Strengthening women's participation in local governance: lessons and strategies

Hicks, Janine

doi:10.1093/cdj/bsq048

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…There are a variety of reasons to think that women ought to be better represented at subnational levels of administration (Hicks, ; Johnson, ; Beal, ). First, local agencies are the closest and therefore likely the most accessible.…”

Section: Gender and Governance: An Overview Of Key Strands Of The Pubmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, although there are a plethora of reasons to think that local venues ought to be the easiest route for women to follow, reality rarely matches up with aspirations (Hicks, ; Beal, ). First, as Manor () notes, ‘prejudices against women are often more strongly held at local than at higher levels’ (Beal, ).…”

Section: Gender and Governance: An Overview Of Key Strands Of The Pubmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Governance and Poverty Eradication: Applying a Gender and Social Institutions Perspective

Jones

Presler-Marshall

2012

Public Admin & Development

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SUMMARY Recently, there has been growing attention to the need to include girls (and boys) more prominently in poverty reduction and development agendas. How to do this effectively, however, remains an under‐researched subject, especially in debates around chronic poverty, that is, the experience of severe, multidimensional poverty for an extended period of time. Although the Chronic Poverty Research Centre has spotlighted the often overlooked social and nonincome dimensions of poverty traps, including social discrimination and limited citizenship, in general scholarship has paid relatively limited attention to the interplay between gender, poverty reduction and governance institutions. To address this lacuna, this article draws on recent research by the Chronic Poverty Research Centre and the Overseas Development Institute that highlights the key role context‐specific social institutions play in informing and determining the life opportunities and agency of girls and young women. To more effectively address the governance challenges involved in tackling such deprivations, the article discusses three key measures that can support the eradication of gendered experiences of poverty: the importance of involving local community leaders, working with men and boys to raise awareness about girls' and women's rights, and promoting collective action and voice among girls and young women. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Gender and Governance: An Overview Of Key Strands Of The Pubmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gender and Governance: An Overview Of Key Strands Of The Pubmentioning

confidence: 99%

Governance and Poverty Eradication: Applying a Gender and Social Institutions Perspective

Jones

Presler-Marshall

2012

Public Admin & Development

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“…2010). Based on the premise that decentralisation ‘brings government and services closer to the people’ (Devas & Grant 2003; Bergh 2004; Maharaj & Maharaj 2004), women's participation in local structures is seen as a means of increasing gender-sensitivity to local conditions and priorities, thus enabling greater influence of women over planning and service delivery (Beall & Todes 2004; Maharaj & Maharaj 2004; Hicks 2011). This helps to ensure better understanding of the gender dimensions of service requirements and community needs (Beall 2005; Lakwo 2009; Matembe 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Todes et al . 2010; Hicks 2011). The evidence from these studies, as well as those from rural India where the village-level panchayat institutions have been extensively studied (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The evidence from these studies, as well as those from rural India where the village-level panchayat institutions have been extensively studied (e.g. Bryld 2001, Ban & Rao 2008), show that women's participation in local institutions remains low, and is determined by the socio-cultural rules and norms, relationships, structures, processes of local governance, and the historical and political context of communities (Bryld 2001; Ban & Rao, 2008; Hicks 2011). In addition, women's triple role in production, reproduction and community management (Moser 1993) leave them with very limited time to participate in local governance (Gyimah & Thompson 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gender perspectives on decentralisation and service users’ participation in rural Tanzania

2014

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Increasing participation in decision-making processes by service users is one of the objectives of decentralisation reforms in Tanzania. The argument is that decentralisation enhances participation by all sections of the community, and by women in particular, and results in decisions that better reflect local needs. This paper examines the impact of decentralisation reforms on service users' participation for delivery of water and health services in rural Tanzania, using a gender perspective and principal-agent theory. The paper investigates how decentralisation has fostered spaces for participation and how men and women use these spaces, and identifies factors that constrain or encourage women's participation. It shows that decentralisation reforms have created spaces for service users' participation at the local level. Participation in these spaces, however, differs between men and women, and is influenced by the socio-cultural norms within the household and community. Men have gained more leverage than women to exercise their agency as principals. Women's participation is contributing to addressing practical gender needs, but strategic gender needs have been less adequately addressed because gendered power relations have been largely untouched by the reforms.

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Communities and commons: the role of community development support in sustaining the commons

Laerhoven

Barnes

2014

Community Development Journal

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The commons literature tends to treat community development as one of the independent variables that can explain variation in commons governance outcomes. The community development literature treats community development as its primary dependent variable, and studies how it can be achieved. We feel that the obvious complementarity between both traditions has up till now not been taken full advantage of. The purpose of this paper is to begin defining a common ground where both literatures can work together. We identify a big potential and an urgent need for complementary research on questions related with community development efforts that target collective action potential and self-governance capacity of commoners.

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Strengthening women's participation in local governance: lessons and strategies

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Governance and Poverty Eradication: Applying a Gender and Social Institutions Perspective

Governance and Poverty Eradication: Applying a Gender and Social Institutions Perspective

Gender perspectives on decentralisation and service users’ participation in rural Tanzania

Communities and commons: the role of community development support in sustaining the commons

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