The third workshop aimed to illustrate Fair Trade as an ethical alternative to the mainstream of conventional trade practices oriented towards social, economic, and environmentally sustainable development. Smith (2007) provided that fair trade is a program that utilises trade in specific ways to attain equitable and sustainable development. The mentioned study determined the importance of obtaining Fairtrade certification to develop standards for fair labour rights, environmental guarantees, and opportunities for economic development. Before attending this workshop, my understanding of development broadly evolvedaround the economic factors that considers growth elements in terms of GDP, industrialisation, and the development of infrastructures. The concept of Fair Trade added to my knowledge that ethical consumption and fairer trade were at the core of determining development.
I have acknowledged that Fair Trade remains an important alternative and a fully beneficial approach regarding structural inequalities. Smith (2007) states that many producers yet cannot obtain Fairtrade certification due to not being capable of meeting the very high standards required for achieving such certification. Ballet,Gondard-Delcroix and Cedras (2021)highlighted limitations of the Fair Trade approach due to the probability of increasing mind-sets of producers ofgaining just the benefits who are anyhow more favourablylocated economically and organisationally. The learnings under workshop 3 provided thatFairtrade is the social premium financial incentive given to producers, which may be invested in community projects, such as education, health, and much more. This aspect has challenged my previous understanding of development, indicating how trade may directly affect social development instead of necessarily being an economy-driven practice. Previously, I assumed it was two distinct zones, trade is about market profits and social development is all about government or NGOs. But the essence of Fair Trade is that ethical trade practice can be a tool for social development and especially a tool for the marginalised.
The workshop 3introduced the concept, power of consumers as users who support Fair Trade through the ethical choice of purchasing. This concept challenged my perspective of development carried out by the government, international organisations, and even companies. It was surprising that various developed countries are perceived to have power in changing global developments by their selected Fairtrade products themselves.I found power of consumers as users who attractive and empowering. As such, ethical consumption can be aencouragement, it can stimulate change in international trade, which affects producers who themselves contribute to fairer development. At the role-playing part of the workshop, I had to balance the ethical value of Fairtrade products against profitability and broader market factors. The respective experience made me realise that under ethical trade, even financial and market dynamics form many decisions and limit the further transformative potential of choice by consumers. Therefore, I acknowledged that consumer preference to consume Fairtrade will still fall short within the systemic level of neoliberal capitalism and globalisation wherein profit-making interest supersedes the ethical principle. Indeed, it is the large corporation and global supply chain-controlled world operating at a level of models of profit-making, subverting or capturing the greater good of such ethical certifications as Fairtrade. Thus, consumers' role is only supplementary in effecting real change in global practices of trade.
On the other hand, Besky (2008) highlighted the limitation of Fair Trade. The review findings explored that the plantation-based labour system, which is often exploited, can never be fairly developed, even if it is certified by Fairtrade. The mentioned research made me think about the inherent contradictions of Fair Trade. It was provided that some labour standards and environmental protections are guaranteed through Fairtrade certification, but at the same time, this cannot disassemble those broader structures of inequality within global trade. It is analysed that plantation workers would have a better wage and better conditions under Fairtrade but still belong in a subordinate position within a bigger, overarching supply chain controlled by international corporations. I understand now that, though important advantages it offers, Fair Trade has to be part of a broader movement addressing deeper systemic inequalities in global trade.
Workshop 3 on Fair Trade as Ethical Development has challenged my understanding of development quite significantly. I had assumed so far that development was mainly about macro policies, government initiatives, and international aid flows. However, learnings gained within the workshop on Fair Trade has brought out is a much more complex understanding of development whereby ethical trade practices and consumer choices are considered as development outcomes.I am now aware of the limitations of Fair Trade. Though giving some benefits to those producers, it doesn't completely eradicate the structural inequalities that sustain imbalances in the global economy. Moreover, an over-reliance on consumer choice in more affluent economies makes Fair Trade susceptible to market fluctuations, raising doubts over its sustainability as a long-term tool of development.
Workshop 4 was aimed to investigate the lives, rights, and potential integration of most refugees into host communities through social enterprise. One of the core aspects of this workshop was to learn about the Refugee Convention adopted in 1951. My best knowledge before this workshop was that I understood what is called the humanitarian approach to refugees that includes immediate needs like shelter, food, and kind of care regarding health. Refugee Convention adopted in 1951legal framework presented an altogether new dimensions (UNHCR, 2023).Refugees, especially in low- and middle-income countries, live under dangerous conditions despite such legal protections(UNHCR, 2023).I realised that legal frameworks cannot exist independently of the existence of strong frameworks for their implementation. This goes back to broader structural aspects of governance and international cooperation-which, in general, fails to keep arguing or articulating sustainable, long-term needs of refugees. Furthermore, the workshop provided knowledge on the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), adopted by the UN in 2018, for which different streams were introduced. The GCR framework places a much stronger emphasis on more equitable responsibility-sharing among nations as the numbers of refugees rise day by day due to international conflicts involving countries like Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan(UNHCR, 2023). Before the workshop, I used to see the problem of refugees as thespecific or individually bounded national issue. However, learnings from the workshop provided that the GCR proposes a systemic approach toward resolving refugee issues-that of international cooperation in addressing refugee crises.
I recognise that refugee crises are not just humanitarian emergencies but concerns integrated with global development issues that require action worldwide. The workshop provided that 70% of the world's displaced persons are hosted in neighbouring countries, and 76% are hosted in low-and middle-income countries. The findings by Betts & Collier (2017) provided the lack of equal distribution of responsibility, as countries that are least prepared to take on large invasions of refugees.The learning gained made me question my previous assumption that high-income countries, being better resourced, would naturally step up and take on more responsibility in refugee resettlement.Another most stimulating aspects of this workshop was the discussion on social enterprises as a mode of integration for refugees. A social enterprise is a business model with a social mission, which may present an opportunity for employment for refugees, hence reducing dependency on aid due to their sustenance-based sustainability mechanisms (Bishop, 2020). My understandingconsidered refugees until now only as people who are recipients of aid. However, social enterprises somehow play a role that cuts at this seemingly passive view of these people, making them contributors to the advancement of economic and community development. Social enterprise can give refugee populations skills training and employment opportunities and hence see to it that they have a sense of direction in rebuilding their lives with dignity. It does fit within the general development attitude that instead of dependency, focuses on empowerment and agency.
Thehighlighted issue in the workshop was the issue of integration between the refugees and the host communities.Munoz (2021) outlined challenge for both host countries and refugee to handle theimmigration sentimentsdue to differential perspectives about humanitarian and environmental distress with attention to pacific islanders. The GCR framework outlined in workshop 4 features support not only for the refugees but also for the host community to coexist peacefully with the former. The learnings obtained challenged my previous impression that integration among refugees was purely about the allocation of resources about distributing resources for refugees: housing, healthcare, and education.I found that my concept of development for refugees was not just relocating them but making sustainable and inclusive communities. I would therefore challenge more the classic notion of development being a linear process that would focus primarily on economic growth and infrastructural development. In the case of refugees, more development would be oriented toward achieving the benefits of social cohesion, building community, and actual long-term integration benefits for all stakeholders.
Therefore, workshop 4 was one of the most influential sessions that tested my understanding of development; from humanitarian aid to a more holistic approach to social, economic, and community-driven solutions. Much attention is given to the urgency for global cooperation, legal protection, and innovation in the forms of social enterprises against the problems of refugees.I now realise that the concept of development with refugees is complex environment with importance of incorporating relevant frameworks like GCR. Development entails humanitarian responses in the short term and will require integration, empowerment, and community cohesion strategies in the long term.
Workshop 5 covered the complexities of forced labour, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation under the broad heading of modern slavery. International Labour Organisation. (2022) provided that the practices of forced labour and forced marriage have increased significantly in the last five years causing ethical and practical challenges in fighting slavery. Before the workshop, I could conceptualise modern slavery only within a humanitarian framework. But especially through discussions of how industrialised countries and corporate interests facilitate exploitative practices, my conception dramatically changed. For me now, modern slavery is not only a human rights question but an embedded consequence of global political-economic systems, especially neoliberalism.
According to the ILO, 49.6 million people are living with modern slavery including, children or people in forced marriages (International Labour Organisation, 2022).Among the more influential ideas presented within that workshop was the association between neoliberalism and the resurgence of unfree labour. According to LeBaron and Ayers (2013), neoliberal economic policy undermines the rights of workers, bringing about such exploitation. Global restructuring along the lines of political economies in a neoliberal nature presses people into poverty and serves as the foundation for unfree labour. Workers are imperatively thrust into labour markets in unequal terms, hardly having recourse for legal protections or rights.Mende and Drubel (2020) provided that modern slavery is particularly characterised by the complicity of powerful industrialised countries and multinational corporations. The knowledge acquired during the workshop was sensitive that explained me the importance of being free with equal opportunities and rights. The difficult scenarios faced by people living in modern slavery made me re-think about the effectiveness of current governing structures throughout the international borders.
Human Rights Watch (2017), outlined the case of the supply chain for cotton in Uzbekistan, which compels farmers and workers to work with heavy coercion to harvest cotton in fear of punishment or loss of means of livelihood. International textile companies that purchase Uzbek cotton indirectly finance these exploitative practices, even with voluntary codes of conduct and corporate social responsibility initiatives (Human Rights Watch, 2017). The knowledge acquired was contrary to my previous belief that development was the process or duty of governments and other international organisations. I realise today that private sector actors are more involved in perpetuating it or preventing it from happening. Companies that think profit has to be made before ethics are part of the scourge that victimises poor and vulnerable nations, especially in weak or non-existent labour protective nations. Voluntary codes of conduct can be so weak and will not benefit society as intended since these often do not tackle the root cause of exploitation and result in an inability to hold corporations accountable.
The critical understandings during the workshop was made to focus what role multi-stakeholder initiatives might play in confronting modern slavery including supply chains operations. It demands the involvement of the ILO, governments, international corporations, civil society organisations, and human rights groups together in bringing about systemic change. The challenge is how to find common ground among all these parties, each following its priorities and risks. The learnings gained made me realise development is not only key in building coalitions and negotiating but also in harnessing and combining international, regional, and local human efforts, resources, and organisations to make input and commitments and be involved in such efforts. International organisations like the ILO, on their part, need to be involved in the debate on modern slavery. However, these cannot end up being voluntary efforts but rather binding and conditional agreements in terms of compliance and accountability.In this regard, I realised that development isn't just a top-down process by governments or international agencies. But it is meant to include all the stakeholders relevant to the cause and even more so those at the grassroots who get exploited most. So, social and economic development in this regard is only when structures empower vulnerable populations, protect workers' rights, and hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Workshop 5 challenged my understanding of development because it brought forth the dilemmas and systemic inequities that are embodied in global economic systems. Modern slavery is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a development one that's rooted within the structures of neoliberal politics and economics. This workshop enhanced my understanding of development beyond rapid economic growth and poverty alleviation towards more proactive virtues that include ethical business practice, the rule of law, and multi-stakeholder cooperation. Now, more than ever, I have come to realise that not just accelerated liberalisation of the economy or other expansions of the marketplace must define development, but how the systems placed in these spaces can protect the most vulnerable populations from exploitation.
Workshop 6 explored the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016, focusing on the roles and responses of diverse actors in relating to and containing the crisis. This workshop revealed not only the biological and medical aspects of Ebola but also the cultural, social, and institutional factors that have informed the spreading of the virus and the efficiency of responses. My perception of actual control over disease outbreaks was broadened as it emphasised crucial anthropological, cultural, and institutional factors that are necessary when implementing control measures. A healthy response to health crises such as Ebola is not only medical or technical but also an integral understanding of the cultural and social context.
The role local communities played in spreading and controlling the Ebola virus was the most important realisation that I learned from the workshop. According to Treffers et al. (2022) cultural practices like communal eating, sick care at home, and traditional burial ceremonies greatly contributed to the spread of the virus. However, these practices are embedded very deeply into the social tissue of West African societies, and the attempt at trying to do it differently must be culturally sensitive and include local leaders. Chiefs, women's groups, religious leaders, and teachers are respected people in these societies and wield influence over what decisions people make.The workshop made special mention of the institutional weaknesses in health systems in West Africa, most particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Park (2022) outlinedfailure by governments to respond to the Ebola outbreak due to underfunded and weak health systems, inadequately numerous healthcare personnel, and weak governance structures. There was intra and interregional porous border that moved people across borders without proper health checks or quarantine measures thus complicating efforts to contain the virus.Reflection on this aspect now makes me consider development as fundamentally not only enhancing individual health outcomes but also strengthening institutions and systems that can respond to crises. The health system vulnerabilities that have been exposed during the Ebola outbreak feature in other developing regions. More effective development, therefore, must include capacity-building efforts that improve the government's ability to manage health emergencies better, plus improve infrastructure so resources are available.
Another important discussion point was the need for multiple sectors in coordination with governments. It was then demonstrated that the Ministry of Health single-handedly could not contain the outbreak; it had to be a participative response that even involved border control, transportation, and communication. This consequently raised critical questions about governments' and authorities' capacities in low-resource settings to handle complex health crises and the necessity for stronger institutions and infrastructure.The relevant NGOswere providing emergency medical care on the ground and establishing isolation facilities and labs in several settings that were among the least resourced. However, workshop pointed that all these organisations are important as they might seem, must not be allowed to act in isolation. Containment had to involve the right collaboration with local government, NGOs, and community leaders so that culturally sensitive interventions are accepted by the population at large.
This workshop challenged my previous view that development's most effective actor is always the international organisation. Their expertise and resources are of utmost importance, but still, they have to work with local actors to achieve sustainable outcomes. It was realised that development is a collaborative activity; hence international organisations need to have strategic arrangements that adapt to the local context.One of the most challenging factors in the Ebola outbreak was fear and misinformation. So many people in West Africa distrusted outsiders, especially health workers, and believed the interventions being presented to them were wrong or harmful rather than helpful. This fear alone was responsible for resistance. Some communities denied entry to health workers or refused to live by guidelines on safe hygiene practices. More seriously, misinformation about the source of the virus and the intent of health workers served to worsen the issue.
Overall, the workshop underlines the need for collaboration among all actors, that is, governments, international organisations, NGOs, and local communities. No one can deal with this crisis alone. In the workshop exercise, a group represented every actor while dealing with the response, which explains why proper coordination among all the parties involved would ensure the best results. I acquired learnings on how complex and truly a collective process development is. With these multiple kind of actors, large expertise and resource mobilisation pools are brought together to deal with catastrophes such as epidemics. Development is not about isolated top-down interventions but about creating networks for effective and sustainable responses to crises.
Reflecting on my experience in GOV511, my understanding of development has been changed rather deeply. Previously, my understanding of development was related to a linear process that was mainly economic and was characterised by expansions in infrastructure and political reforms.However, workshops in this course transformed my perspective of development, depicting the fact that development is multifaceted and dynamic, with significant influencing factors related to social, cultural, and institutional factors.
The most attractive learnings gained throughout the workshop learnings comprise the extent to which culture shapes the outcomes of development. Workshop 6 provided that local cultural practices covered the way for the Ebola virus to spread across West Africa. The ESI capacity-building workshop made me realise that the problem is not so much a medical matter but alsoencompasses the cultural dimension involved in health crises. On the other hand, Workshop 3 on Fair Trade made me challenge the assumption that I had about ethical development. Before this workshop, I would have thought of trade in quite simple terms mechanism to improve economic growth in developing countries discussion about fair trade as a more just form of economic exchange made me realise that the issue of development must be as much about justice and fairness as about growth. This means that fair trade acknowledges the imbalances of power embedded in global supply chains and strives to ensure that the producers in developing countries are paid a just wage for their labour. This transformed my outlook regarding the fact that ethical considerations must always underpin development work. A change in development outcomes is not enough; how these outcomes are achieved has to be equally important.
Going through GOV511 has also in a great way influenced my understanding of development; one theme that has been observable throughout is the factor of institutional weakness in developing countries. For example, Workshop 6 indicated that health systems were very weak in West Africa and lacked the strength to manage the Ebola outbreak appropriately. Through this, I came to understand that development intervention cannot work without having institutions that are strong enough to manage resources, coordinate responses, and deliver basic services. The Ebola crisis not only laid bare the vulnerabilities of states with deficient health systems but also reaffirmed the doctrine of capacity building as the very core of development work. Institutional strengthening is cardinal to making development gains sustainable and equipping countries with the wherewithal to handle crises more effectively in the future.
Moreover, GOV511 made me realise that there had been a dearth of psychological and emotional orientations of development work. Through Discussion in Workshop 4, it was learned that one of the refugees is seeking not only material assistance but also security, respect, and belonging in a new place. Thus, learning more about the human cost of forced displacement and related emotional scars has helped me become more compassionate toward people victimised by war and other calamities. It made me appreciate that development work is not just about providing services but restoring hope and dignity to people who have lost so much. This emotional aspect of development is something I will carry forward in future work, reminding myself to approach development with empathy and compassion.
In future, I will certainly be influenced by GOV511 in terms of my aspirations in the development field. The workshop taught me the value of collaborative work with local communities, listening to them, and respecting their ways of life. As I progress in my career, these principles will be brought into my work, never forgetting to put at the frontend of every decision-making process the voices of those who are going to be affected by the development.
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