around the following
policies that provide incentives to protect the questions:
environment, and co-benefit approaches that • How can the international institutional
direct public bodies to address environmental architecture of the 2030 Agenda for
and social issues simultaneously in their decision Sustainable Development support the
making. UNRISD research has also raised concerns transformation toward social equity and
about the social deficit of the growth-based ecological sustainability?
green economy approach, and has evaluated • What is the potential role of eco-social
the potential of alternatives for more equitable policies in fostering integrated approaches to
and environmentally sustainable patterns of sustainable development that address social
production, consumption, exchange and finance and environmental issues simultaneously?
as undertaken by social and solidarity economy • Which areas of SSE show the most
(SSE) organizations, which prioritize social and transformative potential in terms of equity
sometimes environmental considerations over (including gender equity) and sustainability,
private economic interests. and what institutional conditions and regulatory
frameworks are needed to support their wider
The Social Dimensions of Sustainable Develop uptake?
ment Programme will maintain its focus on the • What can we learn from urban governance
intersectionality of social and environ mental for the integration of environmental, social and
issues and policies at global, national and local economic sustainability goals?
levels. In order to identify and overcome the
structural causes and drivers of unsustainable
practices, a new priority focus of the programme
will be the role of inter national governance
in the transformation towards equity and
sustainability. Research will, for example, examine
the coherence and trans formative nature of
the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop
ment, as well as its compatibility with other
global agreements, such as those in the areas
of trade and climate. It will also assess the social
implications of the 2030 Agenda itself, exploring
ways to harness synergies and manage trade-
offs between sustainability goals across different
policy domains. The programme will investigate
how countries implement innovative eco-social
policies that combine environmental and social
objectives. It will also consider the transformative
potential of local practices, including SSE and
other innovative approaches in urban contexts,
their role in supporting a socially inclusive and
18Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes and Approach
Social Policy and Development
Gender and Development
Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development
Figure 1: Addressing Global
Challenges through UNRISD Research
19Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Addressing the Challenges:
UNRISD Research Programmes and Approach
Social Policy and Development
Gender and Development
Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development
Box 4 Approach, Methods and Data
UNRISD takes an interdisciplinary and comparative approach in its research, addressing questions that cut across
sectors and domains in the field of social and economic development. It uses both quantitative and qualitative
methods, and draws on analytic techniques from disciplines across the social sciences, including (heterodox)
economics, sociology, anthropology, geography, law, political science and political economy. This approach is fit
for purpose, ensuring that collaboratively designed methodological frameworks are well suited to the questions
and objectives of a particular research project. It is also well adapted to work that addresses complex social
development and sustainability challenges at the science-policy interface.
Our work combines the highest standards of academic rigour and quality, recognized in independent evaluations
and guaranteed through quality procedures such as peer review, with policy relevance and innovations generated
through collaborations with research partners in the global South and elsewhere. The process of developing
appropriate methodologies for each research project is also part of the co-construction of knowledge, contributing
to the credibility and legitimacy of outputs, capacity development of Southern researchers and mutual learning
opportunities.
Through this methodological pluralism, UNRISD generates data that contribute to the understanding of processes
of social, environmental, economic, institutional and political change, filling gaps in the evidence base that policy
makers need to design and implement more effective strategies for social and sustainable development.
The mixed methods approach employs a range of data, including:
• secondary data sets, for analysing, for example, longer term trends, well-being or social development
outcomes, gender or other inequalities, or coverage of social programmes;
• primary data, collected through small-scale surveys and/or various qualitative methods, as part of
multi-country studies on particular topics; and
• data on institutions, policy processes, or the political economy of reform collected through interviews
with key stakeholders and reviews of secondary literature and policy documents.
UNRISD’s cross-country comparative research projects generally consist of thematic or conceptual papers,
country overview studies, and/or in-depth country case studies.
Countries are selected for empirical work based on assessment of their:
• relevance to the topic of the research project;
• potential to meet the needs of both research and policy-making communities by filling an identified
knowledge gap; and
• diversity with respect to region, development level and political regime, as relevant to the research
questions.
Through comparative analysis of the evidence generated by strategically selected case studies, UNRISD research
identifies patterns and processes of social change, and different policy approaches, which can then shape policy
frameworks and inform the design of development policies at both national and global levels.
20Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Framing a
Transformative Research
AgendaResearch for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Framing a Transformative Research Agenda
Inclusion
Institutions
Intersections
Innovations
Each research programme will use framework, conditions and relationships Box 5 The Four “I”s:
a common set of concepts to frame that generate inequalities and social Elements of a Shared
its work. These concepts—Inclusion, injustice. This view of transformation Conceptual Framework
Institutions, Intersections and Inno is central to UNRISD’s understanding
vations—constitute the core elements of social development (see box 1), and Inclusion
of a framework for analysing issues of underpins its research approach. What are the obstacles
concern across all programmes. This to inclusion and ways to
framework ensures explicit attention to: This framework is also part of the overcome exclusion?
impact and policy engagement approach
• the desired normative goals or embedded within the UNRISD Strategy: Institutions
outcomes of the research (Inclusion); it reflects a process by which research, What institutions, policies
• the key institutions and actors in the through engagement with a range and pathways can lead to
process of political and social change of relevant actors at all stages, itself equitable, inclusive and
(Institutions); contributes to the desired change sustainable development?
• the complex interactions between and outcomes. We are inclusive in
individuals, institutions and policy do our interactions with all stakeholders, Intersections
mains needed for coherent, inclusive and consciously aiming to promote mar How are positive synergies
sustainable outcomes (Intersections); ginalized voices; we seek close synergies harnessed and trade-
• the practices or actions—whether with the institutions, actors and pro offs minimized between
of state, market or social actors—that cesses that can use knowledge for social different issues, policies
contribute to transformative and inclusive change; our research cuts across the and interventions?
change processes (Innovations). intersections between disciplines; and
our attention to neglected issues and Innovations
Within this framework, UNRISD openness to new methodologies means What innovations and
understands transformation as a that innovation is an integral part of the practices have the
process of deep-seated change in way UNRISD functions. potential to generate
social and power relations, structures progressive social
and institutions. Such transformative change?
change must not only seek to remedy
unjust outcomes or be a palliative
or protective measure; it must
fundamentally restructure the underlying
22Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Framing a Transformative Research Agenda
Inclusion
Institutions
Intersections
Innovations
Inclusion
T
he idea of inclusion is used of inequality, poverty and human (health, education). It requires
here to capture the normative developent emphasize deprivation more complex change in social
goal of re search on social and disadvantage at the individual structures, institutions, relations
development: it refers both to pro level, neglecting broader societal and norms (institutions); and at
cesses of social change (processes contexts and relations (of kinship tention to intersecting forms of
that are participatory, and that and community, gender, age, race, disadvantage across economic,
reflect all voices particularly those class or political patronage, for social, political and environmental
of mar ginalized groups) and to example) which determine well- spheres (intersections). Concep
outcomes—the reduction of in being through the terms of people’s tually, therefore, inclusion pro
equalities, discrimination and ex inclusion in society. Furthermore, vides an important entry point
clusion, the promotion of social aggregate measures used to moni for understanding individuals and
justice and cohesion. tor MDG achievements fo cused groups in their broader social con
on averages, masking inequalities text, as well as pointing to better
Having gained traction in the within countries and ignoring pro ways of measuring the success of
European context from the 1990s cesses. relevant initiatives.
and forming a core part of the
European social agenda, notions Notions of social inclusion point
of social inclusion (and related to these more complex social
terms of social integra tion and relations within which individuals
cohesion) are being brought back are located. It refers to social
into regional and global debates. capabilities, and values of soli
The notion of social inclusion was darity between different in come
also central to the Copenhagen and social groups. Achieving
Declaration and Programme of “inclusion” is rarely a simple pro
Action, but was lost in the social cess of increasing incomes or
agenda as articulated in the MDGs. enhancing access to economic
Commonly used metrics or indices opportunity or services; nor can it
for assessing progress have re be addressed only through specific
inforced this neglect. Measures interventions in a single sector
23Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Framing a Transformative Research Agenda
Inclusion
Institutions
Intersections
Innovations
Institutions
I
nstitutions, whether formal or orientation towards fiscal stabilization all in political and policy processes.
informal, are a critical element of through austerity; and in prioritizing Methodological innovations are
any transformative social change secure private property rights, free needed to help understand how
agenda. Institutions evolve in ways trade or investment over social, institutions adapt, and the political
that reflect structures of constraint cultural, civil and political rights. The economy of policy and institutional
or power (by gender, race or class, for task of strengthening the regulatory reform. UNRISD research programmes
example). They can perpetuate and and administrative capacity of will contribute to filling knowledge and
entrench structures of inequality—for government institutions is often methodological gaps in these areas,
example, through unequal inheritance undermined by macro-policy regimes examining the role of institutions
rights, access to education, employ and conditionalities. and actors whether at local, national
ment or voting rights. But they are also or global levels, and in relation to
key building blocks for challenging Despite growing recognition of the different contexts and issues (such
inequalities—for example, through importance of institutions in develop as conflict, gender, social policy and
constitutions that encompass equal ment, their study is also constrained the environment), and identifying
rights, anti-discrimination legislation, by methodologies cu rrently in vogue. the reconfiguration of institutional
universal suffrage, redistributive tax The method ological shift that has relationships (for example, between
and welfare systems, or collective prioritized evidence derived from ex state, market and household) needed
bargaining mechanisms. perimental and evaluative methods for delivering progressive social
(such as systematic reviews and outcomes.
In much of the developing world, the randomized control trials) has over
contemporary social agenda has been shadowed other approaches that are
constrained by the legacy of weakened better suited to examining processes
state and institutional capacities as a of institution building and institutional
consequence of structural adjustment change.
programmes, conflict and crisis, as
documented in prior UNRISD research.2 New institutional capacities or
2
See, for example, UNRISD’s Flagship Reports:
A renewed focus on institutions for arrangements are needed to rebuild States of Disarray: The Social Effects of
development, for example through social and fiscal contracts, to regulate Globalization (1995); Visible Hands: Taking
Responsibility for Social Development (2000);
the “good governance agenda”, powerful financial and corporate Gender Equality: Striving for Justice in an
remains problematic for various actors for the public good, and to Unequal World (2005); and Combating Poverty
and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy
reasons, particularly in its current ensure voice and participation for and Politics (2010).
24Research for Social Change Transformations to Equity and Sustainability UNRISD Strategy 2016–2020
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Framing a Transformative Research Agenda
Inclusion
Institutions
Intersections
Innovations
Intersections
Third, the idea that social development
will necessarily follow in the wake of
economic growth, or that coherent
development strategies can be crafted
when bureaucracies are organized in
policy silos, have been fundamentally
challenged in debates around the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Implementation and monitoring of the
new global goals will need to take into
account synergies and address trade-
offs at the intersections of social,
environmental and economic policies.
Policy coherence is not simply about
better coordination in the design
T
and implementation of interventions
he mandate of UNRISD of disadvantage—by gender, age,
across different policy fields; more
includes an explicit focus on ethnicity, location or (dis)ability. Moving
fundamentally, it is about ensuring
the intersections of economic beyond averages to ensure benefits
that progress in one domain is not
and social development, including are shared by the most disadvantaged
undermined by impacts emanating
both the role social policies play in requires analysis of how these factors
from another. Macroeconomic policies
promoting economic transformation, interact and reinforce each other,
and technological or efficiency gains,
and conversely the importance of creating poverty traps.
for example, must not fundamentally
prioritizing inclusive social outcomes
contradict welfare and sustainability
to maintain economic dynamism. Second, UNRISD research dem on
objectives. Similarly, environmental
Since the 1970s UNRISD has also strates the importance of institutional
protection goals must be balanced
included attention to environmental complementarities and synergies in the
with human welfare considerations.
and natural resource implications in development process: interventions
its work, recognizing the imperative in one area (health, for example) are
UNRISD research programmes will
of addressing multiple dimensions dependent on or made more effective
pay particular attention to the inter
of development in an integrated way. by interventions in others (such as
sections of these different dimensions,
This focus on interactions between education, employment). Ongoing re
and the scope for effectively
sectors or issues that are often search on social policy, for example,
addressing tensions and trade-offs.
treated separately elsewhere provides shows that the pursuit of one goal to
The Institute will continue to analyse
the Institute with a unique niche in the neglect of others in the design
the interconnections between social
the research of the United Nations and implementation of social policy
and economic policy through research
system that is of particular relevance may undermine the full realization of
on “productive social policy” and
in the context of the 2030 Agenda for the benefits, or even the achievement,
links between education policy and
Sustainable Development. of the goal. While currently dominant
industrial strategies; it will identify
methods tend to focus on evaluations
policy interventions that have dual
First, at the level of individual well-being, of particular interventions, the ques
social and environmental objectives
intersections are critical to understanding tion of how these are affected (posi
and can generate “win-win” outcomes;
and overcoming multidimensional forms tively or negatively) by other policy
and will explore the potential and
of poverty and inequality—people or interventions or change processes is
limits of alternative ways of organizing
groups who benefited least in the MDG generally less well explored.
economic activity that are more
social agenda, for example, tend to be
equitable and sustainable in terms of
those affected by intersecting categories
both processes and outcomes.
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