ABCD Theoretical Influences More Recent Theoretical Influences on

ABCD: Theoretical Influences

More Recent Theoretical Influences on ABCD Research on Social Capital Resilience Theory Narrative Therapy (Solution Focused Therapy) Participatio n, Governance and Citizenship From ‘Participation ’to ‘Agency’ PRA PLA PAR Appreciativ e Inquiry Links between Economic and Political Citizenship Importance of ‘Assets Asset Building Policies (SLA) Strengthsbased Perspective Learning from What Works Positive Deviance New thinking on assets as ‘Capabilities’ Research on Intergeneration al Poverty

Research on Intergenerational Poverty (Sherraden, Carter, Moser, Bebbington etc. ) Income (for consumption) has been the standard measure of poverty BUT, breaking intergenerational poverty seems to occur through asset accumulation. Inequality in assets is much greater than inequality in income Asset-building policies were used to build the middle classes of most OECD countries. They also favour the well off

Research on Social Capital Social capital is a critical asset: It provides access to other assets Bonding social capital helps us to get by Bridging social capital helps us to get ahead

Studies show a relationship between: Social capital and economic development Social capital and community harmony Social capital and democratic participation

Studies also show: How social capital changes over time as economies become more diversified How it can be depleted in extreme situations How it can be created

TYPE FUNERAL (IDDIR) CREDIT (IQQUB) SOCIO-RELIGIOUS (MEHABER) MIGRANT (MEREDAJA MEHABER) FUNCTIONS PRIMARY Burial, assistance and payment to family of deceased Rotating saving and credit; lump sum payments to members Help in case of distress (theft, delayed reduced payment) Social gatherings and meals at each others' houses on saint's day Assisting the needy Help in distress (debt; imprisonment) Mutual self help to Dispute resolution cope with urban between litigants life, notably funerals Urban cash roots spread to rural Rural? Linked to foundations of churches Potentially very old, 1940 -1965 earliest record from 1820 s (Pearce). SECONDARY EXTENTION ORIGINS Dispute settlement Health assistance Crime prevention Community development sanitation assistance to PLWHA assistance to orphans working with elderly urban to rural DATE? 1910 -20? Kolfe first iddir 1930 -40? Italian occupation? EXPANSION increasingly from 1970 s to 2000 s increasingly 1960 s-2000 s with spread of orthodox church increasing in 20 th C. widespread in the urban areas and highlands; less prevalent in more remote and lowland pastoralist areas widespread in the urban and highland areas, linked with cash economy In all areas where widespread in urban there are orthodox areas communities. Some similar groupings among other religions Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, towns in other regions Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, SNNP towns other regions Addis Ababa, Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, SNNP GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE REGIONS Home area development (can become primary) Support in case of distress Can be linked with Iddir and iqqub Urban migration 1960 s and 1990 s Addis Ababa, Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, SNNP DISPUTE SETTLEMENT (SHIMGILINNA ETC) promoting community cohesion promoting social change changing harmful custom gender action rural old; linked with cultural groups and identity in all periods and contexts ubiquitous throughout the country, strongest in pastoral lowlands, and common in all rural areas All regions

TYPE FUNERAL (IDDIR) CREDIT (IQQUB) SOCIO-RELIGIOUS (MEHABER) MIGRANT (MEREDAJA MEHABER) MEMBERSHIP BASIS PRIMARY locality contributions willingness to pay contributions common religion friendship common home area elders respected by community clanship MEMBERSHIP BASIS ADDITIONAL (neighbourhood towns) area of origin / ethnicity profession gender youth Income group Locality Work type (profession) Gender Religion (Orthodox) Parish (church) inherited from parents ethnicity area of town Kinship community membership clan belonging SUB TYPES neighbourhood women youth profession migrants, displacees women merchants Church based (senbete) gender (women's) family (yebeteseb) clan (yegosa) Gada and Jarsa Biyya among Oromo, Odayal Somali, Gereb Afar etc GENDER separate women's male dominated elderly men dominate youth Iddirs important usually not relevant large 200? separate women's as well adults male dominated AGE sometimes separate women's adults, earning income usually not relevant small 12 (monthly) 56 (weekly) elderly men dominate not relevant crucial usually not relevant small dozens to hundreds 12 (saint’s day each as large as possible month once a year) elderly men dominate important some importance mediators 3 to 20, litigants 2+; community 50? 1000? no but potential linkages through parish Yes, linkages with home areas important wide community involvement some several levels e. g. Sidamo and Shinasha ETHNICITY RELIGION SIZE IDEAL SIZE MAXIMUM WIDER GROUPINGS? 1000 24 (month) 100 (weekly) Yes, a few started in urban Not yet areas but potential DISPUTE SETTLEMENT (SHIMGILINNA ETC)

Strong associational life is associated with more accountable government

Dimensions of Citizenship Horizontal: Active citizenship through local community engagement – volunteering, “acting out of civic duty”, membership of local associations , collaboration to build a local economy Power with, power within, power to ABCD is particularly adept at stimulating horizontal citizenship. In turn, the horizontal may strengthen vertical forms Vertical: Active citizenship in terms of engagement with the state - claiming democratic rights and entitlements. Power over June 2015

Service Delivery Investment Responsive Service Delivery Focus on needs Responds to problems Charity or entitlement orientation Emphasis on external agencies Power comes from credentials “Motivation to act”- incentives, terms of employment Goal is excellent service People are clients, consumers Programs are the answer Responsive Investment Focus on assets Builds from opportunities Investment orientation Emphasis on associations Power comes from relationships “Motivation to Act” – dreams, fears, being asked to contribute Goal is community-driven development People are citizens, members People are the answer

Assets AND Rights

ABCD and the Social Contract Adapted from The Four Legged Stool by John Mc. Knight What citizens should be initiating and doing with their own resources What should be initiated by local citizens but supported by or invested in by governmen ts, NGOs or private sector actors What should be initiated by governmen ts and “coproduced” with citizens What Governments should provide their citizens in the way of services, rights and entitlements