Empower Local Leaders

We collaborate with local leadership and community-led programs, and transfer knowledge and capacity to our allies to ensure sustainable, self-directed progress. 

Our collaborations with allies include issues definitions, program development, funding, and capacity-building support to programs, personnel and systems.

We work to balance power and co-create as equals, listening to one another and actively soliciting contrary opinions and opposing views to include all crucial voices and perspectives.

We collaboratively research and evaluate best practices, adopt culturally-appropriate suitable methodologies that are practical and resource sensitive.

We strive to achieve policy alignment and establish trustworthy, respectful collaborations. 

We provide support, rather than control, with training, technical advice, and peer-to-peer networks. 

We provide limited, time-bound financial support through our international development work, and transfer “how-to” knowledge, connections, and responsibility for funding to local leaders. 

We send long-term and short-term mission teams with subject matter expertise to build local leadership and program capacity, and we train them in empowerment techniques before we allow them to travel in our name.