An independent researcher spent time in Uganda at SINA in 2022 to conduct interviews and research the impact the SINA program has on participant’s agency (‘the capacity of individuals to define aspirational goals and coordinate the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and resources both internally available to them (individual capacities) and externally available to them (in their social, institutional or physical
environments) in order to take action to achieve stated goals.’).
The research, conducted as a Master’s thesis, concludes:
“The assumption that the SINA Empowerment Program constructively affects the participants’ agency is confirmed. Many of the positive effects on agentic development root in a so-called Opportunity structure SINA provides to scholars. This structure includes a particularly appreciative and error-accepting culture, an extensive social network including role models, peers, coaches, and mentors, and the application of the concepts of Freesponsibility and Holacracy, as well as the unique Empowerment framework with its rich content to promote personal and professional development.”
The study begins by delving into the concept of agency and its various definitions in the literature, connecting it to related concepts like Empowerment for a more precise understanding. Factors that influence the emergence of agency are also examined using three scientific frameworks.
The second part of the study looks at SINA and its underlying theoretical concepts, as well as the Empowerment Framework and its associated program. The third and final part of the study presents the results of the research, which confirm the assumption that the SINA Empowerment Program positively impacts the participants’ agency. Additionally, the development and creation of a Social Enterprise at the center of SINA’s activities is found to be crucial for promoting agency-promoting skills and capabilities.
Overall, this research shows that the SINA Empowerment Program is creating a great impact in the development of the agency of its participants, which SINA calls “scholars”.
You can read the full Master thesis here: