CALL 7 - ENHANCING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

THEME: POVERTY AND POPULATION & SOCIAL WELLBEING

CALL

This project aims to address the critical issues on social inclusion and economic security of vulnerable communities to enhance their social and economic opportunities. Vulnerable communities include, but not limited to refugees, immigrants, people with disabilities (PWD), people living with HIV, people in contact with the law, order adults, children, and marginalised groups.

Phases of the projects:

Need assessment phase

In this phase, researchers would conduct comprehensive needs assessment of the chosen vulnerable community to identify their specific challenges. During this stage, researchers would need to acquire qualitative and/or qualitative data to better understand the social and economic situation of the vulnerable community. This stage could also involve engagement with community members, organizations, and experts to understand the root causes of the existing social inclusion and economic insecurity.

Intervention / solution development phase

In this phase, researchers would develop evidence-based solutions and/or interventions tailored to the needs of the community. Strategies and interventions could be designed through community participative approach with collaboration from community leaders, community, experts, and policy makers.

Capacity building phase

The proposed solutions and/or interventions are to be piloted in selected vulnerable community to test their effectiveness and get feedback from community members. This phase focuses on training and empowering the community to take ownership of the proposed solutions and/or interventions.

KEY RESEARCH AREAS

Despite growth and development of the nation, vulnerable communities face significant barriers to social inclusion and economic security. Among them are obstacles in accessing resources, poverty, limited opportunities for employment and financial resources, social exclusion and discrimination in society, health care disparities, barriers to quality education, discrimination within the legal system on human rights issues, lack of social support, struggle with mental health, risk of abuse and neglect, and inadequate living conditions. The combinations of these challenges could lead to increased vulnerability and limited social wellbeing of the communities. 

The scope of this project includes collaborative, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach involving various stakeholders to address the challenges associated with enhancing the social and economic opportunities of vulnerable communities. USM carries the APEX Agenda and addressing the needs and challenges of the bottom billions that include the vulnerable communities is our key commitment

EXPECTED OUTCOME

Significant impact to Stakeholders such as social innovation, added value, cost reduction, quality improvement, income etc.

1. Transdisciplinary new knowledge and discourses including production of localised knowledge 
2. Innovative and transformative solutions and initiatives that will have policy impact
3. Sustained engagement with key stakeholders to ensure change beyond project period 

TARGETED STAKEHOLDES

Targeted stakeholders that can benefit from the Outcome/Impact throughout this program

1. Vulnerable communities 
2. Government (federal, state, local)
3. Industry
4. Civil society (including academia)

2025-06-29 7:03:11 PM

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