Human Development and Capability Approach

1. Human Development and Capability Approach The future of development Unit 3 n.dresscher

2. Program for today Start with a dialogue: Assignment 2 Introduce the Human Development & Capability Approach Change Agents Project: form your group and use the time to brainstorm on potential themes for your project

3. 1st class brainstorm session on the meaning of ‘development’

4. What is the meaning of ‘successful’ development? • The Human Development and Capability Approach (HDCA) starts with a shift in perspective: • (1) From an approach where the objective in development is economic growth • the unit of analysis here is the economy • (2) To an approach where the objective of development is to expand what people are able to do and be, what we might call their real Freedoms • The unit of analysis here is human wellbeing and human freedoms

5. Development always goes hand in hand with trade-offs When we ask ourselves what is the next step to be taken in terms of actions and policies, we are always making choices: trade-offs: In the first approach (economy is the primer indicator of progress): policy must consider which groups of the population (distribution) to focus on, in which period of time in what order of priority (dynamics) In the second approach(the one who focuses on human development): trade-offs have to been made between which aspects of people’s life to focus on(dimension)

6. Shift: Human development and income HD focuses on: “what makes life worthwhile”: people! The meaning of income changes: income not as an end on itself, but as an instrument: Aristotle: “wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful and for the sake of something else” That people matter does not mean that income does not. Income is obviously an important instrument in enabling people to realize their full potential

7. Human development • Human development: the process of widening people’s choices at the level of their achieved well-being(UNDP, 1990, p9) • To enhance people’s capabilities in the present and in the future, in all areas of their life: • social, political, economic and cultural • Amartya Sen is great influencer of the HDCA philosophy • Central goal: enabling people to become agents in their own lives and in their communities

8. Important notion in Human Development Choices relate to our values (normative!) We have different values and often disagree HD is because of this engaged in an ongoing conversation about what would be most valuable for us to do next Dialogue: participative and co-creating the futureare important tools in development

9. Critical issue: Values are heterogeneous Because of human diversity itself, values are heterogeneous: diverse Still, development in a given society tends to reflect its most cherished values: Equity, harmony with nature, peace and order, material wealth, children well-being etc… Is this true? Do we agree on a couple of universal values?

10. Assignment: exploring our values A Value = “ an enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode (Rokeach, 1973)” of conduct or end-state of existence”. T Assignment 3 is a survey on human values. Please follow the instructions complete the short survey on the values you value the most. The Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) is an instrument which was designed by the social scientist Rokeach to operationalize the value concept. This instrument has been used for measuringpersonal and social values.

11. Agency, voice and empowerment (Sen, 1999) Development relies on people’s freedom to make decisions and advance key objectives People themselves decide upon what kind of development they would like for themselves When people and social groups are recognized as agents they can define their priorities as well as choose the best means to achieve them

12. Key terms in HDCA • Functionings are defined as ‘the various things a person may value doing or being (Sen, 1999). Functionings are valuable activities and states that make up people’s well-being • E.g. health, well-nourished, being safe, being educated • Capability refers to the freedom to enjoy various functionings. The various combination of functionings (beings and doings) that a person can achieve

13. Key terms in HDCA (1) • Agency: is the ability to pursue goals that one values and has reason to value. An agent is ‘someone who acts and brings about change’ (Sen, 1999): • Self-determination, authentic self-direction, autonomy, empowerment, voice • Participation is important in the concept of agency: not just the individual counts, but what one can do as a member of a group, a community, a society, the world.

14. Human development as a process  Guiding principles: • Equity: justice, fairness, impartiality • Efficiency: the optimal use of existing resources • Participation and empowerment: process in which people act as agents: individually as in groups • Sustainability: durability of development in all spheres: environmental, social, political and financial

15. Central human capabilities, (Nussbaum, 2000) Life. Being able to live to the end of a human life of normal length . . . ; not dying prematurely . . . Bodily health . . . Being able to have good health, including reproductive health; being adequately nourished . . . ; being able to have adequate shelter . . . Bodily integrity. Being able to move freely from place to place; being able to be secure against violent assault, including sexual assault . . . ; having opportunities for sexual satisfaction and for choice in matters of reproduction Senses, imagination, thought. Being able to use the senses; being able to imagine, to think, and to reason--and to do these things in . . . a way informed and cultivated by an adequate education . . . ; being able to use imagination and thought in connection with experiencing, and producing expressive works and events of one's own choice . . . ; being able to use one's mind in ways protected by guarantees of freedom of expression with respect to both political and artistic speech and freedom of religious exercise; being able to have pleasurable experiences and to avoid non-beneficial pain

16. Key questions when selecting capabilities: Which capabilities do the people who will enjoy them value (and attach a high priority to) Which capabilities are relevant to a given policy, project or institution?

17. Central human capabilities, (Nussbaum, 2000) Emotions. Being able to have attachments to things and persons outside ourselves; being able to love those who love and care for us; being able to grieve at their absence, to experience longing, gratitude, and justified anger; not having one's emotional developing blighted by fear or anxiety. . . . Practical reason. Being able to form a conception of the good and to engage in critical reflection about the planning of one's own life. (This entails protection for liberty of conscience.) Affiliation.Being able to live for and in relation to others, to recognize and show concern for other human beings, to engage in various forms of social interaction; being able to imagine the situation of another and to have compassion for that situation; having the capability for both justice and friendship. . . . Being able to be treated as a dignified being whose worth is equal to that of others. Other species. Being able to live with concern for and in relation to animals, plants, and the world of nature. Play. Being able to laugh, to play, to enjoy recreational activities. Control over one's environment. (A) Political: being able to participate effectively in political choices that govern one's life; having the rights of political participation, free speech and freedom of association . . . (B) Material: being able to hold property (both land and movable goods); having the right to seek employment on an equal basis with others . . .

18. Possible themes for the change agents project A rise in certain diseases. Think about the high numbers of AIDS infected people, or the rising count of people suffering from diabetes. (Arubans are genetically more inclined to become diabetic) The interest in politics starts to dwindle, people don’t vote on issues but on tradition Poverty rises in Aruba, more and more people become unable to provide food for themselves and their families In more and more families both parents have to get a fulltime job to support themselves. They decide not to have children because they are unable to combine their careers with parenthood. There is a rise in school dropouts. This poses economical problems because there are not enough educated people, and more people prone to poverty.

19. Possible themes for the change agents project (2) Immigration keeps rising, Arubans start to get the feeling they are not at home anymore in their own country The world economy crashes and with it tourism, this could be lethal for the Aruban economy. Tourism on Aruba increases, this is good for the economy but a heavy strain on the environment The Aruban population keeps increasing at a rapid rate. Where will everybody live. The government runs out of land for ‘erfpacht’ Drug trade on Aruba rises and with it crime rates and social problems House prices on Aruba plummet, this is good for buyers but disastrous for homeowners.

20. Change Agents Project robust form: • Choose an issue (in the now): rationale, motivation why this is a possible problem for in the future • Investigate this issue (trend) in the now: SCAN THE NOW, by: • Consulting numbers, statistics, indicators, background information • Consult literature research done on this issue • Consult experts • Conduct a small research (interview respondents) • Explore with possible futures (trends and scenario’s) • Design an intervention that can have a positive effect in the future in terms of this issue • Which indicators of development are you contributing to, is your plan sustainable (sustainability criteria)