Learning to Engage with Inequality in the Context of Resilience-Building Programming: Experiences from Isiolo, Kenya

Abstract

This IDS Practice Paper in Brief shares learning about how to engage with inequality in research and development interventions focused on building resilience of local communities to climate change. There is wide recognition that analysing social, political, and economic inequality is central to understanding whose voices are being heard and whose realities are accounted for in interventions seeking to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. To achieve this, it is necessary to move beyond just the visible collective spaces where inclusion may happen – such as formal community governance structures and processes – and to acknowledge power dynamics and marginalisation within other less formal spaces. Grappling with inequality and underlying power dimensions as local interventions are being implemented can be challenging for practitioners. We share four lessons from our experience with a project which looked at inequality within climate change programming with Borana pastoralist communities in Isiolo, Kenya, through a collaboration between researchers and development practitioners.