Browsing by Subject "haavoittuvuus"

In this thesis I focus on a novel disaster response and preparedness mechanism called forecast-based financing. The mechanism is linked to the changing paradigm of humanitarian response that calls for more localized and more resilience building solutions to addressing and preventing humanitarian crisis. It is also in the core of the anticipation agenda which argues that waiting for disasters to happen is not a sustainable option and that forecast data and pre-agreed triggers and actions should be used in order to prevent both loss of lives and mitigate the cost and impact of disasters. Main hypothesis is that climate related hazards to livelihoods and food security seems to be the sector where forecast-based financing could have most potential for increasing resilience and sustainability. Slow onset crises with long lead-time allow for better targeting and more variety of actions. As the lifetime of the action is longer, there is less chance of action which is in vain. Furthermore, the actions which are more localized, for example direct support to farmers, can decrease their vulnerabilities. I aim at taking a critical approach to assessing this potentiality associated with the forecast-based financing mechanism through case study. The three cases (Mongolia, Kenya, Zimbabwe) were selected from pilots implemented by the main actors: the Red Cross, World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Start Network. This thesis uses a combination of evaluative and heuristic approach to qualitative case study analysis. To answer the first research question, 1) is the forecast-based financing mechanism successful in prioritization of actions in a way that best address the needs and resources of vulnerable populations, I aim at finding out if mechanism is effective (or potentially effective) in delivering impact. For the second research question, 2) are the actions sustainable and do they bring socio-economic benefits that go beyond meeting acute humanitarian needs, I will see if new pathways are found for confirming the defined hypothesis. I am using heuristic approach in terms of finding new links e.g. between actions and needs of either donors, actors or beneficiaries. I asses and analyse available reports and evaluations (secondary data) of the selected operations. I conducted eleven (11) semi-structured key informant interviews (primary data) using practitioner’s perspective for retrieving qualitative data, for further understanding and for triangulation. All key informants were affiliated to the cases. My analysis show that the potentiality for development impacts and long-term transformation of the forecast-based financing is there but it is not utilized in the cases reviewed nor is it perceived in a same way across practitioners of different backgrounds. Currently the mechanism is used more for effective response, not for addressing the root causes of vulnerability. In general, the entitlement or empowering of a person who is affected by disaster currently does not go beyond securing bridge over lean season, avoiding negative coping mechanisms or e.g. better yield or survival of livestock. Sustainability potential of the forecast-based financing seems to be currently underutilized and international funding envelopes do not offer an alternative to the humanitarian funding launched case-by-case. Most of the practitioners interviewed were clearly in favour of linking and using forecast-based financing in some way to long-term programming, thinking outside of the framework of humanitarian response, extending lead time significantly and adding positive reinforcement inputs. I argue that with a lead time that goes long in advance, towards development actions, the mechanism needs to be reframed for the donors and the sources of funding might need to be reconsidered. To implement meaningful resilience actions in slow onset cases, triggers need to be early enough and actions in two phases: 1) anticipatory and benefiting from forecast and 2) early response. At beneficiary level the actions should be geared up to better address underlying socio-economic vulnerabilities and take advantage of the long lead time.

Climate change has exacerbated extreme weather events. According to climate scenarios, temperatures will rise and heat periods will become more common also in Finland. These heat periods worsen the urban heat island phenomenon which is known to have negative impacts on human well-being. The impacts of the urban heat island phenomenon can be reduced through careful urban planning, adaptation policies and economic investments. Adaptation to climate change can be monitored through indicators but research and development on adaptation indicators has been largely absent. The development of adaptation monitoring indicators is particularly important in order to ensure the long-term success of the city's adaptation efforts and whether adaptation is moving towards the desired goals. This thesis asks the following research question with the help of a literature review, a focus group discussion and a questionnaire: what kind of indicators can be used to monitor and evaluate adaptation to the urban heat island phenomenon in Helsinki? With the help of the literature review and New York Climate Change Panels framework “the seven steps to indicator selection”, 17 preliminary indicators were developed which were divided into six themes accounting the diverse nature of the urban heat island and its impacts. The indicators were specified in a focus group discussion which had six attendees from environment-, the technical-, social- and health sectors. After the group discussion, the indicators were further modified with the help of a questionnaire answered by ten municipal employees, mainly from the environmental, technical and social and health sectors. On average, respondents found each indicator useful, five indicators were found to be really useful on average, and three indicators were found to be useless among a couple of respondents. After the survey, 11 indicators were modified and one indicator was removed. The end result was 16 indicators for monitoring adaptation to the urban heat island phenomenon divided into the following themes: social vulnerability, state of environment, infrastructure, green-blue infrastructure, policy actions and communication. The development of indicators does not as such contribute to the development of urban adaptation to a desired level, but it is nevertheless an important step in the process of developing adaptation monitoring in the city of Helsinki. This work provides tools for the city to develop their adaptation monitoring strategy which should be systematic and comparable. If the city wants to develop its adaptation monitoring, it is essential to document decisions and programs to explore sufficient coverage. Decisions and programs should be compared against identified adaptation commitments, targets and needs. As a conclusion, this thesis is important step towards more diverse and effective adaptation monitoring. This thesis takes adaptation monitoring forward, developing ways to put adaptation monitoring into practice.

Tutkimuksen päätavoite on analysoida ja kuvata lastensuojelun jälkihuollon työntekijöiden kuvaa asiakkaistaan. Tutkimuskysymys on, millaiseksi identiteettikuva jälkihuollon asiakkaista rakentuu työntekijöiden haastattelupuheessa. Identiteettikuva tarkoittaa tutkimuksessa ominaisuuksia, joita puheessa annetaan tietoisesti tai tiedostamatta puheen kohteena oleville. Tutkielma liittyy tutkimushankkeeseen “Sosiaalityön jälkihuollossa olevien nuorten asiakkuusprofiilit, osallisuus, tuki ja tuen vaikuttavuus. Kohti itsenäistä asumista tukevaa moniammatillista toimintamallia”. Tutkielman suurimpana motiivina on läpinäkyvyyden lisääminen. Aineistona on kuusi Helsingissä toteutettua jälkihuollon työntekijöiden ryhmähaastattelua, joihin osallistui yhteensä 22 jälkihuollon työntekijää. Tutkimus on aineistolähtöinen ja käytetty diskurssianalyysi on aineistoa tyypittelevä ja tulkitseva sekä omaa diskurssiaan luova. Metodologia pohjaa teoreettiseen viitekehykseen, joka on sosiaalinen konstruktionismi. Tutkimuksessa määriteltiin seitsemän työntekijöiden ryhmähaastattelujen puheessa rakentunutta jälkihuollon nuorta kuvaavaa diskurssia ja identiteettikuvaa. Identiteettikuvat on nimetty seuraavasti: “huonossa kunnossa oleva”, “lapseksi jäänyt”, “pärjäävä helmi”, “medikalisoitu nuori”, “päihteiden käyttäjä”, “passiivisena pysyvä” ja “epäonnistumaan tullut”. Useimmin esiintyneitä diskursseja ovat “huonossa kunnossa oleva”, “päihteiden käyttäjä” ja “lapseksi jäänyt”. Identiteettikuvat linkittyvät usein toisiinsa. Ne syntyvät vuorovaikutuksessa toisten työntekijöiden kanssa ja asiakassuhteessa, ja niitä muokkaavat myös käytössä oleva palvelujärjestelmä ja muu yhteiskunnallinen konteksti. Kun nuoren identiteettikuva määritellään ryhmähaastatteluissa huonokuntoiseksi, tilanne on sosiaalityön kannalta jumiutunut. Tällainen nuori on usein palvelujärjestelmän ulkopuolella ja sopimaton palveluihin. “Lapseksi jäänyt” -diskurssin nuoren identiteettikuvassa korostuu nuoren kehityksen keskeneräisyys, huolettomuus, ymmärtämättömyys aikuisten asioista sekä arjen osaamattomuus. “Pärjäävä helmi” -diskurssin nuoren identiteettikuvassa nuori määrittyy luotettavana, aktiivisena, itsenäisenä ja omillaan toimeen tulevana. “Medikalisoitu nuori” -diskurssissa keskustelu muuttuu ammattilaisten väliseksi terveydenhoitopainotteiseksi puheeksi, jossa nuorta määrittävä ominaisuus on hänen diagnoosinsa. “Päihteiden käyttäjän” identiteettikuvaa puolittaa päihteitä käyttävien nuorten jakaminen rutiinikäyttäjiin ja viihdekäyttäjiin. Jälkihuollon nuori on usein identiteettikuvasta riippumatta väärässä palvelussa ja pallottelun kohde. Asiantuntijat pystyvät jouhevasti liikkumaan diskurssista toiseen niitä hyödyntäen esimerkiksi nuoren tilanteen ja kontekstin mukaan. Moninaiset diskurssit voidaankin nähdä myös työvälineenä asiakkaan tilanteesta ja asiakastyöskentelystä keskusteltaessa ja sitä suunniteltaessa. Ei ole yhdentekevää, miten nuorista puhutaan, koska puhetavalla saattaa olla vaikutusta työntekijän työotteeseen. Yksipuoliseksi jumiutuessaan diskursseilla voi olla asiakassuhteeseen negatiivinen vaikutus. Vastavuoroista suhdetta voisi edistää nuoren riisuminen leimaavista elementeistä. Kielenkäytön reflektiota on hyvä tarkastella jälkihuollossa toimintatapoja kehitettäessä.

Insecurity of working life has created a certain manner of speaking which emphasizes indi-vidual’s role as an ideal subject who is preoccupied by continuously improving oneself. Over the last few years youth policy has laid stress on different kinds of guidance and support sys-tems. In the center of the discussion is the social exclusion of the youth and its prevention. Young people’s access to public services was recognized as a crucial problem and conse-quently the Finnish government set up Youth Guarantee. One-Stop Guidance Centers (Ohjaamo) were established around Finland to meet these needs. They bring together differ-ent services providing guidance for housing, education and employment. This research considers how challenges with youth employment and marginalization are han-dled in multi-agency guidance and counselling. The point of interest is how multi-agency counselling is legitimized in One-Stop Guidance Centers. I also ask how young people’s sub-jectivity and counselling specialists’ subject positions are constructed in One-Stop Guidance Centers. The research data consists of six theme interviews with counselling specialists working in a One-Stop Guidance Center. Analysis method was discoursive reading. It was found that multi-agency guidance offered by One-Stop Guidance Center is linked to therapisation and ethos of vulnerability where handling and governing emotions has become an important part of today’s society. Social problems such as unemployment are pinpointed to originate from individual’s qualities. Improving self-knowledge and other measures directed to individual’s psyche are offered as a cure to these social problems. In multi-agency guidance the central practices consisted of improving youth’s self-esteem and building motivation. By building better self-knowledge and finding one’s strengths youth were guided to use their freedom of choice but also governed their expectations. Counsellors’ position was constructed between ambivalent objectives: on the one hand as an ally but on the other hand as a bureaucrat exercising power.

Human trafficking is a fast growing crime and a fundamental offense against human rights. Human trafficking is linked, inter alia, to social, economic and cultural factors; and the impact on individuals, societies and nations is destructive. Trafficking has been studied increasingly in the recent years. Though only few primary research has been conducted of human trafficking in Kenya, where trafficking is a widely spread problem. Furthermore, vulnerability towards human trafficking and reintegration of its victims has been studied more extensively on international level, but the research done on Kenyan context is very limited and the main focus stays on economical factors. Only a few studies have focused on experiences of vulnerability and reintegration of trafficking victims. Therefore, the objective of this research is to provide more information and study the complexity of victims’ experiences by the following research question: What factors former victims of trafficking have experienced as causes to their vulnerability towards trafficking and what difficulties former victims of traf- ficking have faced during their reintegration process after trafficking in Kenya? The aim of this research is to provide information that can be utilized in the development of contra human trafficking programmes in Kenya. This study is a qualitative research. The research material, 12 semi-structured interviews with former victims of human trafficking, was collected during a six-month period in 2015- 2016 in Kenya. The method used for analysing the data was qualitative content analysis. In- tersectionality was also used as an analytical tool. The experiences of vulnerability towards trafficking were mainly in relation to social problems within families, financial difficulties and obligations towards family members. The experiences of reintegration were also hampered by financial difficulties, obligations towards family members and social problems; stigmatization, blame and discrimination. This study suggests dynamics within families and communities, when allied with other factors, may become significant intersectional factors, for individuals, of vulnerability and reintegration. The findings were consistent with previous research, even though the findings cannot be generalized to larger populations. However, this research provides important pieces of information that can be utilized in relating research and in the development of contra trafficking programmes in Kenya.

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Finland. Heatwaves increase morbidity and mortality, especially among the elderly and chronically ill. Home care services are in an important role supporting the functioning ability and quality of life among populations vulnerable to heat. This study presents a qualitative empirical case study to understand heatwave adaptation in municipal home care services in Helsinki. The purpose of this study is to explore, describe and analyse the effects of the 2018 heatwave in the context of home care services, and the services’ capacity to adapt to heat. The data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with home care workers both on the operational and strategical levels. Theoretical frameworks regarding extreme heat vulnerability and local adaptive practices were used to support the analysis. The results suggest that heatwaves have caused challenges for both workers and customers. While the working ability of home care staff may be reduced due to thermal stress, the customers’ reduced functioning ability may simultaneously increase the need for care. Some workers had experienced fatigue, and customers were described having typical heat exhaustion symptoms. Workers adaptive practices were mostly reactive responses aimed at reducing the vulnerability of customers to heat. Interviewees described having taken preventive measures to limit customers’ exposure to heat and prevent adverse heat-related health outcomes by monitoring customers’ hydration more carefully. No long-term preparedness measures were identified on the strategical level. The city had supported workers by offering mineral drink bottles and providing instructions for coping in hot weather. In conclusion, workers have an active role in adaptation, but it might be limited by their own thermal stress, customers’ different health conditions and resources, as well as service-level stressors such as lack of staff. Because heatwaves are expected to increase in the future, home care services’ preparedness to heatwaves might need to be improved. It would be important to consider adaptation needs of both workers and customers as they can be interrelated in the sense, that care is dependent on workers ability to function. In a wider societal framework, the adaptive capacity of home care should be secured through providing sufficient resources for these services. The latter is even more important in the light of future trends regarding the aging of population, increase in need for home-based services and decrease in workforce availability. More research is required on the effects of heatwaves on the most vulnerable populations, what adaptation needs there might be as well as how this relates to service provision.

Tutkielmassa tarkastellaan yksilön ja asuinalueen sosioekonomisen aseman eri ulottuvuuksien yhteyttä altruistiseen turvattomuuteen. Altruistinen turvattomuus rajataan tutkielmassa lasten puolesta koetuksi turvattomuudeksi ja keskeisenä tarkoituksena on tuottaa uutta tietoa lasten puolesta koetusta turvattomuudesta suomalaisilla lähiöasuinalueilla. Tutkielma hyödyntää rikollisuuden pelon kohdalla yleisesti käytettyjä haavoittuvuuden ja sosiaalisen disorganisaation teoriaperinteitä. Lisäksi tutkielma kritisoi yleisesti käytössä olevaa rikollisuuden pelon käsitettä suosien sen sijaan termiä turvattomuus. Aineistona tutkielmassa käytettiin Suomen Akatemian rahoittaman Uusi kaupunkiköyhyys ja lähiöiden peruskorjaus -hankkeen (PREFARE) keräämää kyselytutkimusta, johon on yhdistetty tietoja väestörekisteristä ja ruututietokannasta. Aineisto kerättiin vuonna 2013 ositetulla ryväsotannalla 60- ja 70-luvuilla rakennetuilta lähiökerrostaloalueilta. Vastaajia aineistossa on yhteensä 7 728 jakautuneena 71 asuinalueelle. Analyysimenetelmänä käytettiin logistista monitasomallinnusta. Vastemuuttujana oli itse raportoitu lasten puolesta koettu turvattomuus. Pääasialliset selittävät muuttujat olivat yksilötason ja asuinaluetason sosioekonomista asemaa kuvaavat muuttujat. Lisäksi analyyseissa otettiin huomioon aiemman tutkimuksen ohjaamana sosiodemografisia muuttujia, yksilön uhrikokemukset sekä vanhemmuus. Tutkielman tulosten perusteella yksilötasolla sosioekonomisen aseman subjektiivinen puoli on yhteydessä altruistiseen turvattomuuteen: toimeentulonsa huonoksi kokevien vetosuhde kokea turvattomuutta lasten puolesta on suurempi kuin toimeentulonsa hyväksi kokevien. Muiden yksilön sosioekonomista asemaa kuvaavien muuttujien ja altruistisen turvattomuuden väliltä ei löytynyt yhteyttä kontrolloivien muuttujien huomioimisen jälkeen. Asuinalueen kohdalla ainoastaan asuinalueen matala koulutustaso on yhteydessä altruistiseen turvattomuuteen. Lisäksi korkeakoulutus saattaa olla yhteydessä altruistiseen turvattomuuteen lähiöasuinalueilla. Tulokset ovat osittain ristiriitaiset aiempaan tutkimukseen nähden, jonka perusteella matala sosioekonominen asema on yhteydessä sekä henkilökohtaiseen että altruistiseen turvattomuuteen. Kuitenkin lähes kaikki altruistista turvattomuutta tarkasteleva tutkimus on tehty Yhdysvalloissa, jossa sosiaalinen ja sosioekonominen kointeksti on hyvin erilainen kuin Suomessa. Lisäksi tutkielman aineisto rajautuu lähiöasuinalueille, jotka ovat sosioekonomista eroistaan huolimatta muun muassa rakennetuilta piirteiltään samankaltaisia. Joka tapauksessa lasten puolesta koettu turvattomuus näyttäisi linkittyvän huoleen toimeentulosta. Tämä puolestaan istuu näkemykseen turvattomuuden kanavoitumisesta, eli ajatuksesta, jonka mukaan koettu turvattomuus pitää sisällään myös yleisempää epävarmuutta tai ahdinkoa. Lisäksi tutkielmassa esitetään, että altruistinen turvattomuus saattaa myös kiinnittyä muuttohalukkuuteen ja segregaatioon.

This thesis examines gendered vulnerability to natural disasters. Due to pre-existing gender inequalities in societies, vulnerability of women and other marginalized groups is heightened during and after disasters. The main purpose of this thesis is to find out what are the structural root causes of gendered vulnerability. Secondly, the purpose is to analyse how these root causes lead to gendered vulnerability before, during and after disasters. Gendered immobility has been identified as a relevant dimension of gendered vulnerability. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is also to examine gendered immobility in the context of disasters. Thirdly, the aim is to discuss how humanitarian work can reduce disaster-related vulnerability. The topic is approached from the point of view of intersectional feminist geography and feminist political ecology. The data for this thesis consists of 19 research reports, with a focus on gendered vulnerability and the experiences of vulnerable people in Global South countries. Additionally, two humanitarian experts were interviewed from Finnish development and humanitarian organizations. The data was analysed by using qualitative content analysis. The analysis revealed three main root causes of vulnerability. These are: 1) gender roles 2) patriarchal cultural and religious practices and norms 3) limited access to resources. These root causes lead to lack of disaster preparedness, immobility during evacuation and rescue phase, vulnerability during response and recovery phases and lastly, to post-disaster immobility. Humanitarian work can improve the status of vulnerable groups during and after disasters. However, through disaster risk reduction, humanitarian work can also tackle the root causes of vulnerability. By integrating immobility in the context of environmental risks to the research of gendered vulnerability, the results highlight the importance of analysing immobility as a part of gendered vulnerability. In addition, the results point out that vulnerability should be approached as a structural issue, highlighting the need for intersectional feminist approach in vulnerability research and in humanitarian work.

The aim of this study was to explore what kind of demands and condition special youth work offers to the youth workers. The study also considers how young people are positioned in the special youth works practices. The starting point for this study is post-structuralist feminist research and I look at special youth work as an affective practice. Previous research has shown that the ethos of vulnerability has spread to support systems and political guidance for young people both in Finland and in other Western countries. Ethos of vulnerability has been broadly studied from the perspectives of governmentality, but so far has less attention been paid to research on how it guides youth work and sets demands and conditions for being a youth worker. The data consist of autoethnographic memoir, field notes and interviews with young people. I analysed the data using affective-discursive reading. The results of my research showed how the how the ethos of vulnerability in special youth work legitimizes the work, guides youth work and positions the young people participating in the work. In my research, being a youth worker in the field of special youth work appears as the result of affective subjectification, where the personality, freedom, and meaning of work are intertwined with the practices of work, creating ambivalences for working. Special youth work positions itself as employee-centered and the young person is positioned as vulnerable and supported by the youth worker.