The present research evaluates the social inclusion component of the Brazilian National Program for the Production and Use of Biodiesel’s (PNPB) by studying its impact on the livelihoods of family farmers in the country’s Northeast region of Bahia. The overall objective is to critically analyze the social sustainability aspect of the program by including different dimensions of social exclusion in its analysis. More specifically, this thesis examines the PNPB’s effectiveness in helping family farmers in Bahia achieve positive livelihood outcomes. In terms of theoretical perspective, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) is employed while existing research and government data are analyzed using a descriptive method. The findings of this thesis indicate that the PNPB is predominantly designed in economic terms, largely ignoring the multi-dimensional nature of social exclusion. In this sense, the results suggest that the lack of success of the program in the country’s Northeast region can be in part explained by its failure to adopt coherent and sustainable strategies that go beyond market insertion and income generation. In particular, the research demonstrated that the PNPB’s lack of participatory approach and the absence of social and cultural considerations, along with inadequate technical extension services, hampered the program’s success in the region. Based on these results, this research highlights the need for a broader approach when it comes to promoting social inclusion, as well as the importance of taking into account and developing the cultural, social and political capital of family farmers in Bahia. In this sense, this thesis emphasizes the importance of recognizing that social exclusion is a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon, which calls for improving the ways with which we evaluate and deepen the understanding of the livelihoods of family farmers in Bahia.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/36944 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Markarian, Philippe Daniel |
| Contributors | Massicotte, Marie-Josée |
| Publisher | Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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