Taking Action
Avenues for social change are diverse. This section offers guidance about how to put the learning from the application of the MIF into action: what to do for the reduction of inequalities and how to do it. This will help you embed your inequality analysis into your country or programme strategies. Strategies given particular attention here are efforts to change narratives and to change the rules that sustain inequality. This section also looks at advocacy for the improvement of inequality data.
What to take action on?
By now you will have findings on which inequalities are most concerning, who are especially affected (including who is benefiting from these inequalities), and what drivers of inequality are most relevant in your context. It is time to decide what to take action on. To help your decision-making, you can consider the following criteria:
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Relevance: What are the most concerning inequalities that you have identified? What are the most important inequality drivers?
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Added value: What is Oxfam’s added value in relation to the issues prioritized? Who else is working on them? Can Oxfam act as a catalyst, drawing attention, bringing different groups together and taking action in a new way?
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Risk: What are the most serious risks in your context if you worked on the issues identified? Are these risks manageable? What measures can be taken for mitigation?
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Opportunity: Is there political space to raise these issues and is it potentially feasible to bring about change and win? Is Oxfam already working with partners on these issues? Can you secure the resources required?
Changing the narrative
Narratives have power. Changing the narrative refers to changing the prevailing norms, beliefs and attitudes that sustain the current economic model and have resulted in a widespread tolerance of inequalities and discrimination. These dominant societal narratives act as a barrier to change as injustice is normalised, the nature of inequalities are hidden, and the solutions are branded too radical to consider. A key value added of Oxfam’s work is drawing the public’s attention to neglected issues through creatively influencing and pushing the boundaries of what is considered ‘acceptable’ in public policy terms.
Changing the rules
Changing the rules refers to changing the policies and regulations that shape our societies and determine the patterns of inequality experienced. Oxfam is interested in policies and regulations at national, regional and global levels, and is equally as concerned with policy design as with its implementation and enforcement aspects. There are many good policies that Oxfam can advocate for that can reduce inequalities. This toolkit provides ideas in the form of “candidate policies”. Your assessment will help you decide if these are appropriate and could be effective in your context.
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Discover more
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Learn what your country is doing to #figthinequality: the Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index
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Get inspired: what works for inequality reduction
Explore here candidate policies by domain
Data advocacy
It is likely that in your application of this framework you have found data gaps, and you may want to consider getting involved in data advocacy in your country. This is not a technical exercise. What is being – and not being – measured matters: it highlights certain problems while making others invisible. In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, Oxfam is calling for a special, global initiative to improve the collection of inequality data. This global call would be bolstered by country level advocacy efforts.
Embedding inequality reduction into your strategies
Oxfam Country Strategies that aim to contribute to inequality reduction need to be based on a sound understanding of how inequalities operate in your specific context, which groups in society are being left behind, as well as which are the most relevant drivers of inequality and the possible avenues for tackling them. This knowledge will help you make the right decisions on the strategic focus of your country programmes. This Oxfam toolkit can guide your decision-making in this area.
Remember… Useful resources for programme planning
Oxfam is committed to developing influencing strategies, focused on addressing power relations, policies, practices, attitudes and beliefs underlying poverty and inequality. Here are some Oxfam resources related to power mapping and analysis, as well as to influencing, that can help you think more about your strategies and theory of change for inequality reduction.
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