Many Roads to Justice: The Law Related Work of Ford ... - UNDP

PH I L I P P I N E S 2 2 1p o w e r,” another theme also emerges from ALG experience:knowledge most effectively translates into actionwhen wielded by an organization. A w e l l-o rganized groupis often more likely than an individual to be able to makeits voice heard by the press, a sympathetic mayor, thepolice, a prosecutor, a judge, an executive agency off i c i a l ,or even a corrupt politician concerned about the group’sv o t e s .8 . ALGs have operated effectively by taking an integratedapproach to their work. They and their partners often blendcommunity mobilization, litigation, administrative advocacy, use of media, and other actions. The mix of strategiesnaturally varies, depending on the issue and communityi n v o l v e d .9 . Under the right circumstances, ALGs may play valuableroles in training government personnel. They know aboutconcrete problems in the ways laws are implemented, andcan prioritize key issues, rather than attempt to cover entirelegal fields with ineffective generalities. One example isW L B ’s curriculum development for judges and prosecutorsregarding violence against women.Donor Prog ramming A p p ro a ch e s1 . Flexible, permeable donor program categories reflect reality. ALGs have been supported under various Ford categories,meeting different objectives: human rights, localgovernance, natural resources, and reproductive health.ELAC, for example, helps protect the human rights of fishingand indigenous community members; strengthens thecapacities of civil society organizations to advance theirinterests on their own; helps them manage naturalresources; and aids local governments in relating to thesegroups and in handling other issues. Donor programmingcategories can help focus resources, thinking, and expertise.But this is perhaps best done when they allow andeven encourage the inevitable crossover that marks manyg r a n t e e s ’ w o r k .2 . Programming should reflect local realities. The Foundati o n ’s local governance grantmaking has tried to adapt to