Ahead of the official launch of the Implementation and Advocacy Toolkits accompanying the International Framework for CSO Development Effectiveness this January, some CSOs have already made steps towards implementing the Istanbul Principles at national level.
Open Forum is glad to share one such example. In Kenya, Kijiji Cha Upendo, a grassroots cooperative working with children orphaned through HIV/AIDS, has successfully put Istanbul Principle 6 (Pursue equitable partnerships and solidarity) into practice by collaborating with the Village of Love Canada, a small group of Canadian supporters committed to fund raise, and larger and internationally established CAP/AIDS.
Istanbul CSO Development Effectiveness Principle #6:
Pursue equitable partnerships and solidarity. CSO’s are effective as development actors when they … commit to transparent relationships with CSO’s and other development actors, freely and as equals, based on shared development goals and values, mutual respect, trust, organizational autonomy, long-term accompaniment, solidarity and global citizenship.
Representatives from these three organizations recently did a presentation to the Ontario Council for International Cooperation on the mutual benefits of a three way partnership of this nature, addressing key questions and aspects of successful collaboration including:
- Identifying mutually beneficial organizational competencies: for example, local knowledge (Kijiji Cha Upendo), fundraising (Village of Love Canada), general guidance and support through long-term operations and expertise (CAP/AIDS)
- Retaining control of own organisation
- Specific steps to make it work
The partnership proved to be a great success. Here are some of the benefits for each of the involoved parties:
Kijiji Cha Upendo
- Facilitates increase in financial resources
- Connects to a community of knowledge and experience
Village of Love Canada
- No need to start an organization from scratch
- Instead, access to information and infrastructure from an established, experienced organisation
CAP/AIDS Network
- Advancing their mission
- Expanding their network to another country, with a new partner
View the full presentation and read the accompanying article.
Access the Istanbul Principles page
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