Location
Subject
- Agriculture & Livelihoods
- Emergencies
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Food Security and Livelihoods
- Shelters & Settlements
- Health & Social Services
- Nutrition
- Justice & Peacebuilding
- Capacity Strengthening
- Partnership
- Microfinance
- Savings-Led Microfinance
- Youth
- Water Security
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
- Climate & Environmental Sustainability
- Crisis
- Earthquake
- Flood
- Displaced People
- Refugees
Evidence from CRS’ Strategic Change Platform 1
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.Studies of Note
A qualitative meta-study reviewing external and internal literature revealed cross-cutting impacts of social cohesion and justice integration, as well as sector-specific findings.
Meta-study on the Effects of Social Cohesion in Humanitarian and Development Programs English PDF
Case Study • 20 Pages
DownloadAn impact evaluation in DRC examined the effects of social cohesion integration in a multisectoral nutrition program with the hypothesis that improved social bonds, participation in community governance, and gender-equitable decision-making would allow communities to enjoy greater human security and wellbeing
Learning briefs and case studies
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.
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.
Transformative Pathways: An In-depth Look at Social Cohesion Integration in DRC's Savings & Internal Lending (SILC) Program English PDF
Learning Brief • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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.
Pathways to Resilience: Enhancing Social Cohesion in South Sudan English PDF
Learning Brief • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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. A ReliefWeb story is available here.
Learning Brief: Integrating Social Cohesion and Justice into Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines English PDF
Learning Brief • 2 Pages
DownloadA Philippines Case Study: Uniting Social Cohesion and Homes and Communities. English PDF
Case Study • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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.
Fostering Sustainability and Resilience: A Kenya Case Study of Social Cohesion and Natural Resource Management English PDF
Case Study • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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.
Fostering Social Cohesion for Nutritional Impact: Lessons from a Zambia Case Study English PDF
Case Study • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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.
A Case Study: Integrating Social Cohesion into Agriculture Programming in Liberia English PDF
Case Study • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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.
Senegal’s Elagnoul project demonstrates how communities benefit when all voices are represented to enhance positive relationship building and decision-making.
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.
دمج التماسك الاجتماعي – رواندا وبورونديوجمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية Arabic PDF
Case Study • 2 Pages
DownloadIn 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.
