Principles into Practice - Handicap International

Principles into PracticeWe look to assurance in the following:(a) understanding and addressing root causesof poverty that exist at the level of society,structures, and systems;(b) involving a broader network of stakeholders,spurring duty bearers and constituents intoaction; and(c) our own conscious longer-term commitmentto the marginalised.We have some promising signs of change alreadyfrom these examples: duty bearers who respondedto pressures or demands of marginalised groups;a greater ability in CARE to broach and discussissues of inequity with clients and partners; wholecommunities that have taken control over decisionmaking processes; and myriad instances ofmarginalised groups no longer voiceless or faceless.A word of caution is in order. Perhaps it is still toosoon to tell if RBAs do indeed achieve sustainableimpact in the form of changing power relations insupport of the excluded and marginalised. It wasnot always apparent from these case studies howfully the projects grasped the complexity of powerrelations in their context; in some cases it appearsthey did not probe those issues. Even with theevidence of change thus far, will marginalisedgroups, for instance, have the confidence and skillsto continue to take risk, advocate, or pressure othersonce CARE removes itself as the external facilitator?An exploration of rights-based approaches at thisstage in their development opens up a number ofintriguing questions.• When and under what conditions does adopting anexplicitly rights-based approach make a difference?• In what circumstances is the approach of castingwide the network of constituents a fruitful one?• When is it feasible and practicable to pursue amore formal process of bringing together rightsholders and duty bearers?• How do we assimilate into our ownorganisational culture and structure the morechallenging change processes that the exampleshave shown to be a necessary support to rightsbasedprogramming?• How prepared are we to open ourselves up toscrutiny from our clients and partners, as someof the projects have done deliberately?CARE is currently collaborating with other NGOs toprobe further the difference that RBAs make. Ourcolleagues in the field continue the substantive workof exploring what RBA looks like in practice and incontext, developing these projects and learnings stillfurther in both organisational practice and programming.CARE is still feeling its way and there is as yet nocharted course. The rights strategies and approachesin this collection of RBA examples give us a sense ofwhat is possible in initiating rights programming,albeit not with consistent clarity on the use andeffect of rights terminology. As for what works, themodels and processes associated with rights-basedapproaches explored in these examples emerge fromthe specific contexts and from opportunities thatpresent themselves.The next generation of innovations may offer upeven more incisive lessons learned, as we refine ourunderstanding of rights-based approaches in bothour organisation and in our programming. For now,this collection of case studies makes a compellingcase for how much we can achieve in addressinginequity and marginalisation by applying a rightsbasedapproach.Page 16