Meta-Synthesis of Organizational Anti-Poverty Studies in Iran

Authors

1 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Since the 1990s, the concepts of poverty, poverty alleviation, and governance have been more prominently featured in the documents of international organizations than other concepts. Similarly, poverty and poverty alleviation have been among the primary areas of organizational action in Iran following the Islamic Revolution. This article employs a meta-synthesis approach to investigate poverty-alleviating organizations and the obstacles they encounter in addressing poverty.
The research’s theoretical considerations concentrate on capability-based poverty alleviation and sustainable poverty reduction. The unit of analysis includes all articles, theses, dissertations, and organizational initiatives that are pertinent to the subject. Out of the 403 examined studies, 23 were chosen for this meta-synthesis in accordance with the criteria.
The activities of a variety of organizations that are dedicated to poverty alleviation, their target populations, and their successful experiences in reducing poverty within these organizations are all detailed in this article. The following are the key extracted themes: the challenge of empowerment and educational programs, reductionist views of poverty and financial-physical limitations of organizations, lack of specialized human resources, absence of forward-looking and long-term visions, inefficient bureaucracy, organizational stagnation, organizational authoritarianism, and the lack of a comprehensive database and accurate indicators.
The recommendations the study are as follows: considering all dimensions of poverty and adopting a multidimensional perspective among organizations involved in poverty alleviation, strengthening specialized and poverty-aware human resources who have a deep understanding of the lives of the poor and global and local empowerment experiences, developing long-term and comprehensive poverty alleviation programs, fostering inter-organizational collaboration and dynamism among poverty-focused organizations, reducing bureaucracy and streamlining organizational structures, and, finally, ensuring real genuine participation and consultation with the poor.

Keywords

References

Abolfazlian, N. (2017). The Role of Faith-Based Non-Governmental Organizations in Poverty Alleviation: An Empowerment Approach. Master's Thesis. Supervised by Mehdi Khodaparast Mashhadi. Mashhad: Ferdowsi University, Faculty of Administrative and Economic Sciences. (In Persian)
Abedi, S. (2019). Pathology of Islamic Microfinance: A Case Study of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Isfahan Province. Master's Thesis, supervised by Mohammad Vaezi Barzani. Isfahan: University of Isfahan, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics. (In Persian)
Anbari, M., & Piri, S. (2023). Poverty and Deprivation Problems in Post-Revolutionary Iran. Middle East Critique, 32(4), 463-471. https://doi.org/10.1080/19436149.2023.2263827
Arasteh, R. (2013). Establishing a Food Security Budget Line in the National Budget: A Major Step by the Ministry of Labor, Cooperatives, and Social Welfare towards Improving Nutrition for Vulnerable Groups. Center for Statistics and Strategic Information, Ministry of Labor, Cooperatives, and Social Welfare, Statistical Bulletin No. 16. (In Persian)
Attree, P. (2005). Parenting support in the context of poverty: A meta-synthesis of the qualitative evidence. Health and Social Care in the Community, 13(4), 330-337.
Bahar, M., & Foroughi, M. (2018). Examining the role of charities in the production and continuation of feminized poverty. Women in Development & Politics, 16(1), 27-49. https://doi.org/10.22059/jwdp.2018.240650.1007268 (In Persian)
Beiranvand, F. (2018). Examining Social Policies and the Performance of Supportive and Insurance Institutions in Poverty Alleviation in Khorramabad County. Master's Thesis, supervised by Abdolreza Bagheri. Tehran: Shahed University, Faculty of Humanities. (In Persian)
Barekat Foundation: A Blessed Effort for Poverty Alleviation and Economic and Social Empowerment in Underprivileged Areas of the Country. (In Persian)
Burrell, G., & Morgan, G. (2007). Macro Sociological Theories and Organizational Analysis: Sociological Elements of Organizational Life. Translated by: M. T. Nowruzi. Tehran: Samt Publishing. (In Persian)
Chegini, T., Allameh, S., & Soheili, H. (2021). An Introduction to Social Welfare Policies and Indicators with Recommendations for the Seventh Development Plan. Deputy for Economic Affairs and Planning, Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. (In Persian)
Ebrahimi, M. (2014). Income poverty, capability poverty, and social exclusion: A trend analysis of conceptual developments in the study of poverty and deprivation. Social Security Quarterly, 13(4), 37-60. (In Persian)
Etemadi-Fard, M., Hosseini, H., & Savalanpour, E. (2020). A Sociological Analysis of the Dysfunctional Aspects of Support Policies with an Emphasis on Social Exclusion. Social Work Research Journal, 7(24), 107-157. http://doi.org/10.22054/rjsw.2021.61012.495 (In Persian)
Firoozi, F., Sediq, Gh., & Asgarpoor, A. (2021). Poverty Alleviation as One of the Key Pillars of the General Policies of the System. Quarterly Journal of Strategic and Macro Policies, 9(36), 798-827. https://doi.org/10.30507/jmsp.2021.285025.2242
Ghana’at Pisheh, A. Z., Fathi Azar, E., & Adib, Y. (2016). Organizing and Successfully Controlling Begging in Metropolises: A Case Study of the Charity Institute for Supporting the Needy in Tabriz. Economic Sociology and Development, 5(2), 131-164. (In Persian)
Golshan, M. (2000). Sociology of Organizations and Organizational Empowerment. Tehran: Doran. (In Persian)
Imani Jajarmi, H., Hosseini, R., & Salmanvandi, Sh. (2012). Examining the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Rural Social Development. Quarterly Journal of Cooperatives and Villages, 10(3), 123-154. (In Persian)
Jahromi, M., & Ramazani, A. (2023). An analysis of the empowerment process of clients (from the perspective of social workers in support organizations and charity institutions in Mashhad). Journal of Social Studies and Research in Iran, 12(2), 331–348. (In Persian)
 
Jalilian, N., & Papzan, A. (2019). Obstacles and limitations to the success of self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship programs of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee: Case study of female-headed households in Hersam rural district, Eslamabad-e Gharb County. Spatial Economy and Rural Development, 8(27), 65–78. http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3265-fa.html (In Persian)
 
Jafari Abedi, H., Taslimi, M., Faghihi, A., & Sheikhzadeh, M. (2011). Thematic analysis and theme network: a simple and effective method for explaining patterns in qualitative data. Journal of Strategic Management Thought, 2(10), 151-198. https://doi.org/10.30497/smt.2011.163 (In Persian)
 
Jahan, S. (2008). Poverty and infant mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A meta-analysis. Epidermal Community Health, 62(2), 745-751.
Joizadeh, S. (2023). Organizational Culture and Its Types. Iran Coaching Center. Retrieved on 6/5/1403 https://irancoaching.org/types-of-organization-culture (In Persian)
Hatch, M. J. (2006). Organization theory. Translated by: H. Danaeefard. Tehran: Afkar Publishing. (In Persian)
Kamruzzaman, P. (2019). The Dollarization of Poverty. Translated by: M. Niazi, S. Piri, & H. Piri. Tehran: Research and Sociologists Publishing. (In Persian)
Karim, A., & Noy, I. (2016). Poverty and Natural Disasters: A Meta-Regression Analysis. Review of Economics and Institutions, 7(2), 1-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.5202/rei.v7i2.222
Khorasani, M., Motiei Langroodi, H., & Mohammadi, H. (2020). A comparative approach to the evaluation and content analysis of scientific articles on rural poverty in Iran. Quarterly Journal of Spatial Economy and Rural Development, 9(33), 113-140. http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3584-fa.html (In Persian)
Kia Kajuri, S. (2003). Organizational ecology and its critique. Peyk Noor-Humanities, 1(3), 37-48. (In Persian)
Mahmoudi, V., & Samimi Far, G. (2005). Capability poverty. Social Welfare Quarterly, 5(17), 9-31. (In Persian)
Mirzababaei, S. (2014). Examining the Experience of Street Children with Interventions by Welfare Organizations. Master's Thesis, supervised by Vahid Shalchi. Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University, Faculty of Social Sciences. (In Persian)
Mohammadpour A., Boustani D., & Alizadeh, M. (2012). Qualitative evaluation of the performance of welfare organizations and the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in reducing poverty among female-headed households in Sari City. Social Welfare, 12(46), 319-352. (In Persian)
Mohammadi, M., Sefei, A., & Moshtagh, R. (2012). Meta-analysis of poverty studies in Iran. Scientific-Research Quarterly of Social Welfare, 12(45), 7-43. (In Persian)
Nazemi, A., Hosseini, K., & Bameri, S. (2018). Welfare programs to mitigate the effects of sanctions. Social Security Quarterly, 4(13), 16-34. (In Persian)
Office of Social Welfare Studies. (2021). Actions of the Social Welfare Deputy in Response to COVID-19. Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. (In Persian)
Parham, M. (2018). Transition from Poverty: Understanding and Interpretation of Self-Sufficient Beneficiaries and Officials of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Lorestan Province Regarding the Committee’s Services. PhD Dissertation, Supervised by Alireza Mohseni Tabrizi and Yahya Alibabayi. Tehran: University of Tehran, Faculty of Social Sciences. (In Persian)
Piri, S., Taleb, M., & Mohammadi, S. (2010). A meta-analysis of poverty studies in rural society of Iran. Rural Development, 2(2), 23-40. (In Persian)
Pourtarkarouni, M., & Sharehpour, M. (2020). Urban poverty in Iran: A meta-analysis and a systematic review. Urban Structure and Function Studies, 7(22), 61-79. https://doi.org/10.22080/usfs.2020.16578.1811 (In Persian)
Qolipour, A. (2009). Sociology of organizations. Tehran: Samt. (In Persian)
Ramezani, A. (2022). Social Integration through Work in Organizations Responsible for Poverty Reduction in Mashhad City. Quarterly Journal of Strategic Basij Studies, 25(94), 183-207. (In Persian)
Robbins, S. (2011). Organizational behavior: Concepts, theories, and applications. Translated by: A. Parsaeian & S. M. Erabi. Tehran: Office of Cultural Research. (In Persian)
Sabzi Khoshnami, M., Mohammadi, E., & Arshi, M. (2019). Identifying the Effects of the Street Children Organization Plan in Light of Its Challenges. Social Work Research Journal, 6(21), 75-132. http://doi.org/10.22054/rjsw.2021.56972.449 (In Persian)
Salehi, S., & Zamani, M. (2018). The Role of Basij in Poverty Alleviation of Rural Settlements (Case Study: Sershiv Village-Marivan County). Geography and Human Relations, 1(2), 387-396. (In Persian)
Salehi Bidar, M. (2015). Evaluation of Municipal Interventions in Supporting NGOs Active in the Field of Street Working Children in Tehran. Master's Thesis, supervised by Jafar Hezarejiri. Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University, Faculty of Social Sciences. (In Persian)
Scott, R. (2008). Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems. Translated by: H. Mirzaei. Tehran: Samt. (In Persian)
Steinert, J. I., Zenker, J., Filipiak, U., Movsisyan, A., Cluver, L. D., & Shenderovich, Y. (2017). Do saving promotion interventions help alleviate poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Courant Research Centre: Poverty, Equity and Growth - Discussion Papers 226, Courant Research Centre PEG.
Sulaiman, M. (2016). Making sustainable reductions in extreme poverty: A comparative meta-analysis of livelihood, cash transfer and graduation approaches. Economics, 22(9), 38-48.
Sustiyo, J. O. K. O. (2016). Microfinance Works: A Meta-Analysis of its Effect on Poverty Reduction. Master Thesis. Advised by: Peter Van. Indonesia: Indonesia University, Economics of Development.
Turner, J. (2015). Contemporary sociological theories. Translated by: A. A. Moghadas & M. Soroush. Tehran: Sociologists. (In Persian)
Tusi, N. (2010). Evaluation of the Approach and Activities of NGOs Related to the Welfare Organization in Tehran in Poverty Alleviation. Master's Thesis, supervised by Pouya Aladadini. Tehran: University of Tehran, Faculty of Social Sciences. (In Persian)
Veisi, S., & Azimi, M. (2020). Qualitative Study of Typology and Rationality Governing Non-Governmental Organizations (Case Study: Herandi Neighborhood in Tehran). Scientific Quarterly Journal of Welfare Planning and Social Development, 11(42), 41-101. https://doi.org/10.22054/qjsd.2020.11922 (In Persian)
Huang, W. (2019). Commitment: The Philosophy of Human Resource Management at Huawei. Translated by: Sh. Latifi. Tehran: Pishbord. (In Persian)
Zahedi Asl, M., & Basatian, M. (2011). Issues and challenges of poverty in Iran. Quarterly Journal of Welfare Planning and Social Development, 2(7), 1-26. (In Persian)
United Nation conference on sustational Development. (2012). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20-22 Jun 2012.
United Nation. (2015). transforming our world: the 2030, Agenda for sustainable Development, 25 September 205, General Assembly.
United Nations conference on Environment & Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3to14 June 1992, Agenda 21.
Narayan, D. (2002). Empowerment and poverty: A Source book, The international bank for reconstruction and Development. The World Bank, 1818H street, NW, Washington DC.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics