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Does Implementing a Rights Based Approach Increase Impact on Poverty Reduction? is a record of a two-day workshop, which took place in January in London, to discuss the preliminary case study findings of a one-year evaluation/ learning process to examine the impact of rights based and non-rights based projects on poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). More information from the Inter-Agency Group on Rights Based Approaches RBA Learning Process Research Framework (2005) Report to DFID: Rights-Based Approach Evaluation, Learning and Resources (May 2005) RBA Learning Process: Report on Preparation Workshops (February - April 2005) Visit CRIN's thematic page on rights based approaches to poverty and livelihoods
Case studies for the evaluation, which was initiated by the Inter-Agency Group – a loose network of UK based NGOs concerned with integrating human rights into development practice – were undertaken in Bangladesh, Malawi and Peru.
The workshop discussions aimed to help the various research teams to push their analysis further and identify gaps for further inquiry, looking at what the outcomes and impacts of implementing a rights based approach are in relation to poverty reduction, how they differ to non-rights based approach, and what recommendations can be made for using one or other approach.
International relief and development organisations are mandated to respond to human needs. Traditionally, this meant direct delivery of services, such as disaster relief, food aid, health services and education. Despite many successes related to these interventions over the decades, it has become evident that globally, poverty is not diminishing. Overall, the gap between rich and poor is getting bigger and over 20 per cent of the world’s population are completely excluded from development efforts.
Many relief and development organisations have now recognised that poverty is, itself, a denial of the human rights which are inherent to all people and which belong equally to all human beings. So the argument is that meeting basic needs is directly dependent on being able to assist people to fulfil their rights.
This way of thinking has prompted a change from a development model based on responding only to poor people’s needs, to one which supports duty-bearers in fulfilling their responsibilities, and which empowers the poor to claim their rights which are expressed in the international human rights frameworks, covering economic, social, cultural, civil and political fields. Putting this model into practice is known as a human rights-based approach (RBA).
Over the last few years, various UK-based international development NGOs have begun to apply RBA systematically in their programming. But, in doing so, they have uncovered numerous concerns and questions about the conceptual and practical applications of RBA. While many have accepted the logic behind RBAs, others remain to be convinced that there is any added value that they bring.
One of the fundamental questions has been: how to best show to project participants, host governments, staff and donors, that RBA makes a difference, and that this difference can be demonstrated. A few reports and case studies offer examples of successful projects using RBA, but there is little evidence that systematically demonstrates the impact that RBA can have in strengthening development work. Similarly, few studies have compared RBA projects and identified “best practices” and lessons that could be used to improve the use of RBA in the field. This learning process aims to fill this gap.
The workshop report, together with the in-depth country reports from Bangladesh, Malawi and Peru will be further analysed and synthesised in a final document which will be available in June/ July 2006.
For more information, contact:
Magdalene Lagu,
Rights Advisor
CARE International UK
10-13 Rushworth Street, London, SE1 0RB, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)207 934 9334; Fax: +44 (0)207 934 9335
Email: lagu@careinternational.org
Website: www.careinternational.org.uk