{"id":905,"date":"2018-10-22T17:56:13","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T15:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/didouqen.com\/?p=905"},"modified":"2020-11-12T09:51:28","modified_gmt":"2020-11-12T09:51:28","slug":"defining-empowerment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-haf.ddev.site\/defining-empowerment\/","title":{"rendered":"Defining Empowerment"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir<\/em>
\nHAF President<\/em><\/p>\n

Various perspectives exist on the relationship between participation in development and empowerment.\u00a0 First, that there is indeed a relationship is now widely recognized.[1]<\/a>\u00a0Some writers suggest that empowerment and participation are actually one and the same.\u00a0 \u201cParticipation is another name for empowerment.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Just as with other concepts, however, empowerment is difficult to define and prone to alternative explanations.\u00a0 Often time\u2019s empowerment may be recognized more easily by its absence.\u00a0 There is no agreed definition but this has not stopped the term from being used increasingly to the point that it has become a buzzword.<\/p>\n

Empowerment is a long-term objective, and it should not be strictly judged in terms of cost-effectiveness or efficiency.\u00a0 Rather, just as with the concept of \u201cparticipation,\u201d empowerment is both a \u201cprocess\u201d and an \u201coutcome.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0 Though, the literature does seem to emphasize process and means, over product and end results.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Empowerment is operationalized in a range of contexts \u2013 economic and political, people and institutions, and at the micro and macro levels.\u00a0 None of these comparisons are mutually exclusive; for example, an empowering development process is intended to benefit the individual[5]<\/a>\u00a0(personal, citizens) and groups[6]<\/a>\u00a0(community, partnerships, weakest and poor, women and youth, rural people).<\/p>\n

There are several recurring recommendations for achieving empowerment or instilling the qualities needed to attain it in individuals, communities, different levels of society, and contexts.\u00a0 Capacity-building, particularly in decision-making, is widely regarded as essential.[7]<\/a>\u00a0 For capacities to be built and empowerment to occur, there must be training.[8]<\/a>\u00a0 Training towards empowerment includes developing skills and abilities, including in conflict resolution and leadership formation,[9]<\/a>\u00a0in catalyzing dialogue, and in listening.[10]<\/a>\u00a0 Participatory training is also called for and includes communication, planning, research, and evaluation; integrated initiatives through education; and informal education.\u00a0 Melkote and Steeves suggest that power must first be understood for there to be the empowerment to be possible, underscoring the necessity of critical thinking.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n

Building self and group\/community confidence and decentralizing control and decision-making, putting it in the hands of the local level, have also been called for to induce empowerment.\u00a0 Decentralization is one way to redistribute power, and reverse or change roles, and thereby enable empowerment to occur.[12]<\/a>\u00a0 Decentralization is also a way government can support people in becoming empowered.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n

Empowerment is a central objective of participatory development.[14]<\/a>\u00a0 Participation and empowerment are integral and share a framework.\u00a0 They are conceptualized in relation to each other.\u00a0 Operationally, participatory development is a precondition for empowerment.[15]<\/a><\/p>\n

Empowerment is stated to include many different outcomes and can be identified by a number of capabilities.\u00a0 Among the observed benefits are diminished feelings of marginalization[16]<\/a>\u00a0and organization toward development.[17]<\/a><\/p>\n

This Table lists the attributes of empowerment, according to the following categories: a) action capabilities, b) areas of critical reflection, c) areas of decision-making, d) kind of development that ensue, e) organizational outcomes, f) personal qualities, and g) economic, political, and social outcomes.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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    \n
  • Action capabilities<\/em><\/strong>: on own behalf and interests; for development; to achieve goals; to resolve issues;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Critical reflection<\/em><\/strong>: awareness of circumstances, causes of dis-empowerment, and identity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Decision-making in<\/em><\/strong>: planning, implementation, and evaluation, politics, and markets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Development<\/em><\/strong>: human-centered, sustainable, bottom-up, and small and successful: informed by or co-determined at the local-level<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Economic outcomes<\/em><\/strong>: increase in: efficiency; employment opportunities; security of water and energy; local self-reliance (including food)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Organizational<\/em><\/strong>: improved capacities of local groups, including to adapt; standard & greater transparency and accountability through peer reviews & public audits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Personal qualities<\/em><\/strong>: improvement in: self, caring, dialogue, expanding choices, mutual respect, creativity, adapting, managing skills, & applying knowledge (indigenous & scientific)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Political outcomes<\/em><\/strong>: increase in: participatory democracy; foreign aid managed by smaller organizations; political awareness of political power and rights; good governance; equitable power-sharing between individuals and institutions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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