Enhancing Outcomes by Integrating Social Cohesion & Justice

Thriving societies begin with social cohesion and justice. When people and communities are empowered to address what divides them, uphold what unites them, and act together for stronger, healthier and more just social ties, they are better able to achieve their recovery and development priorities. This transformational change is the foundation for local leadership, local ownership and sustainable impact. Taken together, social cohesion and justice provide the glue for people to live healthy and economically secure lives supported by just institutions.

CRS’ Strategic Change Platform 1 promotes a more systematic and deliberate integration of social cohesion and justice approaches across all our humanitarian and development work. This collection of case studies illustrates the power of strengthening the social fabric to address overlapping challenges.

• In DRC, the Budikadidi project demonstrates the power of a light-touch social cohesion integration approach to strengthen governance within local structures and empower communities to improve and sustain food security and nutrition for all. This case study is available in English.
• Also in DRC, an Integrated Youth Development program tested the effects of social cohesion and conflict management training on both social and economic outcomes for youth Savings & Internal Lending Communities (SILC). These interventions directly influenced attitudes and practices, active SILC engagement, increased savings and credit use, and collaborative productivity. This case study is available in English.
• In South Sudan, including social cohesion and trauma resilience components alongside the multisectoral Pathways to Resilience project approach yielded transformational changes at personal, relational, structural and cultural levels. This case study is available in English.
• In the Philippines, the process of mainstreaming social cohesion in the SHAKE II disaster risk reduction (DRR) project yielded a number of lessons for similar integration lessons. Successful mainstreaming requires orienting staff and partners to social cohesion, examining together how it fits within a DRR framework, and jointly crafting community engagement approaches. This case study is available in English. A ReliefWeb story is also available here. 
• Also in the Philippines, incorporating social cohesion and justice principles into collaborative efforts for shelter and settlements has resulted in an inclusive, participatory approach to social mobilization and the development of homes and communities. This case study is available in English.
• In Kenya, a learning initiative within the Enhancing Community-based Climate Adaptation in Turkana program underscored the ability of horizontal and vertical social cohesion strengthening to expand market linkages, broaden participation particularly among marginalized groups, and ultimately to enhance resilience. This case study is available in English.   
• In Zambia, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN II) program sought to enhance nutritional outcomes through a multisectoral approach. Adding social cohesion and justice components suggests the potential for more sustainable and equitably programming thanks to greater collaboration among key stakeholders. This case study is available in English.
• In Liberia, the Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture project aimed to enhance agricultural productivity and expand economic networks by fostering a culture of trust, respect, and cooperation within producer groups and their communities. The project successfully engaged both women and youth. This case study is available in English.
• In West Darfur, Sudan, Taadoud demonstrates how diverse communities of subsistence farmers and nomadic pastoralists organized themselves to develop an inclusive and equitable approach for effective community governance around natural resources. This case study is available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
• Senegal’s Elagnoul project demonstrates how communities benefit when all voices are represented to enhance positive relationship building and decision-making. This case study is available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
• COSOPAX in Central Africa’s Great Lakes region shows that combining social cohesion with economic strengthening efforts increased women’s agency, visibility and voice within their households and communities, improved their economic well-being and empowered them to serve as peace advocates in communities recovering from conflict. This case study is available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
• In Athens, Greece, Livelihoods and Psychosocial Support to Refugees and Asylum Seekers programming shows how improving the social integration and overall wellbeing of refugees enhances broader livelihood issues of safe shelter, language instruction, employment workshops, and vocational training. This case study is available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.