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Research
Update: September
2006
The time has come for me to give another update from my
research on child-headed households
in Zambia. There have been many
developments since I last wrote
in January, particularly in terms
of building partnerships with Zambian
organizations to ensure the research
remains rooted in the needs of the
people and communities in which
it is based and of those trying
to assist them. During the second
of two sixth month periods of fieldwork
in Zambia, I have encountered some
interesting changes and developments.
One of the key purposes of this
research has been to trace a core
group of CHHs to investigate the
ways in which they evolve with a
view to understanding, more comprehensively,
their changing vulnerabilities through
time. Preliminary findings from
this period of fieldwork reveal
some interesting changes amongst
household members and within research
communities. Such findings suggest
this research will challenge the
ways we currently understand and
assist CHHs.
In addition
to the changes observed within the
research topic, there have also
been significant developments in
the research methodology. Crucially,
this period of fieldwork has seen
the research move from working largely
at the household level with the
assistance of four grassroots research
gatekeepers, to working at a number
of levels spanning grassroots, national
and international levels. Whilst
the CHHs themselves remain the focus
of the research, it is necessary
to involve a range of stakeholders
to ensure the triangulation of data;
to ensure that the research agenda
remains deeply connected to needs
of all parties; and to build relationships
to ensure that on-going and end
feedback of research findings and
processes can be channeled through
wide-ranging stakeholders.
Consequently,
this year, I have consolidated relationships
with four initial grassroots ‘gatekeeper’
organizations, bringing them on-board
as ‘research partners’
and established other linkages with
national and international organizations
working in the field. Furthermore,
returning to community leaders who
assisted in last year’s fieldwork
in each of the research communities,
I have been able to form core community
groups (CCGs) in each research site,
comprised of community members and
leaders who are interested in contributing
to and benefiting from the research
project, through the sharing of
information, ideas and findings.
Further details about the research
partnerships can be found in the
links below.
Despite its
growing links with research partners,
the research remains firmly rooted
in the realities of the daily lives
of those living in CHHs. During
this fieldwork visit, I have spent
most of my time with the 12 core
CHHs and in the communities in which
they are situated. In spending considerable
time with these households, I have
been able to develop a detailed
picture of their complex struggles
and interactions. Data collected
from the on-going dialogue with
community leaders and grassroots
organizations has added to the pictures
of these realities on the ground.
It is these realities which I wish
to bring forward in my thesis and
through feedback programmes.
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