History

During its first two years (2006-2007), one of Equalinrights' major initiatives was to create a database of resource persons on human rights-based development (HRBD). This database was a response to a serious gap in knowledge and understanding of HRBD. It created a cross-disciplinary pool of resource persons centred on understanding and applying holistic human rights-based approaches in development work. Specific areas of expertise include: gender specific strategies, ESC rights activism, human rights-based programming, using international and national human rights standards and mechanisms, social mobilisation, conflict transformation and organisational development. By bringing together expertise across multiple disciplines, the database highlighted the synergy between different areas of human rights and development work, as well as the necessity of working together to achieve HRBD capable of transforming the unequal power relations behind poverty and exclusion.

Equalinrights connected with resource persons through open recruitement on its website, broad networking and personal contacts. Furthermore, in responding to specific requests for support on HRBD from Northern and Southern organisations, equalinrights recruited new practitioners who then joined the database. Such requests for support in building capacity on HRBD came from a wide range of organisations and groups with diverse needs. Equalinrights linked those requesting support with practitioners, mainly from the South, who carried out consultancies, trainings, the finalisation of tools or training materials, and strategy development.

Shifting from a Database of Resource Persons to a Network of Practitioners

The 2008-2010 strategy of Equalinrights refined the organisation's focus to initiate and facilitate innovative learning processes, support documentation of learning processes and practice, and bring local experience and knowledge to the wider development and human rights field. In 2008, in line with this strategy, the formal recruitment of resource persons for the database ceased, and efforts were made to strengthen the network of Northern and Southern HRBD practitioners Equalinrights engaged with during the first two years. In 2009, emphasis shifted  to  a more programmatic approach which entails working with development and human rights practitioners worldwide to exchange, create and promote strategies, methodologies and tools attuned to specific contexts.

Examples of past requests

In November 2007, Equalinrights supported Setwin (India) to begin conducting a systematic human rights assessment, which will continue through February 2009. The main focus of this project is (i) to build local capacity to engage in participatory data collection of human rights violations, and in particular the economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights status of Dalits in the nominated area; and (ii) to conduct a systematic assessment of the status of human rights, particularly ESC rights of the Dalit women, men, boys and girls in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. It will provide a baseline and starting point to develop effective strategies for change.More information available here.

Youth Mirror Movement (YMM) requested support from Equalinrights in September 2007 to prepare a survey on drug use in the Kasarani people’s settlement in Nairobi. Equalinrights connected the group to a resource person with excellent data collection and analysis skills, from Kasirani himself. He agreed to train YMM volunteers in data collection techniques, and later work with the group to help analyse the data collected and to strategize about projects and tools that could build on the work. By early November 2007, YMM had developed with a more elaborate project proposal requiring greater funds, and bringing on a second resource person. At the end of 2007, project implementation was on hold while YMM worked to secure additional project funding.

Dan Church Aid (DCA) contacted Equalinrights in August 2007 in search of a resource person to conduct a 1-1 ½ day session on gender and human rights budgeting, as part of an October workshop with DCA country project officers in Ethiopia. Equalinrights recommended two possible resource persons, one of whom was then hired by DCA.

At the end of July 2007, Parlement des Jeunes Rwandais (PAJER) in Rwanda approached Equalinrights for support with strategic planning for the organisation; this was later refocused on increasing staff capacity on fundraising. Equalinrights facilitated an experience exchange between PAJER and the West African Youth Network, who have similar projects and history. In addition, equalinrights provided a number of resource documents on fundraising and agree to pay the fee for PAJER’s Executive Director to take Fahamu’s 20-week online course on "Fundraising and Resource Mobilisation".

In early July 2007, Alliance Members in Food Security Malawi made a request to Equalinrights through ICCO Malawi. The Alliance was interested in an experience exchange and/or training on the application of HRBD in livelihoods projects, especially related to food security and the right to food. They preferred a resource person with expertise on gender and land issues. After a very positive interview with Equalinrights, a colleague from Malawi was recommended for and took up the work with the Alliance. He was also subsequently added to Equalinrights’ database

PWESCR approached Equalinrights during May 2007 for advice on a possible exchange with Women’s Institute for Leadership Development for Human Rights (WILD for Human Rights). PWESCR also sought suggestions regarding a visit to Geneva to observe the Human Rights Council. Both related to preparation of a project on leadership development to support women from marginalized communities to engage effectively with UN mechanisms. Equalinrights provided information on a relevant International Service for Human Rights course (subsequently attended to a PWESCR representative), recommended other women’s leadership organisations as contacts, suggested a number of European funders possibly interested in the organisation’s work, and finally gave comments on PWESCR’s project proposal. In addition, on 23 July, equalinrights and PWESCR co-organised an e-discussion on human dignity with resource persons from equalinrights’ database and other network contacts. The Programme for Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR). Details of our work with PWESCR available here 

In March 2007, Oxfam Novib approached Equalinrights for help identifying a trainer on inclusive democracy and effective relations between civil society organisations (CSOs) and government in post-conflict situations. They were working with partner organisations in Somalia, who needed support to prepare for and participate in the national Reconciliation Conference in Mogadishu (planned for mid-April), as well as longer-term support. Although Equalinrights’ database did not provide strong results at the time, wider networking highlighted several excellent candidates (who subsequently joined the database). At Equalinrights’ recommendation, Oxfam connected with Idasa's Institutional Capacity Building unit, which has worked with CSOs in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland and Angola. Unfortunately, the Reconciliation Conference delayed to due renewal of violence and the training likewise was unable to move forward.

In October 2006, Equalinrights supported a participatory workshop hosted by EACOR and facilitated by Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)) on human rights-based situation assessments. The workshop sought to deepen knowledge of a human rights-based situation analysis and increase practical understanding of how to do one effectively in practice. It builtknowledge about social and political institutions in our lives, their impact and the levels at which rights get defined, interpreted and implemented in each of them. Participants explored two examples of assessments that they had conducted previously to examine their strong and weak points and how they could be strengthened. More details of our collaboration with EACOR is available here.

In August 2006, the East African Coalition on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (EACOR) requested equalinrights’ support to identify a South African organisation to facilitate an exchange of experiences for members of its network. The objective was to learn from how South African civil society has achieved such success in its strategies and experiences in pressing for recognition and fulfillment of economic, social and cultural rights. Equalinrights facilitated connection with a number of pertinent organisations, one of which ultimately facilitated the requested exchange, the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA).