1 May 2018

Should resilience-building projects (always) be socially acceptable?

Author: Virginie Le Masson
Published by: ODI
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It is imperative for humanitarian and development projects to be sensitive to and respectful of social norms in contexts where they are implemented. Should this systematically be the case however, when cultural practices are harmful and might undermine resilience outcomes? This paper discusses how aid agencies deal with their objectives to support people affected by crisis without contradicting local values and if interventions can lead to positive impacts without interfering with social and political issues.