Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies aims to engage, inform, and catalyse scholarly discourse within research and real-world practices that work towards the minimisation of vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout developing communities with special emphasis on Africa.

This study explores the relationship between decentralization and poverty reduction. It seeks to identify the potential links between decentralization (devolution) and three specified dimensions of poverty by working out a conceptual framework. The framework upholds that through regional targeting and economic efficiency, decentralization might lead to improvements in economic growth, which may in turn reduce absolute poverty (1^st link). Regional targeting and economic efficiency may at the same time also accrue in improved provision of public services, which may result a decrease in the prevailing extent of relative deprivation (2^nd link). In addition, through increased participation and representation, decentralization might empower the impoverished and disadvantaged and give them a voice in the decision-making process, which may ultimately lead to a reduction in deprivation of certain capabilities (e.g., political, economic, and sociocultural capabilities) (3^rd link). It is interesting to point out that the various benefits accruing from decentralization not only directly relate to a specific dimension of poverty but are, at the same time, also indirectly correlated to other dimensions.

While the relationship between decentralization and service delivery is underpinned by a set of normative theoretical assumptions, yet not only does the empirical evidence concerning this so-called relationship to date remains inconclusive at best but our understanding of the causes of ineffectiveness of decentralization initiatives with respect to service delivery is also striking. This article attempts to contribute to the debates concerning the relationship between decentralization and service delivery through an analysis of decentralization measures undertaken by the Government of Pakistan during the early 21st Century with the announced aims of improving the efficiency and responsiveness of government as well as the delivery of public services. Notwithstanding a decade of decentralized service delivery, wellbeing outcomes across districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province demonstrated remarkable discrepancy such that while some districts witnessed considerable amelioration in their respective composite indices, others experienced a marked deterioration, thus calling into question the normative assumptions that undergird the relationship between decentralization and service delivery. This article seeks to explain this outcome through a comparative case study of two localities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province viz districts “Swabi” and “Lower Dir,” both of which had witnessed marked deterioration and amelioration in wellbeing outcomes, respectively, in the ex-post of implementation of the Devolution Plan. Data for the study were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The results demonstrate that political dynamics such as the nature of relationship between district governments and the provincial government, extent of political polarization prevalent within or among different levels of the local government system, and the role of bureaucracy turn out to be important factors that ostensibly account for the deterioration of wellbeing outcomes in Swabi district over the course of a decade of implementation of the local government system. The findings suggest that political factors have overshadowed technical considerations in terms of explaining the discrepant outcomes of decentralized service delivery across the two localities.

Legal pluralism, throughout most of developing countries, has been extant since the onset of colonial era. Manifested in a variety of forms, legal pluralism is inherently characterized by both promises as well as limitations. In Pakistan, legal pluralism is epitomized by the prevalence and functioning of parallel systems of justice such as formal courts and Alternate Dispute Resolution Mechanism (ADRM), such as “Jirga. Poor coordination and tenuous enforcement mechanisms, however, render the formal justice system in Pakistan one of poorest performers in terms of judicial efficacy world-wide. This article seeks to explore the possibility of a convergence between traditional and modern models of dispute resolution, i.e. Jirga and court system and the resultant efficacy thereof through devising a conceptual framework. The framework reveals that both formal courts and Jirga demonstrate marked discrepancies concerning their efficacy with respect to the provision of justice and dispute resolution. Findings from the field, however, evince that Jirga stand out to be a relatively more effective mechanism of dispute resolution than formal courts. The conceptual framework, however, implies that by converging both systems it is possible to cope with the limitations of each of the two systems such that while courts could provide legal legitimacy to the Jirga by improving its decency and accountability through regulations, Jirga could enhance the legitimacy of courts by improving its accessibility and transparency through feedback mechanisms. The article concludes by way of arguing that instead of parting ways with each other, both courts and jirga shall seek to go hand in hand in order avoid delays in the provision of justice.

Divorce is permissible in nearly all societies, religions, and cultures, but it is often a last option. This article explores effects of divorce on women. A sample of 210 divorced women in Pakistan were randomly selected for in-depth interviews. To assess the level of association between an independent variable statement and dependent variables, chi-square tests were carried out. Reliability analysis was also performed, and the overall reliability coefficient was .75. At the bivariate level, sexual relationship of a woman with her husband;s brother and prioritizing career over family were found to be significant (p < .05) with effect of divorce on females. At a multivariate level controlling for type of marriage and literacy, a nonspurious relationship existed for marriage for love and moral aspects with effects of divorce. A spurious relationship was found for literacy and moral aspects with effects of divorce on women. Extramarital sex, gambling, domestic violence, homosexuality, physical and verbal abuse, prioritizing career, drugs, and mistrust were found to be contributing factors for divorce. Education on morality, rights and duties of spouses, and their limitations are among the recommendations for addressing this issue.