PhD Study : Translating sustainable development goals to address poor reproductive health: exploring the role of civil society organisations

This project is funded by:

Horizon 2020 Programme, European Union

Summary

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), represent the global framework for social policy and development. Consisting of 17 goals the SDGs bring together 169 interdependent targets across a wide range of policy issues in areas such as health, poverty, education, gender equality, global warming and social justice. With focus on reproductive health (including maternal health, sexual health and family planning), this project investigates how these goals become translated into policies that can be implemented at the local level. In particular it investigates the role of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in translating the SDGs into implementable action (specifically Goal 3: ‘health and well-being’; Goal 5: ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’).

Recognising the inherently interdependent nature of the goals, the project inquires the extent to which NGOs tasked with addressing these complex and interdependent challenges are able to translate the goals into practice that contributes to better reproductive health.

The concept of translation refers to the acts of 'mediation' that transform, distort and modify the meaning of ideas (Latour, 2005). Translation is a skill practiced by particular development actors, such as NGOs, who play a critical role at the junctures where the different levels of donors, development professionals and communities meet. Translation sees development policy as a continuous process of transformation and problematizes any particular policy vision as being an accurate description of reality (Lendvai and Stubbs, 2009). Translation serves as an insightful entry point to understanding how local actors participate in the operationalisation of SDGs, converting these goals in to locally relevant interpretation of problems and their solutions.

Addressing the complexity of the problem and the multiplicity of issues impacting on reproductive health lends itself to the application of the Reproductive Justice Framework (Bloomer et al, 2018). It is interlinked with frameworks of reproductive health and rights, and is defined by three key principles: the right to have a child; the right not to have a child; the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments (Ross and Solinger, 2017: 9). The core recognition of the right to have children and families together with the right not to, is critical, as is centring the needs of people and communities who have been marginalised and disempowered by systems of oppression.

The Reproductive Justice Framework recognises that particular groups of women, such as indigenous women, women of colour and women in low-income groups are disproportionately affected by attempts to control their reproductive lives (Bloomer et al 2018:107). This project seeks to understand better how NGOs implement SDGs, the approaches they use and how this connects back to international policy.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.