Thursday, March 13, 2008

[EQ] Critical Readings on Assessing and Learning for Social Change

Critical Readings on Assessing and Learning for Social Change:

A Review

 

Irene Guijt

The Institute of Development Studies, UK

University of Sussex - January 2008

 

Available online as PDF file [79p.] at: http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/db/db21.pdf

 

“….The readings in this literature review provide an overview of the ideas and approaches that are considered useful in shaping new approaches to assessment

and learning that strengthen the very processes of transformation that are their focus.

 

The review aims to guide individuals engaged in transformational development processes – be they in the South or North – with two different needs:

1. Those interested in monitoring and evaluation and facing methodological and conceptual questions about how to deal
    with the dilemmas posed by social change processes in terms of assessment and learning.

2. Those active in social change processes and keen to understand how their work can be strengthened by conscious assessment and learning processes.

 

This review consists of a combination of conceptual and methodological discussions, as well as practical examples about assessing social change.

The conceptual part of the review consists of two blocks of readings: ‘Perspectives on Assessment’ and ‘Analytical Frameworks’. Both relate to more conceptual ideas that underpin the more practical methodological choices.


The practical examples including descriptions of generic methodologies as well as specific case studies and are organised in three blocks. The readings in ‘Practical Considerations’ seek to address some of the more uneasy methodological dilemmas. In ‘Specific Methods and Approaches’, readings relate to concrete

examples of recent methods that have emerged in part to address some of the dilemmas.

 

Finally, in ‘Inspiration from Concrete Examples’, the reader will find case studies from a wide range of geographical, social and organisational contexts that show how effective and just assessment and learning processes can be possible….”

 

Content:

1 Introducing the review

2 Perspectives on assessment

3 Analytical frameworks

4 Practical considerations

5 Specific methods and approaches

6 Inspiration from concrete examples

Annex 1 Overview of all readings

 

 

 

Assessing and Learning for Social Change: A Discussion Paper

The Institute of Development Studies, UK

University of Sussex – November 2007

 

Available online PDF file [64p.] at: http://www.ids.ac.uk/UserFiles/File/participation_team/publications/ASC_low-res_final_version.pdf

 

Four central themes guided discussions and provide the structure of the paper:


1. Understanding ‘social change’ and how this affects learning and assessment;

2. Frameworks, concepts and methods to ensure critical reflection;

3. Understanding and dealing with different actors in assessment and learning;

4. Issues of scale and interconnectedness.


The paper ends with an agenda for action for donors, social change activists and their organisations, and facilitators of assessment and learning.

 

 

 

 *      *      *     * 

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ IKM Area] 

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is".Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

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[EQ] Fatherhood and health outcomes in Europe

Fatherhood and health outcomes in Europe

 

WHO Regional Office for Europe - Copenhagen, Denmark – 2008

 

Available online as PDF file [40p.] at: http://www.euro.who.int/document/e91129.pdf

 

“…….What is known about fatherhood and reproductive health? How can men, by being more involved in parenting, contribute to better health outcomes for themselves and their children and partners? What factors affect men’s involvement in parenthood and reproductive health positively? The report Fatherhood and health outcomes explores these issues. The report is based on a literature review with a special focus on fatherhood in Europe.

 

Examination of the research literature shows, generally speaking, that increased involvement by men in fatherhood can benefit men, as well as women and children, in the form of better health. For example, men can give important psychological and emotional support to the woman during pregnancy

and delivery. This, in turn, can reduce pain, panic and exhaustion during delivery. Studies have also shown that men’s involvement in maternal and child health programmes can reduce maternal and child mortality during pregnancy and labour by being prepared, for example, for obstetric emergencies.

However, increased involvement in fatherhood can also benefit men’s own health and well-being.

 

……The support for men’s increased involvement in parenthood and reproductive health also depends on more multifaceted support from the welfare state and employment. For example, numerous studies have showed that a generous parental leave system, enabling longer paid parental leave, gives parents better opportunities to combine work and family life; several studies have found that this positively affects both gender equality and health outcomes. However, this support varies greatly between the different countries in Europe but generally is very poor. The same situation applies to employment, where fathers most often are not seen as parents and therefore get limited support for combining work and family life….”

 

Content
Executive Summary

Introduction

Structure

Fatherhood and reproductive health

• Becoming a father and maternal and child health care

• Planning to become a parent

• Men and antenatal care

• Men’s presence during delivery

• Fatherhood and positive health outcomes for women

• Special groups – special needs

• Parents who are immigrants

• Fatherhood, poor economic conditions and class

• Adolescent fathers

• Summary

Managing fathering: on fatherhood and health in everyday life

• The meaning of fatherhood and how it affects men’s health

Combining work and family life

• Fatherhood and parental leave

• Gender differences in adapting work to family life

• Work – family boundaries – affecting well-being and health

• Fathers’ influence on the health of their children

• Summary

Summary and Conclusions

References

 

 

This review is a result of collaboration between the Department of Gender, Women and Health of WHO and the Gender and Health Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe, under the

overall guidance of Peju Olukoya, Coordinator, Department of Gender, Women and Health and Isabel Yordi Aguirre, Technical Officer, Gender and Health Programme, WHO Regional Office for Europe. Lars Plantin of Malmö University, Sweden, who authored the report with the support of the Swedish Expertise Fund to WHO. Contributions were also made by Gary Barker, Instituto Promundo, Brazil; Kirsten Vogelson, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO; Eva Margareta Wallstam, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and a former WHO staff member; and Sven-Axel Månsson, Sara Johnsdotter, Aje Carlbom and Charlotta Holmström, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Sweden.

 

 

 *      *      *     * 

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMS Area] 

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is".Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website: http://www.paho.org/
EQUITY List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

 

 

 

 

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.