Case Studies on the Intersectional Impacts of Air Pollution on the World of Work of Vulnerable Groups including Women and Youth in Southeast Asia
The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) announces a call for proposals for research partners to conduct case studies in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam. Total funds available are up to 400,000 Swedish Krona (SEK) per country.
The deadline for submission of the full proposal is on 13 August 2021, 23:59 Bangkok local time
Introduction
Air pollution is a growing problem in Asian countries. While its impacts on human health are becoming increasingly known, its impacts on the world of work, including disproportionate exposure of worker’s groups and consequences on their health and wellbeing, work quality and quantity, remain understudied. Specifically, there is a dearth of research on how exposure to and impacts of air pollution in the world of work are influenced by social categories and identities (i.e., gender and age), such as younger population groups newly entering the job market and migrants. While a substantial body of research on gender and air pollution has focused on women’s exposure to indoor (i.e., point source) air pollution, much less is known on exposure to outdoor air pollution (i.e., non-point source) by women, youths and migrant workers who are over-represented in informal employment such as street vending, daily wage labour, construction and agriculture.
SEI, an international research institute, with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), and in the context of the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, is currently conducting a research on the impacts of air quality in the “world of work”. This research encompasses both the labour supply-side (i.e. workers and employment) and the demand-side (i.e. productivity, enterprises). The labour supply-side includes paid and self-employed, short-term, part-time and seasonal employment.
The project seeks to understand the differentiated impacts of air pollution on those within the world of work in Southeast Asia and to identify recommendations on how to reduce air pollution and improve the quality and quantity of employment in a context of just transitions towards a low carbon economy.
Following a scoping review of the existing evidence and knowledge about air pollution and the world of work in Southeast Asia, we are now looking for in-country research partners to carry out case studies in three of the four countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. This call for proposals provides information on the partners we are looking for and the work we sought to undertake.
About the call for proposals
Based on the above, SEI is looking for in-country research partners in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam to carry out case studies, which are guided by the following questions:
1. In what ways do air quality affect different worker and business groups across occupations and sectors? Do the impacts disproportionately affect certain groups based on inequalities related to social categories and identities such as gender, age, nature of occupation, sexuality, ethnicity, education, ability, migration status, class, etc.?
2. Do existing national policies (including labour market, economic development, and pollution control policies) address structural causes of air pollution and mitigate its impacts in the world of work? In what ways do those policies benefit or adversely affect different groups of business and workers? In particular, how does gender and age determine these benefits and impacts?
3. What are the entry points for interventions and policies to address air pollution, and what are the opportunities for ‘green jobs’ that are both decent and accessible for women and youths?
Methods
Based on these research questions, we envisage proposed projects to conduct research that brings to the fore an intersectional understanding of how air pollution is underpinned by social and economic structures. We expect proposals to articulate methodologies that follow principles of inclusive, feminist and participatory research. Applicants can choose specific industries to base their case studies around, including work settings or labour groups they want to investigate in detail, while being mindful that we are looking for depth not quantity. In particular, we are looking for case studies that look at the informal sector and situation of women and youth.
Budget
Up to 400,000 SEK is allocated for each country case study. A proposal may cover any of the following countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. A total of three projects will be funded.
Proposal selection criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Knowledge of the fields of air quality, labour and gender/social sciences
- Demonstrate research and policy engagement capacity
- Ability to foster co-production of knowledge through an inclusive, multi-disciplinary approach
- Research management capabilities
- Ethical considerations
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.