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SDG Library - Social inclusion and resilient cities Module

Introduction to the relevance of social inclusion and resilient cities

Historically urban development has been associated with social progress and economic development. Cities are places where entrepreneurship and technological innovation can thrive, thanks to a diverse and well-educated labor force and a high concentration of businesses. Nowadays, urban settings with an increasing human density can lead to higher inequalities regarding socio-economic and health conditions1. Unprecedented urbanization has transformed the planet with the urban population increasing from 30 percent in 1950 to more than 56 percent in 20202 . By mid-century, roughly two thirds, or 68 percent, of the world’s population will be living in urban areas with an increasing proportion of poor people.

The side effects of rapid urbanization are a consequence of increasing migration from rural areas, bringing more and more people without jobs and with limited financial resources to cities. The ongoing Covid crisis has made those inequalities even more salient and brought to light the vulnerability of the dwellers in poor and densely populated urban areas. According to the United Nations, in 2018 there were more than one billion people living in informal settlements and slums worldwide where social distancing and self-isolation remain problematic.3

Resilience has become an important goal for the cities. The etymological roots of resilience stem from the Latin resiliens, present participle of resilire, meaning to rebound, recoil. But beyond the ability of cities to adjust and adapt in the face of changes, resilience also involves the notions of inclusion, fairness and social justice. Therefore, developing urban resilience requires inserting and taking care of the most vulnerable, to bring them into the economy/labor market in order to prevent them from being ‘excluded’ from the social order and from health protection measures. Community-building and community innovation can contribute to mobilizing and valuing local human resources while enhancing urban cohesiveness and reducing tensions and violence.

Videos

(coming soon)

Readings

Jardin de Cocagne

Social inclusion

  • United Nations. (2016). Leaving no one behind: the imperative of inclusive development. Accessible at: https://www.un.org/development... d-social-situation-2016-leaving-no-one-behind-the-imperative-of-inclusive-development/

Alternative Agri-Food Systems

  • Grewal, S.S. and Grewal, P.S. (2012). Can cities become self-reliant in food? Cities, 29 (1), pp. 1-11
  • Mancini M.C., Arfini F., Antonioli F. and Guareschi M. (2021). Alternative Agri-Food Systems under a Market Agencements Approach: The Case of Multifunctional Farming Activity in a Peri-Urban Area. Environments 2021, 8, 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments8070061

Additional readings (optional)

  • Debucquet, G., Guillotreau, P., Lazuech, G., Salladarré F., Troiville J. (2020). Sense of belonging and commitment to a community-supported fishery. The case of Yeu Island, France, Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, 101(4), 439-459.
  • Deverre, C., & Lamine, C. (2010). Alternative agri-food systems. A review of AngloAmerican studies in the social sciences. Économie rurale, (3), 57-73.
  • Le Velly R., Dufeu I. (2016), Alternative food networks as market agencements: exploring their multiple hybridities, Journal of Rural Studies, 43, 173-182.
  • Stone, J., & Rahimifard, S. (2018). Resilience in agri-food supply chains: A critical analysis of the literature and synthesis of a novel framework. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 23(3), 207-238.

Case Study

A social inclusion case study of the Jardins de Cocagne, which is an association that hosts, supports and employs men and women experiencing social and professional difficulties (unemployment, integration of disadvantaged people, migrants). In exchange for work in organic market gardening (a social integration contract from six months up to twenty-four months), the association helps individuals to rebuild their professional projects.

Jardin de Cocagne case study

Quiz

Question 1: How do the Jardins de Cocagne contribute to bringing marginalized people back into the labor market? (single choice)

a. By developing their professional skills

b. By offering them a fixed-term insertion contract

c. By restoring self-confidence

d. All of the above

(answer: d)

Question 2: Which of the following best describes the Jardins de Cocagne? (single choice)

a. A project aiming at producing organic food for poor people to enhance their health

b. A project aiming at developing a short distribution of fruit and vegetables for urban dwellers

c. A project aiming at training the most excluded out of long-term unemployment to produce organic agricultural products for local consumers.

d. A project aiming at experimenting with a low-tech agriculture to increase the production of organic food in urban surroundings or urban wastelands.

(answer: c)

Question 3: What are the difficulties the Jardins de Cocagne face in bringing transformation to people’s lives? (single choice)

a. Difficulties to socialize individual employees within the team

b. Challenges dealing with governmental and local authorities’ bureaucracy

c. Insufficient access to basic needs (food, housing, health)

d. All of the above

(answer: d)

Group Discussion

Reflect and share with the group your thoughts on the following topics. Choose at least one question from the case, one question from the module and one question from the video.

Case questions:

  • What are the resources the project uses and what are the benefits it creates?
  • What are the limits of the positive transformations produced by an initiative like the Jardins de Cocagne?

Module question:

  • How can social projects and social enterprises, such as the Jardin de Cocagne and La Tricyclerie, contribute to the reinforcement of city resiliency? Could you give examples of other projects or initiatives that reinforce city resiliency?

Video questions:

  • Could you map the different stakeholders that are affected by the Jardin de Cocagne?
  • Could you identify the different temporalities involved in the project (for instance related to people, organizations, nature, etc.)? What are the potential tensions the different temporalities may create?

Sources

1. Wilkins, J., Farrell, T., & Rangarajan, A. (2015). Linking vegetable preferences, health and local food systems through community-supported agriculture. Public Health Nutrition,18(13), 2392-2401. doi:10.1017/S1368980015000713

2. Conner TS, Brookie KL, Carr AC, Mainvil LA, Vissers MCM (2017) Let them eat fruit! The effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on psychological well-being in young adults: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE 12(2): e0171206. https://doi.org/10.1371/journa...;

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