Host: Soniia David
Panelists: Dr Girma Hundessa, Kelemua Zenebe Ayele, Dr. Privilege Hang’andu
9 February 2021
Background
Inclusive governance is critical for all challenges facing society, whether climate change, violence, or natural resource management. Governance is the way rules, norms, and actions are structured, sustained, regulated, and held accountable. Governance is inclusive when it effectively serves and engages all people. Good governance should take into account gender disability and other facades of personal identity. It exists when institutional policies, processes, and services are accessible, accountable, and responsive to all members of society.
This webinar was hosted by Soniia David, Principal Researcher at Includovate. Soniia opened by giving a brief explanation of the idea of governance and inclusive governance, before moving on to introduce the panelists.
Dr. Girma Hundessa, Indigenous Governance Principal Researcher at Includovate, came onto the stage to discuss governance, its types from different perspectives, how it affects societal decision-making, and how citizens have the voice of governance. He also talked about hybrid governance and indigenous governance in Ethiopia, giving instructive real-life examples. Dr. Hundessa also briefly explained the benefits of inclusive governance structures, giving examples from Ethiopia.
Next to talk was Kelemua Zenebe, Includovate’s Disability Studies Researcher. Kelemua explained how to make low-income government disability inclusive. How inclusion is about choice and how governance, whether it’s structural or societal, has the power to exclude or include someone. Then Kelemua showed how inclusion is the profitable choice, while exclusion costs society much. She followed up by raising the issues that persons with disabilities face, how they are marginalised, and how this kind of exclusion can be minimised. Kelemua finished by highlighting that there are 1 billion persons with disabilities globally, and 15 million alone in Ethiopia, and that is it is time to make their voices heard for the politics of the future. She also outlined how persons with disabilities can vote in the upcoming Ethiopian election.
Dr. Privilege Hang’andu, Principal Researcher at Includovate, gave his insights regarding the macro level of inclusive governance in international scale, how policy diffusion occurs, how international players affect and influence the policy processes across the policy domains.. He explained inclusive governance and some outcomes of governance policies in different contexts, and also talked about power sharing in international governance. Then he discussed balancing trade in global trade;how inclusive governance should entail that countries have the autonomy to exploit their own resources, make sure that countries have equal access to the market, and have an equal redistribution of wealth. Dr. Hang’andu finished by briefly talking about the causes and consequences of exclusionary governance structures.
The webinar ended with a question and answer section. For participants, this webinar was a useful way to share know-how in inclusive governance and help Includovate researchers in implementing their research. Thank you (in no particular order) Liya, Eunice, Rebecca, Kanika, Deniz, Yeabtsega for organising the session in all!
Includovate is a feminist research incubator that “walks the talk”. Includovate is an Australian social enterprise consisting of a consulting firm and research incubator that designs solutions for gender equality and social inclusion. Its mission is to incubate transformative and inclusive solutions for measuring, studying, and changing discriminatory norms that lead to poverty, inequality, and injustice. To know more about us at Includovate, follow our social media: @includovate, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.