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A MODEL OF EMPOWERMENT

KHALID EL HARIZI

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Overview Background Research

Objectives ModelDiscussion Part 1

Applications SynthesisDiscussion Part 2

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Background Failure of Policy Reforms Volatility Institutions Matter Political Processes and Economic

Performance

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What Do We Need to Know? Central Question: What Policy and

Institutional Environment Would Empower the Rural Poor to Get out of Poverty?

Application: Devolution of Natural Resource Management to Territorial Communities

3 Case Studies: Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia

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Dealing with Complexity

Change challenges States, Private Sector and Civil Society capacities to redefine or reinvent their respective roles and vision of the future.

Volatility could be understood as a pattern of change in Transition & Developing Countries

Empowerment as an emerging quality of an Inclusive Development Process

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From Participation to Empowerment State-driven versus participatory

development Slow adoption and institutionalization

of participatory approaches World Bank Formula of Empowerment:

E= Participation + Improved Governance

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A MODEL OF EMPOWERMENT

Agency Definition of

Empowerment Proposed Model Levels of Analysis Devolution

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Agency Agent as an open system of

decision-making Capability to pursue self-defined

objectives according to upheld values

Concept of Capability: a measure of freedom of choice

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Alternative Definition of Empowerment Empowerment is the capacity of an

entity, be it an individual or a group, to act as an agent of change.

Empowerment involves an expansion in an agent’s capabilities

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How are agent empowered ?

Main hypothesis: Gap between expected and actual achievements or outcomes is the trigger of processes of empowerment and disempowerment

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Fig. 1: Model of Agent Empowerment

Legend:

Measurable States of the Agent

Agent Action or Function

Direct Effect

Opportunities and Constraints

FRAMING Process of perception that gives meaning to experiences & produces attitudes K. El Harizi Oct. 2003

Framinge

GAPActual-Desired

Outcome

PATTERNS OF CHANGETechnology, Prices, Resources;

Policies, Rules, Norms, Culture,Rights; Ideas, Other Agents'Actions...

Invest

ATTITUDESPerceptions

CAPABILITIESSet of

Feasible Options

Agent - EnvironmentBoundary

Access

LearnDesired

Outcome

ACHIEVEMENTActual Outcome

RESOURCESOwnedShared

Borrowed

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Levels of Analysis (Examples) Agents: Individual; Farming Households;

Community-based Organization; State; … Capabilities: Set of feasible activities;

institutional options; policy options;… Outcomes: Living Standards; Local and

National or Global Public Goods; Framing: Perception& Attitudes; Policy

Agenda; Development Narratives;

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Devolution of Government Power Delegation of Central Government

Executive and Legislative Powers to a Subordinate Territorial Unit

Criteria: Delegation of both legislative/executive

powers of substantial size/magnitude Devolved unit must be representative/elected

body Substantial Autonomy both political and

financial from central government interference

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Devolution and Empowerment Political Systems

Federalism Unitary States Local Government

Forms of Decentralization Devolution Deconcentration

Devolution and Empowerment

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Devolution of NRM (1) Complexity due to Multiple

Stakeholders NRM is a source of income Uncertainty (ecological, Knowledge) Historical legacy impinge on feasible

options for reforms From Management to Governance of

Natural Resources

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Devolution of NRM (2)Pre-requisites of improved NR Governance Political Commitment to Democratic

Governance at Local Level Downward Accountability Application of the Subsidiarity Principle Secure Property Rights Long-term Financial support to local

administration capacity development

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Devolution of NRM (3) Right-based Access to NR Informal Mechanisms of Access

Bundles of powers: technology; capital; market; knowledge; labor; authority; social identity;

Actual Access versus Rights of Access Inequality of Agency

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Provision of Public Goods (1) Public Goods Are Those that Would Not

Be Provided in a Pure Free-Market Non-Rivalry and Non-Excludability Typology of Operators (Service

Suppliers) State Public Corporations Private Firms Non-Profit Civil Society Organizations

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Options for Supply of P. Goods Criteria of Choice of Operator:

Technology involved Transaction Costs Incentives of the Agents Inequality, Heterogeneity of

Stakeholders Ownership, Property Rights

Partnerships and Coalitions for PG Provision

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Partnerships and Coalitions for Public Goods Supply Coalitions are formed of agents that

decide to coordinate their actions towards common objectives and against other groups’ objectives

Multi-Stakeholders Intervention Requires a Process, Not Predetermined Solutions

Enabling Policy Environments Will Not Generate Change Unless Enabling Mechanisms Are Also Established

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Change and Vulnerability (1) Change from the Agent’s

Perspective Operational Changes Affect Agent’s

Capabilities Network Changes Affect Agent’s

Status (position within a network) Constitutional Changes Affect Agent’s

Vision & Expectations

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Change and Vulnerability (2) Time Patterns of change

Trends Shocks and Shifts Evolutionary Change Volatility or Chaotic Change

Vulnerability to Change Patterns Agent’s Responses:

Adapt, Learn, Cope, Cooperate & Network, Exit.

Vulnerability and Empowerment

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Synthesis: What Have We Got Here?

How Change Occurs? Enabling Institutional

Environments Determinants of Policy Outcomes Multi-Level Framework Let Us Brainstorm…

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How Change Occurs? Empowerment Model

Gap between aspirations and achievements

Patterns of Change Operational, Network & Constitutional Time Patterns: Trend, Shocks, Evolutions,

Chaos Patterns of Change Provoke

Corresponding Responses from Agents

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Enabling Institutional Environments

Good Governance, a means to Empowerment

Democratic Local Governance & Multiple Stakeholders

Principle of Subsidiarity Vision and Commitment Matter

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Determinants of Policy Outcomes Using the Empowerment Model to

Analyze the Policy Environment Policies as Long-Term

Commitments Political Capital Development Narratives Choice of Policy Options

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MULTI-LEVEL FRAMEWORK

Legend

Agent (The State or the Farmers) Property Rights: Economic Institution

LandFamily Labour

TechnologyOperating K.

Fiscal ResourcesForeign Transfers

Quality of AdministrationNatural Resource Rent

Political Capital

Attitudes

Set of of FeasibleActivities

LivingStandards

Gap

FarmersProduction

Process

StatePolicy Process

INV

FRM

LRNASP

ACS

Transaction Costs

Policy Issue (Dev. Narratives)

Policy Options

Policy Outcomes

Gap

INV

LRNASP

FRM

ACS

Inclusiveness

Outreach of Public Services

Taxes

Patterns of CHANGE

IncomeSupport

PublicAccountability

PoliticalCommitment

Infrastructure

Disaster ReliefUser Fees

Desired Outcomes

EnvironmentalRegulations

Property Rights

Trends

Volatility

Representatives

Shocks

Voice

Participation

Legitimacy

Information

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Conceptual Framework

“Human Civilization Requires Political Leadership for its Organization”

Ibn Khaldoun “The Muqaddimah”, 13 th Century

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Let Us Brainstorm Revisiting Research Questions in

the Light of Proposed Framework

What are our Priorities? Vast Research Domain Calls for Focus

What’s Next?

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THANK YOU