what we belive in
inclusion
we believe in an inclusive society with equal access and opportunity for all people regardless of their origin, orientation or current situation. we express this value in our organization by accepting each other as fellow human beings of equal value and by working to eliminate any form of direct or indirect discrimination among us.
transparency
we believe in sharing information, insights and knowledge in an open and transparent manner, whenever and wherever possible. we express this value in our organization by encouraging openness in administrative processes, welcoming visitors and publishing lessons learnt that may be useful to our partners and others.
innovation
we believe in innovation as a cornerstone of effective development and a driver of personal, professional and economic growth. we believe in continuous improvement and in doing things better than before. we express this value in our organization by being active problem solvers, thinking outside the box and always moving forward.
integrity
we believe in integrity as a moral compass for individuals and organizations. integrity shapes actions and behaviors that reflect our higher ideals; it is how we comport ourselves when no one is looking. we express this value in our organization by rejecting dishonesty, fraud and administrative shortcuts and by always doing what is right.
equity
we believe in equity as an expression of equality, fairness and balance in all things. equity is founded on social justice and the equal worth of all people. we express this value in our organization by establishing fair processes and clear policies. we value all ideas, suggestions and proposals and assess them on their own merit.
professionalism
we believe in working at the highest levels of competence and effectiveness and complying with international performance standards. we express this value in our organization by focusing on quality in everything we do. we strive for personal and professional growth and pursue learning hat help us develop new areas of expertise.
how we work
we improve lives
our focus is on improving the lives of people: improving their health, furthering their education and giving them more opportunities to lead happy and meaningful lives. everything we do is aimed at driving positive change in individuals and communities.
we empower people
we empower people by giving them information, mechanisms and tools to assess their own circumstances, take relevant action and hold their leaders accountable. we trust people to make their own educated choices based on information and knowledge.
we focus on long-term impact
we pursue lasting, long-term impact in our work. we are motivated by real change and deep impact, not by superficial results that don’t mean much for ordinary people. we pursue this impact primarily through capacity-building, training and communication.
we analyze and use evidence
we are driven by thoughtful analysis. whenever possible, we strive to base our program activities on evidence, and we seek to generate data and evidence that can help us on a path of continuous improvement and towards greater impact.
we collaborate
our organizations are designed to collaborate with each other and with others. we build partnerships and construct networks and firmly believe that we can achieve more when we work together towards shared goals than if we work in isolation.
we exercise ownership
we take full ownership of our work, our projects and our lives. we don’t run away from responsibility by passing it over to someone else or blaming others for our failures. every member of the team is in charge of his/her area. we are our own bosses.
we take initiative
we are proactive, take initiative and do not wait to be told what to do because we have a profound understanding of what it is that we are trying to achieve and what we are working for. we always move things forward.
we act with speed
we will never do something slowly if we can do it fast. We think and reflect on the consequences of our actions, but we don’t postpone things just because we are afraid to be wrong or that someone will criticize us. moving things forward with speed is essential.
we learn constantly
we are all on a learning path and set learning goals for ourselves and the people around us. we are defined by a growth mindset. we are curious and open to new impulses and welcome input from all sources, regardless of who, where or what.
we communicate effectively
our programs are defined and linked together by communication. we interact openly and directly with each other and engage closely with the people we work with and for. we are proactive in our communication and share information freely.
we give and receive feedback
we are open to giving and receiving feedback with the aim to grow individually and as organizations. feedback is a valuable gift that one gives in a spirit of friendship and with a desire to improve our organizational performance. withholding feedback is a selfish act.
we promote transparency
our programs are based on transparency. we believe that transparency is necessary to solve problems and remove obstacles to change. transparency builds trust and helps create an environment that is focused on continuous improvement.
we build capacity
as a team our goal is to make a significant addition to the pool of talent. we are committed to professional training and internal promotions wherever possible, and we are actively looking for team members who have the capacity and desire to grow.
we defend our position
if we believe in something, we defend our position, calmly and politely. we respect the viewpoints of others, but we don’t remain quiet when issues are discussed. we think about the issues, take a stance and defend our position if we have to.
we pursue self-reliance
we are relentless in our pursuit of self-reliance. gradually but persistently, we look for ways of becoming more independent. we will never again subordinate ourselves to an international organization but will rather disband before doing so.
who we are
