Concepts FrameworkCentral to the understanding of empowerment is a recognition that imbalances in power relations affect citizens' capacity to make effective choices in their interactions with the state, markets, and other parts of society. Evidence also suggest that power relations have an important bearing on poverty and poverty reduction outcomes.
An empowerment approach has direct relevance to rights-based approaches to development, which (depending on one's perspective) are based on a sense of justice and equity in relations between people, as well as on the idea that individuals have a set of entitlements which the state is responsible to advance, promote and protect. The following paper examing the statement, "Power relations must figure significantly in explanations of poverty and inequality," was prepared to guide the conceptual framework on power and poverty: Background Concept Papers The following concept papers were prepared for the March workshop (described below): These papers have been compiled into one publication, called Power, Rights, and Poverty: Concepts and Connections, which is also available in hard copy.
March 23-24, 2004 WorkshopThe Empowerment Team of the Poverty Reduction Unit and DFID held a Working Meeting on Power, Rights and Poverty Reduction on March 23-24, 2004. This working meeting brought together development practitioners and researchers from the UK's Department for International Development (DfID), the World Bank, and academic institutions to allow participants to take stock of different approaches to understanding the relationship between power relations, human rights and poverty.
The terms empowerment, power, and rights are used frequently within the Bank and DfID. However, uncertainty remains over a number of issues, which the working meeting aimed to address. These include: - the differences or synergies between empowerment and rights-based approaches to development;
- the extent to which power relations, as central to a discussion on empowerment, can be addressed by DfID and the Bank; and
- the ways in which addressing power relations, with the context of an empowerment agenda, can be translated into meaningful policy instruments and operational practices which further poverty alleviation objectives.
Please see the links below for the concept note and agenda, summary note, participants, and workshop presenetations. To access the background papers prepared for the conference, see the Concepts Framework page. Additionally, in the next month a book comprised of the papers from the workshop will be available on our website and by request (if supplies are available) by writing to empowerment@worldbank.org. Conference Background Presentations
Country CasesEvidence suggests that power imbalances affect poverty reduction interventions. As a result of rising demand wiithin the World Bank, the Empowerment Team is engaged in preparation of country case studies to analyze the relationship between power and poverty. Two cases are currently underway, in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The Indonesia case study is based on primary research from a Bank loan while the Ethiopia study is in the form of a literature review. These case studies will contribute to the WDR 2006: Equity and Development. The team also hopes to undertake more case studies addressing issues of power relations and poverty outcomes in different countries and contexts. A methodology for more systematic data collection is currently being prepared to support this effort. Please watch this space for further updates.
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