Our expertise >> Social Exclusion

For SDDirect, poverty is not just about economic resources and whether or not these are available: it also has sharp social and political dimensions.

Social exclusion affects both the groups directly suffering discrimination, through denial of their rights and inability to access opportunities, as well as societies as a whole. Social exclusion is both a cause and a consequence of poverty: while social exclusion deepens poverty among already disadvantaged groups, poverty also compounds the level of discrimination and exclusion suffered by marginalised groups. Social exclusion also has an economic impact; distorting labour markets and hindering growth. In addition, social exclusion is a key driver of conflict, radicalisation and social unrest, undermining efforts to promote democratic governance and social cohesion.

Through social exclusion analysis, SDDirect works to better understand both the nature and impact of social exclusion, seeking to identify the power structures, institutions and political actors who maintain and encourage processes of discrimination and disadvantage. As an organisation, we specialise in using social exclusion analysis as a tool for identifying practical ways of tackling the root causes underlying a number of development challenges.  

SDDirect has worked with a range of bilateral and multilateral donors to ensure that issues relating to social and political exclusion are adequately addressed. This has involved integrating social exclusion as a crosscutting issue in to a variety of policies and programmes, as well as developing targeted interventions to empower specific groups. 

Contact

Lucy Earle: lucy@sddirect.org.uk
Seema Khan: seema@sddirect.org.uk

Recent Case Studies


Knowledge Module for UN Women documents Parivartan

SDDirect recently documented a programme called Parivartan (meaning change) that aims to prevent rape and domestic violence in New Delhi, India. This case study is part of a an online resource centre for UN Women. Shreya Mitra reports.

Excluded from school in Ethiopia: GEQIP assessment

SDDirect conducted a social assessment of the General Education Quality Improvement Programme in Ethiopia. Our aims were to understand the factors that exclude children from school, to review and understand the social context for the provision of education services, and to suggest how negative social impact could be reduced. Download full report.

Social exclusion and gender inequality in Nigeria

This assessment looked at the extent to which social exclusion and gender inequality affect development programmes in Nigeria.