Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:33:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Daros Carneiro.pdf: 952616 bytes, checksum: eaf6399e6fbadcf49a1027d178dccfbd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-18 / This is a study of a partnership between the Municipal Secretariat of Citizenship, Welfare and Social Inclusion (SMCAIS), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and a public school in a town in the state of S?o Paulo (SP) . This partnership is developed through socio-educational activities for children and male adolescents, aged between 6 and 14 years, against the school schedule. The overall objective is to identify as non-formal education has been conceived and proposed within this partnership. Specifically, it aims to examine what they are and who should receive these socio-educational; discuss the presence of instruments and valuation models, both of public policy interest in the field of non-formal education and, finally, to identify the ( s) form (s) of existence of dialogue between the various bodies that compose this public assistance policy. The research methodology consists of: (i) review of key concepts such as non-formal education, evaluation, non-governmental organization, public and social policies, (ii) research on documentary material relating to the partnership, especially SMCAIS and NGOs (Resolution No. 01/2009 municipal, annual management reports, news articles, bylaws, work plans for 2009 and 2010 annual technical report of 2009 activities, organization chart) and (iii) semi-structured interviews with one representative from each of the institutions that make up this partnership (the educational coordinator of the NGO, a psychologist at the City Office and vice director of the school). We used a qualitative approach and the empirical material has been reviewed and organized according to categories constructed along the analytical process. As final results, we found that the non-formal education in our case, seems to be designed in ways contradictory, since while he assumed the defense speech of social transformation, in practice this character is not evident. These contradictions were analyzed in so-called socio-educational activities, forms of dialogue established between the institutions and instruments of evaluation. With regard to assessment procedures used were able to identify weaknesses and limitations, when it is adopted as reference the concept of formative evaluation: the tools are focused on the bureaucratic, technical, financial and quantitative development of the project, and are is centralized by a single institution, the SMCAIS. We believe that this research will bring significant contributions to advancing the discussions on educational concepts present in the forms of partnership between state public sector and private sector, from a broad view of education. / Trata-se de um estudo sobre uma parceria entre a Secretaria Municipal de Cidadania, Assist?ncia e Inclus?o Social (SMCAIS), uma organiza??o n?o-governamental (ONG) e uma escola p?blica estadual de uma cidade do interior do estado de S?o Paulo (SP). Esta parceria ? desenvolvida por meio de a??es s?cio-educativas destinadas a crian?as e adolescentes do sexo masculino, com idade entre 6 e 14 anos, no contra turno escolar. O objetivo geral da pesquisa ? identificar como a educa??o n?o-formal vem sendo concebida e proposta dentro desta parceria. Especificamente, pretendemos verificar o que s?o e a quem se destinam estas a??es s?cio-educativas; problematizar a presen?a de instrumentos e modelos de avalia??o, tanto da pol?tica p?blica como das a??es no campo da educa??o n?o-formal; e, por fim, identificar a(s) forma(s) de exist?ncia de di?logo entre as diferentes inst?ncias que comp?em essa pol?tica p?blica assistencial. A metodologia de pesquisa ? composta por: (i) a revis?o bibliogr?fica dos conceitos chaves, tais como educa??o n?o-formal, avalia??o, organiza??o n?o-governamental, pol?ticas p?blicas e sociais; (ii) pesquisa documental sobre materiais referentes ? parceria, especialmente da SMCAIS e da ONG (resolu??o municipal n?01/2009, relat?rios anuais de gest?o, reportagens, estatuto social, Planos de trabalho de 2009 e 2010, relat?rio t?cnico anual de atividades de 2009, organograma da entidade) e (iii) entrevistas semiestruturadas com um representante de cada uma das institui??es que comp?em esta parceria (a coordenadora pedag?gica da ONG, a psic?loga da secretaria municipal e o vice-diretor da escola). Utilizamos uma abordagem qualitativa e o material emp?rico foi examinado e organizado de acordo com categorias constru?das ao longo do processo anal?tico. Como resultados finais, identificamos que a educa??o n?o-formal no caso em estudo, parece ser concebida de formas contradit?rias, uma vez que ao mesmo tempo em que assume o discurso de defesa da transforma??o social, na pr?tica este car?ter n?o ? evidenciado. Estas contradi??es foram analisadas nas chamadas a??es s?cioeducativas, nas formas de di?logo estabelecidas entre as institui??es e nos instrumentos de avalia??o. No que se refere aos procedimentos de avalia??o utilizados foi poss?vel identificar fragilidades e limita??es, quando adota-se como refer?ncia o conceito de avalia??o formativa: os instrumentos est?o focalizados em aspectos burocr?ticos, t?cnicos, financeiros e quantitativos do desenvolvimento do projeto; e, encontram-se centralizados por uma ?nica institui??o, a SMCAIS. Consideramos que a presente pesquisa trar? contribui??es importantes para fazer avan?ar as reflex?es sobre concep??es educacionais presentes nas formas de parceria entre setor p?blico estatal e setor privado, a partir de uma vis?o ampla de educa??o.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar as contribuições que um programa educativo da organização não governamental ambientalista IPÊ - Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas oferece para a área da educação ambiental voltada a conservação da biodiversidade, por meio da integração da pesquisa científica com o ensino formal. Utilizou-se neste estudo a adoção de processos de avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa nos quais os dados foram obtidos por diversos instrumentos de coleta. O estudo foi baseado nos referenciais da abordagem participativa e da pesquisa-ação e realizado na bacia hidrográfica do rio Pardo junto a 72 alunos do ensino formal, 05 professoras e 06 pesquisadores da área ambientalista. Os resultados indicam a pré-disposição entre pesquisadores ambientalistas e professores do ensino formal em se integrarem em ações de educação ambiental direcionadas a formação socioambiental dos estudantes e que, a troca de informações e conhecimentos são os principais fatores que motivam a ação participativa e integradora entre professor e pesquisador na inserção da temática ambiental nas salas de aulas bem como na conservação ambiental local. Os resultados indicam também que a estratégia educativa da ONG IPÊ, possibilitou aumento de aprendizagem, criatividade, socialização entre os alunos e interesses pelas questões ambientais locais. O estudo aponta ainda para a necessidade de haver maiores oportunidades de orientação e preparação dos docentes para a prática das atividades com a temática ambiental em ambientes extra-classes. / This study had the objective of identifying the contributions of an educational program conducted by a non-governmental conservation organization, IPÊ - Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (Institute for Ecological Research) in the field of environmental education, geared to the conservation of biodiversity through the integration of scientific research and the formal educational system. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation processes were adopted, in which the data were collected using a number of instruments. The study was based on the principles of participatory approach and research-action, and took place in the surroundings of the Rio Pardo region, involving 72 students of the formal education system, 5 teachers and 6 researchers of the environmental field. Results indicate a predisposition among environmental researchers and teachers to become involved in environmental education actions that aim at students\' social and environmental enhancements. The exchange of information and of knowledge was the main factor to motivate participation and integration actions between teachers and researchers in the inclusion of environmental themes and local conservation in classrooms. Results also indicate that IPÊ\'s education strategy increased learning, creativity and socialization among students, besides stimulating their interest in local environmental aspects. The study shows the need to promote more opportunities to guide and prepare teachers to conduct extra-classroom activities with environmental focus.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar as contribuições que um programa educativo da organização não governamental ambientalista IPÊ - Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas oferece para a área da educação ambiental voltada a conservação da biodiversidade, por meio da integração da pesquisa científica com o ensino formal. Utilizou-se neste estudo a adoção de processos de avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa nos quais os dados foram obtidos por diversos instrumentos de coleta. O estudo foi baseado nos referenciais da abordagem participativa e da pesquisa-ação e realizado na bacia hidrográfica do rio Pardo junto a 72 alunos do ensino formal, 05 professoras e 06 pesquisadores da área ambientalista. Os resultados indicam a pré-disposição entre pesquisadores ambientalistas e professores do ensino formal em se integrarem em ações de educação ambiental direcionadas a formação socioambiental dos estudantes e que, a troca de informações e conhecimentos são os principais fatores que motivam a ação participativa e integradora entre professor e pesquisador na inserção da temática ambiental nas salas de aulas bem como na conservação ambiental local. Os resultados indicam também que a estratégia educativa da ONG IPÊ, possibilitou aumento de aprendizagem, criatividade, socialização entre os alunos e interesses pelas questões ambientais locais. O estudo aponta ainda para a necessidade de haver maiores oportunidades de orientação e preparação dos docentes para a prática das atividades com a temática ambiental em ambientes extra-classes. / This study had the objective of identifying the contributions of an educational program conducted by a non-governmental conservation organization, IPÊ - Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (Institute for Ecological Research) in the field of environmental education, geared to the conservation of biodiversity through the integration of scientific research and the formal educational system. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation processes were adopted, in which the data were collected using a number of instruments. The study was based on the principles of participatory approach and research-action, and took place in the surroundings of the Rio Pardo region, involving 72 students of the formal education system, 5 teachers and 6 researchers of the environmental field. Results indicate a predisposition among environmental researchers and teachers to become involved in environmental education actions that aim at students\' social and environmental enhancements. The exchange of information and of knowledge was the main factor to motivate participation and integration actions between teachers and researchers in the inclusion of environmental themes and local conservation in classrooms. Results also indicate that IPÊ\'s education strategy increased learning, creativity and socialization among students, besides stimulating their interest in local environmental aspects. The study shows the need to promote more opportunities to guide and prepare teachers to conduct extra-classroom activities with environmental focus.

The concept of participation seems to reflect in most development programmes that involve people at the grassroots level. In Ghana, the introduction of the decentralization programme in the late 1980s that aimed at promoting effective, comprehensive and rapid development, more especially in the rural areas also adopted participatory approach. The approach led to the introductory of district assembly system which was to enhance the involvement of people at the grassroots in participatory activities. However, since the introduction of the decentralisation system to promote grassroots level participation, the people are still inactive and the level of involvement in development decision-making still remains weak. To clearly understand these problems, the thesis has aimed at answering the following research questions; how are rural people involved in participatory practice in the development activities in their area; what barriers affect and hinder the active participation of rural people and how could these be addressed? Answers to those questions helped to examine the nature of participation at the grassroots level; understand how the district assembly adopt participatory practice and to ascertain the nature of barriers that hinder effective participatory practice. Using a case study approach for the investigation, an interpretivists and constructivists were the philosophical underpinnings of the investigation. The data was gathered through the use of focus group discussions and one-to-one informal interviews. It was observed that, participation continues to reflect in most rural development programmes, but there are key barriers that still continue to hamper the effectiveness of participatory practice. Power relations, threats, intimidations and more especially the use of juju and witchcraft which never featured in most development literature are among the major barriers that continue to weaken local people readiness to actively participate. Most rural people feel threaten to participate for the fear of being bewitched or killed through the use of juju, witchcraft or black magical powers. Without critically and effectively addressing those bottlenecks and barriers, and put community members at the pivot of decision-making, the use of outsiders¿ knowledge and ideas alone to address the problems of participation with the hope of improving the lives of the rural people will not yield any significant result. / Title page missing

This study investigates how the non-governmental women’s rights organization Kvinna till Kvinna structures their external communication to raise public awareness in Sweden of issues important for social change; and in what way strategic communication is used in this process in order to cope with contemporary challenges. A qualitative research approach is applied to create an in-depth understanding of this. Two methods, qualitative content analysis of online gathered material and semi-structured interview, are used to grasp the organization’s work with the external communication. The strategic participatory approach to communication for development and social change functions as the theoretical framework. The results identify the organization’s approach to social change, strategic thinking in the set of goals, communication tactics, communication strategies and use of strategic junctures. Kvinna till Kvinna communicates on the basis of a structured and strategic plan which decides what, when and how to communicate. By repeatedly sharing great amounts of information about women’s rights, development work and development challenges, the communication is characterized by persuasion as well as educational connections. The persuasive character is strengthened through the use of storytelling and celebrities that convey the information. Kvinna till Kvinna to some extent work according to the strategic participatory approach which indicates that the awareness of the public could be increased. It is however primarily strategic rather than participatory elements, that permeate the organization’s communication, which also function as a way to handle contemporary challenges. A strategic communication which takes the external environment into account is concluded to be a tool for counteracting threats by political developments. The study highlights that strategic elements are central for a non-governmental organization in its strive for promoting and achieving social change, but participatory elements can also be understood as valuable in this process. The case of KtK enabled a discussion about the applicability of the theoretical framework and through this, possible developments and additions to the framework were highlighted.

The aim of this study is to analyze the concept of antiracism and explore what characterizes the kind of antiracism that the empirical examples presented in this study represent. The empirical examples are instances of what I call antiracist actors. They are rooted in civil society, but also have strong connections with the government through government funding. The empirical data has been gathered through both qualitative and quantitative methods, mainly in the form of a survey and interviews. In order to explore the antiracist actors I have focused on three themes: (1) the shapes and forms of racism, (2) antiracism as a phenomenon, and (3) antiracism as a social arena. Through these themes I have gathered information about how the antiracist actors interpret their activities and the context in which they are working. On the subject of the shapes and forms of racism, I establish that racism is a concept that is hard to define. The antiracist actors lack a common language regarding racism, which affects the antiracist rhetoric. Regarding antiracism as a phenomenon, I conclude that the antiracist strategies mainly consist of three components: (1) knowledge is used as a strategic instrument internally to strengthen the volunteers, (2) knowledge is spread externally to increase awareness of racism, and (3) the antiracist actors deconstruct racist beliefs when opposing racist opinions. Finally, I research antiracism as a social arena and study civil society and theories about social movements in order to explore organizational aspects of the antiracist actors. Using Alberto Meluccis’ social movement theories, there is some evidence to support the thesis that the antiracist actors could be defined as part of an antiracist movement. However, overall there are stronger arguments to suggest the opposite, mainly since the antiracist actors are not in opposition to one or more adversaries. Instead they work with target groups, sometimes targeting the general public, sometimes specific groups like children in a certain school. The main conclusion from my study in this respect is that the antiracist actors are part of what I call association-driven antiracism. The associationdriven antiracism is characterized by non-violent methods and the antiracist actors do not focus on racist adversaries, instead they work with target groups trying to influence them in an antiracist way. The association-driven antiracism secures its continuity through networks, since many activities are project-based and only last for a limited period of time. Also, the antiracist actors are not representatives of particular political parties, instead they gather around the question at hand, antiracism. The antiracist actors within the association-driven antiracism are in close collaboration with the government and partly finance their activities with government funding. This collaboration can be explained as a positive steering process, the rulers (the government) and those who are ruled (the antiracist actors) agree on an antiracist ideology and work in the same direction.

受到氣候極端變遷的影響，近年來，世界各地接二連三地出現許多重大天然災害，讓我們賴以生存的地球，正面臨著嚴峻環境災難的考驗。面對這個重要課題，除了政府必須肩負的責任外，非政府組織從環境保護、減災預防、災難準備、以致災難發生時的緊急救援，到災後的復建與重建工作等環節上，也扮演愈來愈重要的角色，近代各國政府都把積極參與人道救援的非政府組織視為災難救援和賑濟上的重要伙伴。 人道救援和一般社會服務工作的動員模式與服務取向不同，除了必須在短時間內滿足無法事先確定的大量需求外，人道救援的目的是在有限資源的前提下，公允地維持受災民眾必要的生存環境、條件與尊嚴。是以，人道救援組織從平時救災人員的訓練、養成，救災器材設備與救援物資的整備，到災難發生時可以快速反應的動員能量，甚至災後不管復原或重建階段各項專業領域的參與，都需要掌握相當實力的資源，才能在必要的時候派上用場。 目前國內主要從事海內、外人道救援的民間組織，其從事人道救援的財源幾乎百分之百依賴民間捐款，而因應每次災難事件的不同，其所募得款項的多寡差異非常大，但國內相關影響重大災難募款金額多寡的因素研究卻很少，為使有限、寶貴的社會資源可以更合理、妥切地被運用，研究者以紅十字會在九二一大地震之後十年來十五起賑災專案募款的結果，運用個案研究的深度訪談以及焦點團體的探討，嘗試彙整出影響國人重大災難捐款的因素。 是以，本研究從災難本身、捐款人、勸募者及社會政經情境等面向，歸納出可能影響重大災難募捐款項的二十個因素，藉以分析說明並對照實務上募款金額的多寡。此外，本研究也提供了幾項重大災難募捐的特性，希望可以做為國人或後續研究者參用。 最後，本研究建議國人應該深切體認資源有限，整體社會的資源不管來自何處、流向何處，其總和也是不變的，因此，無論是資源的擁有者、分配者、執行者，以及在這個過程中可能影響資源分配運用的關係人，如政府、媒體等，都應該珍惜這個寶貴的資源，善用它，讓它發揮應有的社會功能。尤其，人道救援是一個關乎生命，非常嚴肅的議題，很多人認為重大災難捐款是一種衝動性捐款，但研究者卻堅信捐款行為只是表象，其真正是人的「愛心」在驅動，因此，必須從理性、審慎的態度來探究愛心背後可能影響捐款人作為的因素，並進而提供國人的愛心一個更好的捐款與資源運用環境。 / As a result of extreme climate changes, the world has witnessed many major natural disasters. Hence, the earth on which we live is confronting severe environmental challenge. To cope with such a severe challenge, other than the governments which must take up the responsibilities, NGOs are playing more important roles which include environmental protection, disaster prevention, disaster preparedness, as well as in the event of occurrence of natural disasters, emergency relief, recovery and reconstruction. Nowaday, the governments treat NGOs as their indispensable partners in the efforts of disaster rescue and relief. Humanitarian relief is different from social working network. The former must within a short period mobilize resources to meet unpredictable yet huge amount of need. The objective of humanitarian relief is to provide the people who were adversely affected by the disasters with resources, however limited, to live with dignity and fairness. Therefore, NGOs doing humanitarian relief must prepare themselves not only in the training of rescue teams, securing adequate equipments so that they can respond promptly to disasters, but also be in command of substantial resource so as to meet the urgent need in emergency relief, recovery and reconstruction. The humanitarian organizations of Taiwan, whom undertake disaster relief in Taiwan and oversea, obtain funding almost 100% from the private sector. Since the amount of fund raised in different disasters can be vastly different, to help rational allocation of limited yet valuable resources in disaster relief, the author has made efforts to collect data from 15 disaster-fund-raising events since the 921 earthquake in 1999, and to analyse the factors that are relevant to the donors’ behavior. The author has also carried out analysis of the factors by in-depth case study and focus group interview. On the basis of such data, case study and interview, the author has identified 20 factors from such perspective as nature of disasters, donors, fund-raising organizers, social-economic- political situation, etc. This paper also enumerates a number of important characteristics of fund-raising in major disasters. To conclude, the author likes to point out that the sum total of resources available to any disaster effort project is a constant. Therefore, all players in any major disaster relief project, including the organizers, the media, the government and others, must carefully use the resources and to achieve maximum utility of the resource for the benefits of those who are in need, to recover and to re-live from the disaster. Such an observation is meaningful because humanitarian relief is a serious subject and donation is not merely an act of impulse, it is also an act of “love”. Therefore, we must carefully explore the relevant factors that contribute to the donors’ behaviors. Only by so doing, we can structure a better environment under which fund-raising motivated by “love” can be truly successful and meaningful use of such resources to the maximum benefit of the people affected by the disasters be assured.

This research constructs the theoretical framework through documentary analysis; it utilizes the approach of ¡§state and society relations¡¨ on the micro-level of the comparative politics, supplemented with the concept of ¡§corporatism¡¨. This research includes ¡§in-depth interview¡¨ and ¡§case study¡¨ to aim at examining two issues. While the Chinese government has been the central power, the enterprises are the key players in the businesses of modern China. When the private sector has prospered vigorously, the government faced increasing pressure from economic system reform. This indicates that the power of government will shift to the industry and trade association. This research finds that the trade association, deriving from ¡§top down¡¨ model, which can gain more self-Governance, is the successful case of transformation. Its character is that it neither seeks for power from the government during the transformation nor interest from the private sector, but, instead, serves for social welfare and receives more credibility from the public and better organizing autonomy. Since the south patrolling of Deng Xiaoping in 1992, the socialist market economy has been the goal China pursues. In 1998, the ninth session national representatives passed Decision of the structural reform of the State Council plan, and it pointed out ¡§establish a government administrative system with the Chinese characteristics and suitable to the socialist market economic system¡¨. In October 2003, the Third Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China passed Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Some Issues concerning the Improvement of the Socialist Market Economy . Obviously, in addition to the concept of open policy of the trade market, the policy on decentralization of governmental structural reform is in place. Those changes push the market mechanism to expand gradually, and accelerate the transformation of trade association. It makes the influence of trade association on industrial policy making grow. Particularly, Guangdong Province's economy opened early and also led the development of trade association. This research found that the system and development of trade association in Guangdong Province has exceeded that of the central government. ¡§Guangdong Food Profession Union¡¨ is one of the best examples. This research analyzes the development of food industry of both China and the Guangdong Province, in order to explain the relations among government, the business (market) and the society. Second, to analyze the development of trade association's of China and Guangdong Province to explain the formation of civil society. Third, using the case of ¡§Guangdong Food Profession Union¡¨ to study on its philosophy, institution and interest setting in order to map out the interaction among ¡§Guangdong Food Profession Union (GFPU)¡¨, government and business. Finally, it induces the relations among state, the market, the civil society. This research not only points out the similarities and differences between the study case and the general situation in China, but also classifies three kinds of trade association and within which the trade association of successful transformation might be called ¡§NGO with the Chinese characteristic¡¨. In brief, the social scope of trade association derived from ¡§top down¡¨ model, will de unavoidably deprived by the government. In the social scope formed by the trade association of successful transformation, the administrative authority is (Economic and Trade Commission) no longer in charge of them, but the ideology of Chinese Communist Party still exists. It was the ¡§civil society with the Chinese characteristic.¡¨

<p><em>The aim of this study is to analyze the concept of antiracism and explore what characterizes the kind of antiracism that the empirical examples presented in this study represent.</em> The empirical examples are instances of what I call antiracist actors. They are rooted in civil society, but also have strong connections with the government through government funding. The empirical data has been gathered through both qualitative and quantitative methods, mainly in the form of a survey and interviews. In order to explore the antiracist actors I have focused on three themes: (1) the shapes and forms of racism, (2) antiracism as a phenomenon, and (3) antiracism as a social arena. Through these themes I have gathered information about how the antiracist actors interpret their activities and the context in which they are working.</p><p>On the subject of the shapes and forms of racism, I establish that racism is a concept that is hard to define. The antiracist actors lack a common language regarding racism, which affects the antiracist rhetoric. Regarding antiracism as a phenomenon, I conclude that the antiracist strategies mainly consist of three components: (1) <em>knowledge is used as a strategic instrument</em> internally to strengthen the volunteers, (2) <em>knowledge is spread</em> externally to increase awareness of racism, and (3) the antiracist actors <em>deconstruct racist beliefs</em> when opposing racist opinions. Finally, I research antiracism as a social arena and study civil society and theories about social movements in order to explore organizational aspects of the antiracist actors. Using Alberto Meluccis’ social movement theories, there is some evidence to support the thesis that the antiracist actors could be defined as part of an antiracist movement. However, overall there are stronger arguments to suggest the opposite, mainly since the antiracist actors are not in opposition to one or more adversaries. Instead they work with target groups, sometimes targeting the general public, sometimes specific groups like children in a certain school.</p><p>The main conclusion from my study in this respect is that the antiracist actors are part of what I call <em>association-driven antiracism</em>. The associationdriven antiracism is <em>characterized by non-violent methods</em> and the antiracist actors do not focus on racist adversaries, instead <em>they work with target groups</em> trying to influence them in an antiracist way. The association-driven antiracism secures its continuity through networks, since many activities are project-based and only last for a limited period of time. Also, the antiracist actors are not representatives <em>of particular political parties</em>, instead they <em>gather around the question at hand, antiracism</em>. The antiracist actors within the association-driven antiracism are in close collaboration with the government and partly finance their activities with government funding. This collaboration can be explained as a <em>positive steering process</em>, the rulers (the government) and those who are ruled (the antiracist actors) agree on an antiracist ideology and work in the same direction.</p>

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The United States has spent over $2 billion during the last six years to reconstruct and stabilize Afghanistan through the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP). This effort is only one of several simultaneous programs attempting to stabilize Afghanistan using approaches including providing humanitarian aid, education, government and security reform, and construction. Construction often involves simple infrastructure development with tangible benefits including increased access, growing commerce and better security. Construction projects can also employ the local population and, if done correctly, develop a sense of community and social capital. What causes construction projects to miss the mark failing to result in creating a stable community? This research compares four different construction programs including CERP, National Solidarity Program (NSP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) to determine their potential impact on Afghan stability. It uses a combination of statistical regression, correlation, geospatial and temporal analysis to compare completed construction with recorded SIGACTs (Significant Acts) reported by U.S. forces and NGOs. The results imply that the identified stabilization programs are not using construction effectively to create social capital and stability.