Case studies
These case studies were written as a contribution to the development of From Poverty to Power. They are published in order to share widely the results of commissioned research and program experience. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Oxfam International or its affiliate organizations.
Albania: development of agricultural cooperatives
Oxfam support for herb collectors in Albania results in better income and collective action.
Yemen: advocacy on violence against women
Two Oxfam partner organizations working with women and the law have greatly improved the position of women in custody, prisons or detention centers, and have established a women-only detention center where women are likely to receive better treatment.
Israel: advocacy on employment issues for Arab women
Oxfam GB partner Sawt El-Amel (Laborer’s Voice) defends the rights of unemployed and working poor Arab citizens of Israel. It helps to challenge inequalities and exploitation created by the ‘Wisconsin Plan’ aimed at moving people into work. Establishment of a Women’s Platform and carrying out a Partipatory Needs Assessment led to changes in the Plan to the benefit of marginalized groups.
Russia: economic marginalization
Oxfam is working with local authorities to help to revise perceptions of poverty and social exclusion and to create a ‘can do’ approach so that people can respond to their own needs.
Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
The important role of GYLA in supporting democracy, playing a ‘watchdog’ role and providing free legal advice in support of people’s rights throughout the country.
Roma Organizations: capacity building
Capacity-building work with the poorest community in Europe, the Roma, has enhanced advocacy, lobbying and negotiating skills that have led to improved interaction with local authorities on education and discrimination.
CLADEM and the Inter-American Convention on Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Campaigning for reproductive and sexual rights in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of broader human rights.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Land Rights
Discusses gender and land ownership reform in Papua New Guinea.
Solomon Islands & Forestry
Problems for local communities and the economy arising from the logging industry.
From Moratorium to a Convention on small arms: a change in politics and practices for the 15 member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The ECOWAS moratorium on small arms entered into force in 1998. Although significant, it was not binding on states. This paper describes how civil society action across West Africa has succeeded in transforming the moratorium into a legally-binding regional convention on small arms control. Through a series of regional workshops organized by civil society organizations, a network of ‘agents of change’ was developed to create policy influence at national and regional levels. A draft civil society convention was developed for presentation to ECOWAS. This became the basis for the resulting ECOWAS convention, which was signed in 2006. Once ratified, the Convention will give West Africa stricter arms controls than any other region in the world, in turn giving impetus to the UN Arms Trade Treaty negotiations. The author describes how dialogue with government and ECOWAS representatives, and sustained advocacy work within member states, have been essential for the success of this campaign.
Du Moratoire sur les armes légères à une Convention: changement de politiques et pratiques pour les 15 pays membres de la Communauté Economique des États d’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO)
Le moratoire de la CEDEAO sur les armes légères est entré en vigueur en 1998. Bien que significatif, il n'était pas contraignant pour les états. Le présent document décrit comment la société civile s'est mobilisée dans toute l'Afrique de l'Ouest pour parvenir à faire évoluer ce moratoire vers une convention régionale juridiquement contraignante sur le contrôle des armes légères.
Reformes Agricoles et Pauvrete Rural: Cas de la Filière Arachide Au Sénégal
L'industrie de l'arachide est un pilier du secteur agricole et de l'économie rurale au Sénégal. Son déclin à la suite des réformes des politiques d'appui à la production et des systèmes de commercialisation a soumis les petits exploitants agricoles à rude épreuve et a exacerbé la pauvreté en milieu rural.
Agricultural reforms and rural poverty: the case of the peanut industry in Senegal
The peanut industry is a pillar of the agriculture sector and rural economy in Senegal. Its decline following policy reforms in the production support and marketing systems creates serious hardship for small farmers and exacerbate poverty in rural areas.
Local Resources for Development: the experience of Somaliland’s General Assistance & Volunteer Organization (GAVO)
With minimal assistance at a key point in its development, GAVO evolved from a local charitable and service organisation grounded in and supported by the local community into a strong public outreach and advocacy organisation advising Oxfam on government/civil society relations throughout the region
The Road to Self-Reliance – ABCD
An Asset-Based Community Driven (ABCD) approach that starts with the identification of community assets, rather than needs, is bringing very positive results especially for women and girls in Ethiopia and is a model for other communities.
Reflections on Community Based Coastal Resources Management (CB-CRM) in the Philippines and South-East Asia
Small-scale fishing is an important source of food and livelihoods for millions of rural poor people in South-East Asia. Yet fisheries management has tended to diminish access of the rural poor to fishing grounds in favor of commercial operations. This paper describes how civil society action was instrumental in creating change in national fisheries policies in the Philippines. A system of community-based coastal resource management was adopted, with the aim of ensuring better access and influence over resource management for poor fishing communities. Although reported impacts have been modest, the changes have supported some regrowth in the small-scale fishing industry, as well as other gains, and the approach is being adopted in other countries. These gains are threatened by intense competition for fishing access, the development of export-oriented aquaculture industries, and WTO support for fisheries liberalization. Sustained advocacy for the protection of small-scale fisher livelihoods is required at national and global levels.
What has made Vietnam a poverty reduction success story?
Vietnam has actively integrated into global markets since it adopted an ‘open door’ economic policy in 1986. The government has led a series of economic reforms, in conjunction with poverty-reduction policies. This has resulted in steady economic growth, while poverty rates have more than halved. This paper analyses the context and policies that have underpinned this success. Adopting a stepwise approach to reform and liberalization of agriculture and state-owned enterprises, the government retained strong control over domestic economic policy. This control extends to relations with donors and NGOs, with good aid co-ordination and high levels of budget support. Universal education has supported the development of an educated labor force, while commitment to gender equity has enabled women to benefit from economic development. Nonetheless, civil and political rights remain weak, and there are strong pressures for increased political participation. To avoid fueling inequalities, political reforms must address the rights of internal migrants and ethnic minorities.
Oxfam Hong Kong’s advocacy work on relocation of rural schools in China
Research and advocacy work on the adverse effects of rural school consolidation and school closures in remote rural areas of China.
How change happens in the private sector
This paper summarizes the main factors that brought about change in two private companies, and their implications for civil society actors aiming to generate more pro-poor change in the private sector.
Indigenous People’s Education - Mindanao, the Philippines
Indigenous education improves the Pulangiyen quality of life and provides a model for the promotion of culture-based education throughout the country.
India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act - A Case Study for How Change Happens
This case study identifies critical elements to the passage of the NREGA, an act guaranteeing employment to all Indian citizens.
Yogyakarta Earthquake Community Recovery Grants supporting Gotong Royong
Timely and carefully targeted grants using a community-based approach enabled early recovery of productive activities and reinforced community spirit and decision-making following a powerful earthquake in Central Java.
Territories and citizenship: the revolution of the Chiquitanos
The Chiquitanos are an indigenous people living in lowland Bolivia. They have suffered exclusion and discrimination under successive governments since the colonial era. In the 1980s, the Chiquitanos mobilized in response to neo-liberal reforms which put increased pressure on indigenous territories. Political decentralization in the 1990s created impetus and political opportunities for such indigenous movements. Water privatization and rising unemployment in 2000-01 led to political unrest throughout Bolivia, particularly amongst indigenous groups. Since 2003, mobilization in demand for political change has reformed the basis of political participation and representation. This has resulted in the election of several indigenous people to high-level government positions, and significant directional changes in social and economic policy-making. This paper describes the Chiquitano struggle for land rights and political representation, analyzes the diverse catalysts for this radical shift in Bolivian politics, and reviews the initial achievements of – and challenges for – Bolivia’s new government.
Territorios y ciudadanía: la revolución de los Chiquitanos
Los indígenas chiquitanos de la llanura boliviana han sufrido exclusión y discriminación desde la época colonial bajo los distintos gobiernos bolivianos. En la década de los 80, los Chiquitanos comenzaron a movilizarse en respuesta a las reformas neoliberales que ocasionaban aún mayores invasiones de sus territorios indígenas. La descentralización política de los años 90 abrió oportunidades políticas y sirvió de motor para los movimientos indígenas. La privatización del agua y unas tasas de desempleo crecientes en 2000-01 generaron malestar político en toda Bolivia, y en especial entre los grupos indígenas. Desde 2003, las movilizaciones para exigir cambios políticos han conseguido la reforma del sistema de participación y representación política. Así, diversos representantes indígenas han resultado elegidos a puestos de importancia en el gobierno, y ha habido un cambio de rumbo significativo en la elaboración de las políticas sociales y económicas. Este documento describe la lucha de los indígenas chiquitanos por el derecho a la tierra y a la representación política y analiza los distintos motivos que han propiciado este cambio radical en la política boliviana. Pasa revista además a los primeros logros – y también los retos – del nuevo gobierno de Bolivia.
All Ukraine Network of People Living with HIV (PLWH)
PLWH has achieved significant success in supporting HIV and AIDS positive people and has become a model for advocacy and lobbying networks across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Market access for indigenous women producers in Guatemala
With support, Mayan women are improving their agricultural production and their marketing skills to improve income and self-confidence.
Acceso a mercados para las mujeres indígenas en Guatemala
Las mujeres mayas están recibiendo apoyo para mejorar su producción agrícola y sus conocimientos de marketing, con lo que aumentarán también sus ingresos y su confianza.
Una herramienta contra el cambio climático…y los huracanes
Un nuevo sistema de recolección de datos y alerta temprana, junto con los conocimientos indígenas, está ayudando a las comunidades de las selvas tropicales de Nicaragua a adaptarse ante el cambio climático y mantener sus medios de vida.
A tool against climate change…and hurricanes
A new data collection and early warning system, together with indigenous knowledge, helps communities in Nicaragua in tropical forest areas to adapt to climate change and maintain their livelihoods.
Centre for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS) (Egypt)
CTUWS supports an independent labor movement and has carried out independent election monitoring activities; it is currently seeking registration as a legally recognised NGO in Egypt.
Adva Center (Israel)
The Adva Center in Israel provides independent socio-economic analysis and advocates for more equitable policies that favour disadvantaged citizens.
Honduras: analysis of the impact of the Collective of Honduran Women (CODEMUH) on workers’ rights and occupational health, 2002 to 2005
The Collective of Honduran Women (CODEMUH) is a feminist organization which defends women’s rights in Honduras through capacity building, legal action, and public campaigning. This paper describes CODEMUH’s public campaign in support of women’s labor rights and occupational health, focusing on export garment industries. Efforts to increase Honduran manufacturing productivity in the context of global supply chain competition have resulted in erosion of workers’ rights, for example through increases in unpaid overtime, suppression of freedom of association, and failure to meet health and safety requirements. Since 2004 CODEMUH has been campaigning to inform workers, managers, and government officials about occupational health risks for garment industry workers. The article describes how CODEMUH has successfully harnessed media, public events, and strategic international linkages to promote the issue and to increase pressure on government and companies for change. The impacts of the campaign are analyzed, along with the challenges and lessons learned.
Sistematización de la experiencia de incidencia de CODEMUH en derechos laborales y salud ocupacional entre 2002 y 2005
La Colectiva de Mujeres Hondureñas (CODEMUH) es una organización feminista que trabaja por los derechos de la mujer en Honduras mediante capacitación, acciones legales y campañas populares. Este documento habla de la campaña popular de CODEMUH en apoyo de los derechos laborales y la salud ocupacional de la mujer, en especial en la maquila del sector textil. Los esfuerzos por aumentar la productividad en Honduras, en el contexto de la competencia global de las cadenas de suministro, han erosionado los derechos de las trabajadoras, por ejemplo mediante un mayor número de horas extras no remuneradas, la supresión de derechos sindicales, y el no cumplimiento de la normativa sobre seguridad e higiene. Desde 2004, CODEMUH viene realizando campañas de información a trabajadores, directivos y funcionarios gubernamentales respecto a los riesgos para la salud ocupacional de las y los trabajadores de la maquila del sector textil. Este artículo expone cómo CODEMUH ha conseguido aunar medios de comunicación, acontecimientos públicos y vínculos internacionales estratégicos para promover este tema y revindicar cambios ante el gobierno y las empresas. Se analizan los impactos de la campaña, así como los retos y las lecciones aprendidas.
The challenge of eliminating racism in Brazil: the new institutional framework for fighting racial inequality
This paper argues that racism is a central force perpetuating socio-economic inequalities in Brazil, one of the most unequal countries in the world. Brazilian racism has its roots in the African slave trade. The historically popular opinion that Brazil is a ‘racial democracy’ continues to suppress acknowledgement of racial inequalities. Yet these are profound and persistent, trapping many black Brazilians in a vicious circle of poverty, poor educational outcomes, low access to goods and services, labour market discrimination, and violence. Brazil’s long-established black movement has fought for public action against racism. Recent achievements include the establishment of a legal framework for dealing with racism; a series of participatory policy discussions and conferences on racism; the creation of government institutions tasked with promoting racial equality; and the appointment of black people to senior government positions. The challenge remains to tackle institutional racism at all levels and to create a more constructive media environment.
O desafio de eliminar o racismo no Brasil: a nova institucionalidade no combate à desigualdade racial
Este artigo argumenta que o racismo é uma força central perpetuando as desigualdades sócio-econômicas no Brasil, um dos países mais desiguais do mundo. O racismo brasileiro possui suas raízes no comércio de escravos africanos. A opinião historicamente popular de que o Brasil é uma “democracia racial” continua a impedir o reconhecimento das desigualdades raciais. Contudo, estas desigualdades são profundas e persistentes, aprisionando muitos brasileiros negros em um círculo vicioso de pobreza, resultados educacionais ruins, baixo acesso a bens e serviços, discriminação no mercado de trabalho e violência. O movimento negro do Brasil há muito tempo estabelecido tem lutado por ação pública contra o racismo. Conquistas recentes incluem a criação de uma estrutura legal para lidar com o racismo; uma série de discussões de política participativa e conferências sobre racismo; a criação de instituições governamentais encarregadas de promover a igualdade racial; e a indicação de pessoas negras para cargos sêniores do governo. O desafio de combate ao racismo institucional em todos os níveis e da criação de um ambiente de mídia mais construtivo permanece.
Social participation as a democracy-consolidating process in Brazil
Brazil’s transition from an authoritarian regime to a democracy has been supported by the institutionalisation of efforts to integrate citizen participation into policy-making. This paper traces the roots of citizen participation in the development of diverse community movements from the 1950s onwards, and the democratic movement that emerged from these. As a result, the 1988 federal constitution established a range of institutions to support the integration of civil society organisations into formal policy making. Twenty years on, the author describes the range and diversity of opportunities for citizen participation that exist in Brazil, and lists numerous positive social outcomes. Current challenges are analysed, such as the reluctance of some public managers to share power – particularly in economic policy-making – and recent managerial reforms of the state which fail to integrate the constitutional vision. Ongoing investments in civil society capacity will be essential for meaningful engagement to be sustained.
A Participação Social como processo de consolidação da democracia no Brasil
A transição no Brasil de um regime autoritário para uma democracia tem sido apoiada pela institucionalização dos esforços de integrar a participação de cidadãos na formulação de políticas. Este artigo investiga as raízes da participação dos cidadãos no desenvolvimento de movimentos diversos da comunidade a partir da década de 1950 em diante, e o movimento democrático que emergiu a partir deles. Como resultado, a Constituição Federal de 1988 estabeleceu uma série de instituições para apoiar a integração das organizações da sociedade civil nas formulações de políticas formais. Vinte anos depois, o autor descreve o leque e a diversidade de oportunidades para a participação dos cidadãos que existem no Brasil e lista vários resultados sociais positivos. Os desafios atuais são analisados, tais como a relutância de alguns gerentes do setor público em compartilhar o poder – particularmente na formulação de políticas econômicas – e reformas gerenciais recentes do estado que falham em integrar a visão constitucional. Investimentos em andamento na capacidade da sociedade civil serão essenciais para que um engajamento significativo seja sustentado.
