Edited by Enrica Chiappero-Martinetti, University of Pavia, Siddiqur Osmani, Ulster University, Mozaffar Qizilbash, University of York This landmark handbook collects in a single volume the current […]
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples have historically been the poorest and most excluded populations in many parts of the world. They have suffered serious discriminations in terms of their basic rights to land, resources, language, culture, citizenship, access to basic services as well as the denial of essential conditions to lead a healthy and satisfying life.
The main objective of this thematic group is to investigate how the capability approach can be applied in the context of indigenous issues, at the theoretical and practical level. At the theoretical level, we intend to explore how the capability approach can be applied as a theoretical framework to analyse indigenous peoples' rights and well-being. At the practical level, we propose to investigate whether and to what extent the capability approach can contribute to further indigenous holistic concept of development in the design, implementation and evaluation of development policies.
The research activities aim to investigate not only individual capabilities but also better understand and value capabilities that are shared by a social group or community. The group emphasizes the use of participatory research methods to enable indigenous peoples to fully participate in any research activities in order to allow them to define their priorities (set of capabilities) for their self-defined human development.
News
Nov 23 2020 Appeal for the Right to Science – #EnjoyScience
Few months ago, the HDCA members were invited to participate in a webinar on the Right to Science promoted by […]
Oct 15 2020 Workshop Series: Teaching on human development and capabilities
Do you teach about human development and capabilities? In 2020-21, we are organising a series of online workshops to bring […]
Graduate and Undergraduate Workshop Series
Graduate Workshop Series Following requests from graduate HDCA members we are planning to launch a series of writing workshops to […]
Videos & Webinars
Exploring COVID from an Indigenous People perspective

Covid 19 has highlighted inequalities that have led to drastically different outcomes for different demographics. Some will be able to work from home, others will need to remain at work and clearly at a higher risk. In the black men have been found to be several times more likely to die from the illness than their white counterparts. Across the world the impact of the illness will play into existing inequalities.
In the midst of the crisis, some of the largest protests seen in the US in half a century have flared up over police violence towards black citizens. Many consider this a potential moment for change towards more just structures.
Demands for a more just environment have been called of, and a reconstruction of social systems which many argue reproduces injustice. This discussion asks how we can understand this through a capabilities lens. The panellists are all thinkers who have used the capability approach extensively.
Information on panelists can be downloaded as a pdf file
Democratic Capabilities Research (DCR): Introducing a Capabilities-Based methodology

Carmen Martinez Vargas (Centre for Research on Higher Education and Development, University of the Free State)
HDCA Webinar 2018 Education Indigenous Peoples Participatory Methods HDCA Videos