CONTENTS
Interviews with Researchers
Interviews with Foundations
In February 2014, Equity for Children launched a second phase of research concerning key stakeholders’ views about equity. For the first time, foundations and philanthropists will be interviewed about why and how they are engaging with equity. This research recognizes the growing contribution by private organizations to social welfare and poverty reduction in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era. Although a number of MDGs have been met, others have not and none of them considered equity. Therefore, the international community will most likely continue supporting a global social agenda for children in the coming years, placing a greater emphasis this time on measuring and closing social gaps. In addition, Phase 2 of Equity for Children’s research will feature interviews and concepts from renowned researchers around the world who are working to eliminate poverty and achieve equity.
The research in Phase 2 will address the following thought-provoking questions, among other topics:
- • How do foundations, philanthropists and researchers view equity and contribute through their thinking and actions to advance equity for children?
- • What key recommendations will positively impact policy, programming and research?
- • What, from their experience, addresses inequities most efficiently?
By gathering a diverse set of answers to these questions and others, we wish to provide an overview about current thinking and best practice in the field. We will explore diverse perspectives in order to push forward equity on the public agenda.
This new research phase builds upon resources and voices of major international organizations, which have been a focal point for change in the area of human development in the past.
The documents and interviews related to Phase 1 of the research can be accessed under our “Approaches to Equity” section by clicking here.
Shedding light on the perspectives of researchers and foundations is crucial,
as they are key actors who promote equity for children.
Foundations and philanthropists have the ability to influence the agendas of governments and development organizations. Their research funds cutting edge work in the field. Phase 2 of our work will assess and clarify how foundations think about equity when considering their general agenda and how this is reflected in the way they shape their priorities and their spending. We will also discuss the actual impact that these grants have had on decreasing inequities for children: the challenges the organizations face, the strategies they have utilized and measurement thus far that have achieved the highest impact.
Researchers contribute to this important discussion by enabling others to better understand how to improve children’s lives. Researchers play a crucial role by reflecting on existing programs, systems and policies and by providing evidence-based guidance and theoretical frameworks. Equity for Children’s research examines the concepts and frameworks that development researchers currently use to describe social inequities, along with how they view current equity and equality concepts.
We invite you to participate.
The process of selecting and displaying relevant information about equity for children is ongoing. We invite all our readers and followers to send us information about new equity approaches, experiences, evidence of impact and theories. The current core team of researchers leading the project includes Executive Director Alberto Minujin, Director of Programs and Research Günay Salazar, and Research Assistants Lauren Santorso and Ismael Cid.
Contents of Phase 2:
- • Interviews with Researchers
- Interview with Paul Dornan, Senior Policy Officer, Young Lives
- Interview with Alicia Ely Yamin, Director, Program on Health Rights of Women and Children, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University
- Interview with Hinke Haisma, Associate Professor in Population and Child Health at the University of Groningen
- Interview with Keetie Roelen, Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies
- Interview with Professor Bernard Aigbokhan Economics Lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria
- • Interviews with Foundations
- Interview with Kathy Hall, Senior Program Officer for Empowering Youth: Girls’ Equality and Adolescent Reproductive Health at the Summit Foundation
- Interview with Nonet T. Sykes, Senior Associate The Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Interview with Margaret Hempel, Director for Gender, Sexuality and Reproductive Justice Ford Foundation.
- Interview with Dena Kimball, Executive Director of the Kendeda Fund
