1.4 Is the VC socially sustainable?
The analysis of social sustainability focuses on assessing established and potential consequences of the VC operations in an array of six domains:
Working Conditions: labour rights, child labour, job safety, attractiveness
Land and Water Rights: voluntary guidelines, transparency and consultation, equity and compensation
Gender Equality: participation in the VC, access to resources, decision-making, empowerment, division of labour
Food and Nutrition Security: availability, accessibility, utilisation and nutrition, stability
Social Capital: producer organisations, information and trust, social involvement
Living Conditions: health services, housing, education
A set of questions guides the expert in understanding the main constraints and potential for social sustainability of the VC.
Emphasis is on identifying areas where negative social effects or risks of social difficulties appear, as well as sensitive knowledge-poor areas which should be investigated in greater depth.
VCA4D uses a simple “radar” chart which shows the scores for the six domains. Over time, the evolution of this diagram helps shed light on changes.
The analysis attempts to discern whether the observed improvements or degradations are related to the VC operations or to the wider societal context.
Core questions:
CQ3.1. Are working conditions throughout the VC socially acceptable and sustainable? Do VC operations contribute to improving them?
CQ3.2. Are the land and water rights implemented throughout the VC socially acceptable and sustainable?
CQ3.3. Throughout the VC, do actors foster and put into practice gender equality?
CQ3.4. Do VC activities contribute to upgrading and securing the food and nutrition conditions?
CQ3.5. Is social capital enhanced by VC operations and equitably distributed throughout the VC?
CQ3.6. Do the VC activities contribute to improving the living conditions of the households through acceptable facilities and services?