Ongoing research

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

The Hivos Business Plan 2007-2010 includes objectives and indicators on the linkages between social movements as well as on the way social movements handle cross-cutting issues in the areas of Human Rights, LGBT, indigenous organisations, HIV/Aids and gender. The monitoring of developments of these linkages and cross-cutting issues requires a baseline study delving further into the issue and identifying/assessing the main linkages and cross-cutting issues. As part of the Hivos-ISS Knowledge Programme cooperation, a study (2008-2009) will be performed that will not only create this framework, but will also conceptualize social movements and analyze external support to social movements. Furthermore, specific assumptions that are underneath objectives on cross-cutting issues (such as gender mainstreaming and/or HIV/Aids workplace policy) in external support to social movements will be tested.

CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN POLICY PROCESSES

This research study takes as its starting point, the perspective that civil society participation in governance, particularly policy processes, has largely taken on a mere consultative rather than transformative role when initiated and driven by government or donors. An indicative example is the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and subsequent implementation strategies which highlight participation as a conditionality for international concessional and grant aid. While regarded by some sectors as an opportunity for engaging more actively in policy decision making processes which they may have otherwise been excluded from, others have regarded it as a means to silence dissenting voices by also co-opting such voices into the mainstream agenda.

CIVIL SOCIETY BUILDING AND DEMOCRATIZATION: COOPERATION AMONG PRIVATE AID AGENCIES, NGOS AND THE INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT IN ECUADOR

Cooperation between Northern donors (private aid agencies) and local civil society organizations (NGOs and the indigenous movement). The research seeks to test theories of how civil society building helps promote democratization and consequently to help redistrtibution towards marginalized areas.

CIVIL SOCIETY BUILDING NETWORK RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 2005/06

One of the proposed activities of the ISS-Hivos partnership on civil society building is to develop mutual research projects on particular issues both partners would like to focus on. This document provides an overview of research activities proposed by ISS staff as well as by Hivos staff, as a follow up to the December 2004 and May 2005 seminars. It also draws on the evaluation of the May seminar, programme evaluations, and other inputs.