State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2014
Special focus on urbanization
Call for Europe chapter author
Description of role
Minority Rights Group is commissioning an author to develop the Europe chapter in next year’s State
of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, focused on urbanization /cities. A full description
of the work involved is listed below, but the research will involve developing seven country profiles
and possibly two case studies, totalling 7,000-8,000 words, summarizing the key events relating to
minorities and indigenous peoples during 2014, with particular reference to urban related issues.
Person specification
The author(s) will need to have a strong regional perspective on minority rights issues and an
understanding of a wide range of issues, particularly urbanization. As the guide is intended for a
wide audience, the material should be written in clear and accessible English. The author(s) must be
able to write fluently in English and comfortable undertaking desk research with a range of
published sources.
Timeline and remuneration
The first draft will need to be produced by late January / early February before being finalized in line
with reviewer comments by late February / early March. The total fee for the assignment is 1,600
Euros.
How to apply
Researchers are invited to send their CV by email for consideration by Monday, 8 December at 09.00
(UK time) to peter.grant@mrgmail.org. Please ensure to include on the subject line ‘SWM Europe
chapter application’.
Europe
The chapter should include:
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7 country updates covering events relevant to minorities in general, but mainly focused on
the theme of the book.
2 first hand case studies of about 500-600 words on an urbanization / urban development
topic to be agreed with MRG.
Word limit: 7,000-8,000 words.
The country profiles can begin by covering some of the major issues and developments relating to
minorities and indigenous peoples during 2014. These might include:
The issues that could be covered (general) include:
 any development measures that have impacted fairly or unfairly on minorities
 land rights disputes
 impacts of conflicts and displacements on minorities
 elections and constitutional amendments
The profiles can then go on to explore more specific aspects related to the theme of urban
development / growth. In many ways this should progress naturally on from the issues discussed in
the initial part of the profile, illustrating how the general issues of discrimination, exclusion or
poverty that minority / IP groups face are reflected or replicated in urban areas as well.
The country profiles, while obviously drawing attention to the limited resources and exclusion that
minorities face, should also where possible draw out positive aspects as well. Cities and other urban
areas often offer better livelihood opportunities, the escape from restrictive or prescribed roles,
greater diversity, improved participation and social inclusion – urbanization is not itself a bad thing,
but how it is planned and managed.
It is important as well that when discussing negative aspects of urbanization, such as urban poverty,
the growth of informal settlements and lack of essential services, that the profiles link this clearly to
minority / IP issues and shows how their specific identity as minority / IP groups contributes to these
issues. For example, while discussing the growth of slums in India, it is important to tease out how
against this backdrop minorities such as Dalits are being particularly excluded.
Disaggregation of inequalities is a central issue in urbanization at the moment – for example, by
gender, disability, security of tenure – so a major contribution of the volume will be to make the
case that ethnic/religious minorities and indigenous peoples are also key excluded groups. The
challenge is providing hard data where available and illustrative examples showing the specific
nature of the urban experience from their perspective, especially when they find themselves on the
wrong side of the urban divide.
It is also important that the profiles take a wide view of urbanization, including where relevant not
only megacities and capitals but also examining smaller urban areas (where in general the majority
of urban populations reside) and in particular the ‘quasi-urban’ settlements that many minorities
find themselves in, such as internal displacement camps or squatter settlements in peri-urban areas
outside cities. It may for example be from the perspective of indigenous communities or minorities
in rural areas who are experiencing the effects of urban growth and development on their
communities – even if they themselves are not yet urban. In many cases, urbanization is occurring in
areas that in many ways are not recognizably ‘urban’ in terms of their infrastructure or
development.
The issues that could be covered (specific to urbanization) include:
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Key urbanization trends, with specific reference to minorities / IPs - for example, whether they
are themselves urban or moving to urban areas or located predominantly in rural areas.
Drivers or urbanization – this includes migration, but also ‘in situ’ urbanization and the
generational experiences of established minority urban communities developing from ‘first
generation’ to ‘born’ urbanites.
Governance – inclusion of minorities in formal mechanisms of urban decision making (such as
town councils) and informal platforms such as slum federations. On the one hand, there may be
positive examples of minorities being able to enjoy greater access to decision making, or they
may (particularly those in informal settlements) face even greater exclusion (for example by
being left off registration lists).
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Livelihoods – for example, the potential opportunities urban areas present as well as the
frequent concentration of minorities (particularly women) in underpaid, exploitative, dangerous
or even bonded labour, such as street sweeping and waste disposal.
Access to basic services – including health care, education, sanitation and waste disposal. These
areas will be one of the strongest ways to clearly illustrate rights gaps and inequalities.
Spatial segregation – for example, the concentration of minority / IP groups in unstable or
isolated areas, and the impact this may have on issues such as access to employment. This may
also include discussion of ‘ghettoization’ of minorities and the implications this has for example
on access to employment, exclusion from development, exposure to violence and so on.
Environmental vulnerability – urban areas (particularly informal settlements) are especially
exposed to environmental hazards and climate change impacts such as flooding, storms,
heatwaves and so on. This vulnerability typically has a social dimension as it affects poorer or
more marginalized communities worst, and minorities / IPs may be especially at risk.
Land rights and informal settlements – lack of secure tenure and the threat of evictions or
displacement by private or government led development programmes. Furthermore, it might be
relevant to explore the dynamics of informal settlement growth in relation to internal
displacement of minorities (for example, from traditional homelands in rural areas by mining
projects or dam development), eviction from other parts of the city, the impact of unaffordable
formal land markets for poor or marginalized communities, and enforced exclusion due to caste,
ethnicity or religion.
The impact of development programmes – particularly on minorities and IPs, as this often
illustrates in concrete terms official policies towards these groups, as well as the implications of
physical urban design or planning policies and strategic frameworks. This can also include the
encroachment of urban sprawl or other programmes on rural / indigenous areas.
Social effects of urbanization – impacts on minority/ IP society, culture and identity, such as the
loss of indigenous customs to a more ‘globalized’ urban culture, as well as the destruction of
traditional sites or physical monuments such as mosques, temples or churches due to targeted
attacks or redevelopment.
The economic dimensions of urban growth and development – for example, the impacts that
gentrification can have particularly on minorities / IP groups who find themselves priced out of
certain areas.
Gang violence – the exposure of ethnic and religious minorities to both violent targeting and
recruitment by gangs. More generally, there may also be higher crime rates (as perpetrators and
victims) among minority / IP groups in certain areas.
Situation of minority women – for example, their exposure to labour exploitation, sexual
violence and exclusion from basic services.
Other considerations or measurements of wellbeing – for example, food security, income,
health outcomes and so on.
Of course, other issues besides those listed may present themselves during your research – this is
not an exclusive list. In particular, please bear in mind that SWM is also an opportunity to showcase
positive developments for minorities and indigenous peoples during the year.