The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters: A Scoping Review

Luisa Toro-Alzate; Paola Maffi; Anu Puri; Rania Elessawi; Maria Falero Cusano; Jozefien Groenendijk; Daniel H. de Vries

doi:10.3390/ijerph20196856

The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters: A Scoping Review

Luisa Toro-Alzate
, Paola Maffi
, Anu Puri
, Rania Elessawi
, Maria Falero Cusano
, Jozefien Groenendijk
, Daniel H. de Vries^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Athena Institute

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Community engagement (CE) is essential to humanitarian assistance, and the social sciences have been credited in recent epidemics and disease outbreaks as having played a crucial, supportive role. Broadening this attention to other humanitarian fields, this scoping review asks what lessons learned can be found in grey and peer-reviewed literature on the integration of the social sciences in CE for conflicts and disasters. Using an analytical framework developed through a UNICEF-led project called Social Science for Community Engagement (SS4CE) in Humanitarian Action, we identified 1093 peer reviewed publications and 315 grey literature reports of possible relevance. The results show that only a small minority—18 publications and 4 reports—tangibly comment on the relevance of social sciences, mostly only in passing and implicitly. While social science techniques are used and the importance of understanding a community’s cultural, linguistic, and religious context is emphasized, further discussion on the integration of transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary social sciences is absent. Furthermore, CE is mostly seen as an instrumental (‘means to an end’) involvement, for example to collect data in emergency situations and receive feedback on interventions, but not as a critical and transformative intervention. We conclude that unlike the attention given to social sciences in disease outbreaks, there is a knowledge gap and an accordingly proper planning and implementation gap regarding the potentiality of social science to improve CE across all humanitarian contexts of disasters and conflicts.

Original language	English
Article number	6856
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Number of pages	13
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	20
Issue number	19
Early online date	26 Sept 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196856
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Disaster Prevention and Resilience.

Funding Information:
USAID award Social Science for Community Engagement: Improving Response Capacity and Coordination for Humanitarian Action. Award number 720FDA20IO00118.

Funding Information:
This scoping review aims to identify the lessons learned and best practices on the relevance and integration of the social sciences for community engagement in humanitarian action (preparedness, response, and recovery) of conflicts and disasters described in the grey and peer-reviewed literature. Social sciences are defined as generally providing an understanding of structures power, processes, beliefs, norms, attitudes, and behaviors in different contexts. In this review, social sciences are defined as any branch of academic study or science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects. We mostly looked at anthropology, sociology, health psychology, political sciences, and post-disaster social entrepreneurship. The review was foundational to delivering a core pillar of for the Social Sciences for Community Engagement in Humanitarian Action (SS4CE in HA) project led by UNICEF, with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, during 2021–2022. The scoping review further informed the identification of capacity needs and gaps, the development of a database, and the analysis of existing SS4CE trainings as well as a competency framework on integrating social science approaches for CE, primarily in conflict and disaster settings. This work was conducted by Sonar-Global’s partner, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) with support from Institut Pasteur. AIGHD and UNICEF co-chaired a technical working group (TWG2) throughout the implementation phase of this project and facilitated a co-constructive dialogue and consultation process through meetings and interviews. The deliverables of this project are aimed at humanitarian practitioners and programmers at all levels (e.g., field, senior, HQ), donors, and social scientists working in applied humanitarian as well as academic settings. It intends to further inform the process of integrating and mainstreaming the social sciences in CE in HA.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.

Funding

USAID award Social Science for Community Engagement: Improving Response Capacity and Coordination for Humanitarian Action. Award number 720FDA20IO00118. This scoping review aims to identify the lessons learned and best practices on the relevance and integration of the social sciences for community engagement in humanitarian action (preparedness, response, and recovery) of conflicts and disasters described in the grey and peer-reviewed literature. Social sciences are defined as generally providing an understanding of structures power, processes, beliefs, norms, attitudes, and behaviors in different contexts. In this review, social sciences are defined as any branch of academic study or science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects. We mostly looked at anthropology, sociology, health psychology, political sciences, and post-disaster social entrepreneurship. The review was foundational to delivering a core pillar of for the Social Sciences for Community Engagement in Humanitarian Action (SS4CE in HA) project led by UNICEF, with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, during 2021–2022. The scoping review further informed the identification of capacity needs and gaps, the development of a database, and the analysis of existing SS4CE trainings as well as a competency framework on integrating social science approaches for CE, primarily in conflict and disaster settings. This work was conducted by Sonar-Global’s partner, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) with support from Institut Pasteur. AIGHD and UNICEF co-chaired a technical working group (TWG2) throughout the implementation phase of this project and facilitated a co-constructive dialogue and consultation process through meetings and interviews. The deliverables of this project are aimed at humanitarian practitioners and programmers at all levels (e.g., field, senior, HQ), donors, and social scientists working in applied humanitarian as well as academic settings. It intends to further inform the process of integrating and mainstreaming the social sciences in CE in HA.

Keywords

community engagement
conflict
disasters
hazards
humanitarian action
social sciences

Access to Document

10.3390/ijerph20196856

Persistent URL (handle)

Persistent link

Cite this

Toro-Alzate, L., Maffi, P., Puri, A., Elessawi, R., Cusano, M. F., Groenendijk, J., & de Vries, D. H. (2023). The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(19), 1-13. Article 6856. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196856

@article{dea9ce06b47740ba9f9c1dbc374336eb,

title = "The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters: A Scoping Review",

abstract = "Community engagement (CE) is essential to humanitarian assistance, and the social sciences have been credited in recent epidemics and disease outbreaks as having played a crucial, supportive role. Broadening this attention to other humanitarian fields, this scoping review asks what lessons learned can be found in grey and peer-reviewed literature on the integration of the social sciences in CE for conflicts and disasters. Using an analytical framework developed through a UNICEF-led project called Social Science for Community Engagement (SS4CE) in Humanitarian Action, we identified 1093 peer reviewed publications and 315 grey literature reports of possible relevance. The results show that only a small minority—18 publications and 4 reports—tangibly comment on the relevance of social sciences, mostly only in passing and implicitly. While social science techniques are used and the importance of understanding a community{\textquoteright}s cultural, linguistic, and religious context is emphasized, further discussion on the integration of transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary social sciences is absent. Furthermore, CE is mostly seen as an instrumental ({\textquoteleft}means to an end{\textquoteright}) involvement, for example to collect data in emergency situations and receive feedback on interventions, but not as a critical and transformative intervention. We conclude that unlike the attention given to social sciences in disease outbreaks, there is a knowledge gap and an accordingly proper planning and implementation gap regarding the potentiality of social science to improve CE across all humanitarian contexts of disasters and conflicts.",

keywords = "community engagement, conflict, disasters, hazards, humanitarian action, social sciences",

author = "Luisa Toro-Alzate and Paola Maffi and Anu Puri and Rania Elessawi and Cusano, \{Maria Falero\} and Jozefien Groenendijk and \{de Vries\}, \{Daniel H.\}",

note = "This article belongs to the Special Issue: Disaster Prevention and Resilience. Funding Information: USAID award Social Science for Community Engagement: Improving Response Capacity and Coordination for Humanitarian Action. Award number 720FDA20IO00118. Funding Information: This scoping review aims to identify the lessons learned and best practices on the relevance and integration of the social sciences for community engagement in humanitarian action (preparedness, response, and recovery) of conflicts and disasters described in the grey and peer-reviewed literature. Social sciences are defined as generally providing an understanding of structures power, processes, beliefs, norms, attitudes, and behaviors in different contexts. In this review, social sciences are defined as any branch of academic study or science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects. We mostly looked at anthropology, sociology, health psychology, political sciences, and post-disaster social entrepreneurship. The review was foundational to delivering a core pillar of for the Social Sciences for Community Engagement in Humanitarian Action (SS4CE in HA) project led by UNICEF, with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, during 2021–2022. The scoping review further informed the identification of capacity needs and gaps, the development of a database, and the analysis of existing SS4CE trainings as well as a competency framework on integrating social science approaches for CE, primarily in conflict and disaster settings. This work was conducted by Sonar-Global{\textquoteright}s partner, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) with support from Institut Pasteur. AIGHD and UNICEF co-chaired a technical working group (TWG2) throughout the implementation phase of this project and facilitated a co-constructive dialogue and consultation process through meetings and interviews. The deliverables of this project are aimed at humanitarian practitioners and programmers at all levels (e.g., field, senior, HQ), donors, and social scientists working in applied humanitarian as well as academic settings. It intends to further inform the process of integrating and mainstreaming the social sciences in CE in HA. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors.",

year = "2023",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3390/ijerph20196856",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

pages = "1--13",

journal = "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health",

issn = "1661-7827",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "19",

}

The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters: A Scoping Review. / Toro-Alzate, Luisa; Maffi, Paola; Puri, Anu et al.
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 20, No. 19, 6856, 01.10.2023, p. 1-13.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters

T2 - A Scoping Review

AU - Toro-Alzate, Luisa

AU - Maffi, Paola

AU - Puri, Anu

AU - Elessawi, Rania

AU - Cusano, Maria Falero

AU - Groenendijk, Jozefien

AU - de Vries, Daniel H.

N1 - This article belongs to the Special Issue: Disaster Prevention and Resilience. Funding Information: USAID award Social Science for Community Engagement: Improving Response Capacity and Coordination for Humanitarian Action. Award number 720FDA20IO00118. Funding Information: This scoping review aims to identify the lessons learned and best practices on the relevance and integration of the social sciences for community engagement in humanitarian action (preparedness, response, and recovery) of conflicts and disasters described in the grey and peer-reviewed literature. Social sciences are defined as generally providing an understanding of structures power, processes, beliefs, norms, attitudes, and behaviors in different contexts. In this review, social sciences are defined as any branch of academic study or science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects. We mostly looked at anthropology, sociology, health psychology, political sciences, and post-disaster social entrepreneurship. The review was foundational to delivering a core pillar of for the Social Sciences for Community Engagement in Humanitarian Action (SS4CE in HA) project led by UNICEF, with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, during 2021–2022. The scoping review further informed the identification of capacity needs and gaps, the development of a database, and the analysis of existing SS4CE trainings as well as a competency framework on integrating social science approaches for CE, primarily in conflict and disaster settings. This work was conducted by Sonar-Global’s partner, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) with support from Institut Pasteur. AIGHD and UNICEF co-chaired a technical working group (TWG2) throughout the implementation phase of this project and facilitated a co-constructive dialogue and consultation process through meetings and interviews. The deliverables of this project are aimed at humanitarian practitioners and programmers at all levels (e.g., field, senior, HQ), donors, and social scientists working in applied humanitarian as well as academic settings. It intends to further inform the process of integrating and mainstreaming the social sciences in CE in HA. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.

PY - 2023/10/1

Y1 - 2023/10/1

N2 - Community engagement (CE) is essential to humanitarian assistance, and the social sciences have been credited in recent epidemics and disease outbreaks as having played a crucial, supportive role. Broadening this attention to other humanitarian fields, this scoping review asks what lessons learned can be found in grey and peer-reviewed literature on the integration of the social sciences in CE for conflicts and disasters. Using an analytical framework developed through a UNICEF-led project called Social Science for Community Engagement (SS4CE) in Humanitarian Action, we identified 1093 peer reviewed publications and 315 grey literature reports of possible relevance. The results show that only a small minority—18 publications and 4 reports—tangibly comment on the relevance of social sciences, mostly only in passing and implicitly. While social science techniques are used and the importance of understanding a community’s cultural, linguistic, and religious context is emphasized, further discussion on the integration of transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary social sciences is absent. Furthermore, CE is mostly seen as an instrumental (‘means to an end’) involvement, for example to collect data in emergency situations and receive feedback on interventions, but not as a critical and transformative intervention. We conclude that unlike the attention given to social sciences in disease outbreaks, there is a knowledge gap and an accordingly proper planning and implementation gap regarding the potentiality of social science to improve CE across all humanitarian contexts of disasters and conflicts.

AB - Community engagement (CE) is essential to humanitarian assistance, and the social sciences have been credited in recent epidemics and disease outbreaks as having played a crucial, supportive role. Broadening this attention to other humanitarian fields, this scoping review asks what lessons learned can be found in grey and peer-reviewed literature on the integration of the social sciences in CE for conflicts and disasters. Using an analytical framework developed through a UNICEF-led project called Social Science for Community Engagement (SS4CE) in Humanitarian Action, we identified 1093 peer reviewed publications and 315 grey literature reports of possible relevance. The results show that only a small minority—18 publications and 4 reports—tangibly comment on the relevance of social sciences, mostly only in passing and implicitly. While social science techniques are used and the importance of understanding a community’s cultural, linguistic, and religious context is emphasized, further discussion on the integration of transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary social sciences is absent. Furthermore, CE is mostly seen as an instrumental (‘means to an end’) involvement, for example to collect data in emergency situations and receive feedback on interventions, but not as a critical and transformative intervention. We conclude that unlike the attention given to social sciences in disease outbreaks, there is a knowledge gap and an accordingly proper planning and implementation gap regarding the potentiality of social science to improve CE across all humanitarian contexts of disasters and conflicts.

KW - community engagement

KW - conflict

KW - disasters

KW - hazards

KW - humanitarian action

KW - social sciences

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85173872734

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85173872734#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph20196856

DO - 10.3390/ijerph20196856

M3 - Review article

C2 - 37835126

AN - SCOPUS:85173872734

SN - 1661-7827

VL - 20

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

IS - 19

M1 - 6856

ER -

The Integration of Social Science for Community Engagement in the Humanitarian Fields of Conflicts and Disasters: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this