The Culture Lens
The ‘culture lens' is an analytical and programming tool that
helps policy makers and development practitioners to analyse,
understand and utilize positive cultural values, assets and structures
in their planning and programming processes, so as to reduce
resistance to the ICPD Programme of Action, strengthen programming
effectiveness and create conditions for ownership and sustainability
of UNFPA programmes, especially in the areas of women's empowerment
and promotion of reproductive health and rights.
The culture lens is an approach promoted by UNFPA
that can advance the goals of programming effectively and efficiently
with strong community acceptance and ownership.
A culture lens clarifies:
- The realities and socio-cultural assets (see Box below) of
societies in which programmes are delivered
- The influential local power structures and
pressure groups that can be potential allies or adversaries to
development programming
- The internal cultural tensions and aspirations of the various
sub-cultures
These perspectives can help policy makers and
development practitioners to achieve the goals of development programming
more effectively and efficiently, with stronger community acceptance
and ownership by:
- Developing skills for dealing with individuals, communities
and interest groups living in a specific cultural context
- Using culturally acceptable and persuasive language
- Establishing
bridges between local cultural values and universally recognized
human rights and gender
equity and equality
- Creating a more conducive environment for programme ownership
- Delivering more sustainable programmes
A culture lens can help illuminate the basis for social practices
that are harmful to people and hinder their enjoyment of human
rights. It can inform project designs that fit the diverse national
and local contexts, without losing sight of the human rights that
they are promoting. It encourages finding locally grown solutions
to ensure ownership and sustainability of development results.
These kinds of results are possible, and are occurring in many
UNFPA projects because cultures are
dynamic, interactive and subject to change. People are not only
products of their cultures, but also active actors who can contribute
to their change. When their attitudes and beliefs are respected,
clients and partners may be very open to changes that contribute
to the well-being of their communities and the human rights of
all individuals.
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Though they lack income and material
goods, many impoverished communities have considerable
socio-cultural assets. These include rituals, reciprocal
relationships, traditional knowledge and skills, as
well as informal support systems that deliver products
or services in normal times and in times of crisis.
This is the social capital that helps tightly knit
communities survive and overcome harsh circumstances.
In the past, such assets have often
gone unrecognized and unexplored.
But in recent years, partly in response
to earlier failures, a greater interest in socio-cultural
and institutional dimensions of development has emerged.
More emphasis is given community participation and
people-centred approaches.
The use of a culture lens is one
such approach. Applying a culture lens includes acknowledging,
appreciating and working with the social capital that
exists in many communities. This may be especially
critical in places where traditions and sociocultural
assets are being eroded by the effects of globalization.
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