Civil Society
Blog Post: Posted August 22, 2010, 2:22 pm by Ruth Allen
SOS! Global civil society gathers to “Seek Out Solutions” to the world’s toughest problems
Topics: Civil Society
What could a politician from Mozambique, a community leader from Nepal,a journalist from the United Kingdom and me possibly have in common? A whole lot it turns out! For one, we’re all here in Montréal, Canada with 700 more colleagues from 94 countries at the 9th CIVICUS World Assembly — a gathering of civil society leaders and our partners in governments and the private sector committed to positive social change.
The conference is an SOS! call to get serious about practical solutions to the interconnected issues of economic justice, development effectiveness and climate change — all issues close to Mercy Corps’ heart. It’s at once a sophisticated conversation about implementation of political agreements and a very human conversation about the impact of aid on real people’s lives. And that’s the point — that global civil society and its organisations bring proven local solutions and critical leadership to global relief and development decision-making.
The word “solutions” can be so daunting; it sounds long-term and all-encompassing, not something in the control of any one individual facing gigantic global challenges. Yet, as the CIVICUS Twitter feed shows, there’s a lot of learning, relationship building and real-time action having immediate impact as well as laying the foundation for longer-term efforts:
- “Learning a technique to create political will and awareness on poverty and climate justice.”
- “Excellent case study triggered discussion on building sustainable partnerships and developing solutions.”
- “Just met someone from Indonesia who can advise on our climate work in Sri Lanka!”
The assembly’s venue in Montréal also offers the chance to learn from this city’s great models of collaboration between civil society and government. For example, in a workshop today on youth participation in governance, I learned about a £1 million annual fund in which public monies are managed by a youth network for youth-led (and youth prioritized!) programmes in the city. Through this mechanism, the youth network and its grantees are learning the ropes of government reporting and constituent representation at the same time that communities get tangible benefits that could not have been dreamed up by anyone other than the youth groups themselves.
The young woman from Colombia I was sitting next to was furiously scribbling notes and literally ran up to the presenters afterwards to learn how she could adapt their idea back home. In the same session, people were eager to learn about Mercy Corps’ Global Citizen Corps programme and the linkages between youth in the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East and elsewhere educating themselves for local action.
For me, I’m taking away fresh energy, best practice ideas and potential partnerships I’ll share with Mercy Corps colleagues around the world — from our Mongolia team’s leadership with policy makers, to our Jordan team’s work with disabled people’s organisations, to our Sudan team’s support to women leading community-based organisations. They’re the ones forging the real solutions.
Find out more about CIVICUS and watch sessions of the World Assembly at http://www.civicus.org, or tune into the BBC’s “World Have Your Say” programme aired live from the World Assembly on Monday, August 23 at 12:30pm Eastern Time at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldhaveyoursay.
Blog Post: Posted July 27, 2010, 4:06 pm by Lyndsey Romick
Iraq's women: worth the risk
Country: Iraq
Iraq's contentious election has tied its political system in knots. But this isn't stopping Mercy Corps from pursuing one of its main objectives there: making women's voices heard. It's part of our effort to build skills for traditionally disenfranchised groups, as Mercy Corps' Sahar Alnouri said recently at a public event at Mercy Corps' Action Centre in Portland.
Alnouri, who's worked in Iraq since early last year, said the election has put everyone on edge. In 2005, post-election sectarian violence displaced millions of Iraqis and left the country in a very sensitive state. Explosions are still common, and people wonder if the fighting will break out again.
The insecurity is the hardest part about working in Iraq, Alnouri said. "You have to be in a constant state of preparedness, even if nothing happens." It's also hard to gather information because travel is dangerous. But these problems don't deter Mercy Corps from helping those who suffer the most from the insecurity: women and girls.
For starters, instability keeps girls from attending school. Parents often shield their daughters from potential danger by keeping them at home. Alnouri helps coordinate Mercy Corps' women's literacy programme, which fills an important need in a country where the illiteracy rate is about 30 percent higher for women than it is for men. So far we've helped about 26,000 women how to read and write, as well as lessons in democracy and governance, human and women’s rights, and other key social issues.
Over 18,000 Iraqi women are currently enrolled in our literacy programmes. Photo: Alisha Rodriguez/Mercy Corps
But female literacy is only the first step.
The Iraqi constitution is fairly liberal on women's rights, but reality doesn't always match the rhetoric. And with the fledgling Iraqi police force tied up with security matters, women's rights aren't top priority. Alnouri said Mercy Corps programmes teach women about their rights, about voting and about their role in a democratic society. As a result, women are becoming more confident -- and more politically aware.
For example, 30 percent of the candidates in the most recent election were women, and their newfound knowledge empowers them to speak out for political change. Alnouri related one story that demonstrates the new political consciousness. In the midst of recent negotiations to form a new government, one of her female colleagues remarked, “We need training for our politicians on how to use the democratic system.”
Though the results of the election are still in dispute, our commitment to Iraq's women is certain. We're helping them develop the tools they need to find their own voices, despite the security risks.
Blog Post: Posted June 18, 2010, 9:41 am by Patrick Eckford
Don't give up on Kyrgyzstan
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Members of the Mercy Corps team that worked to create job opportunities in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Photo: Mercy Corps
It has been a very difficult few days indeed watching the tragic events in southern Kyrgyzstan unfold, making frantic calls and worrying about the safety of all our dear friends and my previous colleagues there.
The little direct news I have received is chilling. One colleague has two confirmed deaths in his family and a whole family unit is still unaccounted for (it is hoped they have fled as refugees to Uzbekistan). Others we know are apparently barricaded in their homes or apartments desperately waiting for relief and badly needed food and supplies. We’ve watched online images of familiar buildings in our old Osh neighborhood being burned to the ground. And we’ve heard firsthand accounts of the chaos and tension in the streets.
I went to Osh in the fall of 2008 to manage Mercy Corps’ Collaborative Development Initiative (CDI) for its fourth and final year. The staff included Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tartars, Russians, Ukrainians, Koreans and me, a strange Canadian/American. It was a real melting pot and the staff was proud of our diversity, camaraderie and unity. I wish you could witness the gaiety of one of our impromptu staff birthday parties or the celebration of International Women’s Day – these images are so far from what you have been seeing on the TV over the last few days.
I will not sugarcoat the formidable problems of southern Kyrgyzstan, including insidious longstanding ethnic tensions and patterns of discrimination. They are deeply rooted and complex, but that doesn’t mean the country is a lost cause. The key is supporting sustainable economic opportunities for all Kyrgyz, of all ethnicities.
I am very concerned that in reaction to these alarming events and the widespread international press coverage, the world will get a skewed, overly negative image of the region and the character of its people. Yes, this has been horrific but the vast majority of Kyrgyz of all ethnic backgrounds are victims here, not perpetrators of violence or hatred.
After emergency relief efforts are undertaken, I sincerely hope that donor countries and organisations will not retract, but will redouble their investments and efforts in Kyrgyzstan to help establish a viable, sustainable and fair economy. That is what will bring peace and stability. Then hopefully, in the long process of growing and maturing as an emerging democracy and diverse pluralistic society, the serious, deeply rooted issues of ethnic mistrust and suspicion will be dealt with.
Blog Post: Posted June 15, 2010, 5:11 pm by Heather Hanson
The benefits of community-led development in insecure environments
Topics: Civil Society, Citizen Involvement
I have read a lot of research studies in my life, and so I know that lots of research seems to turn up things that we already knew. In some ways, that’s also the case with the study Mercy Corps is about to launch today.
Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps
We carried out this independent study because decades of experience provided us with so much anecdotal evidence suggesting that it is vitally important to involve people in their own development from the start – even during and just after open conflict. And although there have been tons of studies proving the value of participation in development efforts, in conflict and post-conflict setting we saw donors going in the opposite direction – favoring quick impact projects to meet urgent needs rather than laying the groundwork for people’s participation in the long-term development of their own communities.
I’ve been managing this research effort for over a year now and today I am struck by how simple it all looks now that it is finally done. In fact, I know that there was nothing simple about this study – from beginning to end it has been a constant challenge. Without the dedication, vision and skills of many Mercy Corps staff and outside experts it would never have been completed.
First, there’s the countries that we chose to carry out research in. It’s not exactly easy to make your way around Iraq and Afghanistan and interview community leaders and members. Not only did we have to think about security issues, we also had to consider our methodology very carefully to ensure that the people being interviewed felt free to share their opinions with interviewers. In normal research settings this is tough, but in countries with such complex histories of conflict one has to consider many more factors. Our research tools had to be translated into three languages. The interview teams had to include half women to ensure interviews could be completed with designated women in field locations. Random samples had to be reworked and adjusted when security conditions changed where we could safely carry out interviews.
Second, there’s the question that motivated our research. Much research on international development aims to evaluate whether a project has been successful at reaching its basic goals and objectives. Too often that produces measures of output, not of impact. But we wanted to do something altogether different. We wanted to understand people’s perceptions of different development efforts. We wanted to see – through their eyes – what really matters most for people in moments of conflict or post-conflict when things are still unstable and they urgently need assistance to rebuild their lives.
What we found was not a surprise to us. We found that development efforts are viewed as most effective when people are so actively involved that they feel like the project is theirs. This sense of ownership is a real sign that these efforts matter to local people – because they themselves are creating the changes that they value most. We also found that in conflict and post-conflict settings the problems facing local residents can vary considerably, making involvement of community leaders and community members even more important for ensuring that programmes address the needs considered most urgent by local residents. Finally, we found that working hand in hand with local people was essential to creating trust, which is the basic building block for collaborative work to rebuild fragile institutions.
I hope you’ll check out the full result of our study. We are sharing it widely with policy makers, donors and the public, with the hope that we can share with a broad audience the amalgamated voices of many of the courageous Afghans and Iraqis who we’ve worked with over many years.
Blog Post: Posted June 14, 2010, 7:39 am by Mary Tam
Contagious violence
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Topics: Conflict & War, Civil Society
The civil unrest in Osh and Jalalabad brings great sadness to the country. Everyday more lives are lost, houses and businesses are destroyed and optimism is challenged.
And for what? While it’s difficult for me, as a foreigner, to understand and portray the depth of this situation, I can share what I’ve learned from others.
The national flag of Kyrgyzstan, which gained independence in 1991. Photo: Mary Tam/Mercy Corps
There is a history of underlying tension between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south, stemming (as tensions so often do) greatly from a question of land ownership. Yet it would appear that tension is being exploited to provoke violence, rather than the being the root cause of the violence, itself.
This conflict is quite likely the product of actions taken to create instability for the interim government in this time leading up to the referendum. Of young men who want to be a part of something important, or like easy money or are loyal to an ousted leader. Of mob mentality spreading like a virus.
For a more detailed account, check out this article by Aidai Masylkanova. It is not my place to say what should happen or try to explain what people here are experiencing. What I can say is that I am disappointed with humanity, in general. I don’t understand why situations like this happen again and again. And I don’t just mean here in Kyrgyzstan. Civil war, ethnic cleansing, gangs, hate crimes, human trafficking...what is it about being human that makes us so destructive? What is it that gives people the need to cause such pain and believe they are justified in doing so? I struggle to resist emotional defeat and remind myself that there are also people out there with good intentions and honest souls.
An unrepaired window reflects Ala-Too Square, where the people of Bishkek attempt to return to normalcy. Photo: Mary Tam/Mercy Corps
The last few days in Bishkek have been a bit quieter than when I first arrived a few weeks ago. Some people choose to stay in, not knowing whether or not things will escalate here in the capital. Others are simply trying to live their lives, just having gotten back into a routine after April’s events. Wandering the streets of Bishkek, one might not even know Kyrgyzstan is in the midst of a revolutionary period. People work and run household errands. Flags blow in the wind. Children play. There are many interesting things about this country and it’s a shame that Kyrgyzstan has only been brought to the world’s attention due to the recent violence.
I certainly plan on sharing some of the interesting and wonderful things about this country. For now, my thoughts go out to those who are most affected by this conflict and I am grateful to my family and friends for their concern.
Liberia: Growing Leaders:
Video: Posted May 19, 2010 by Bija Gutoff
Community Radio in Liberia
Country: Liberia
Blog Post: Posted April 30, 2010, 4:42 pm by Cameron Peake
A meeting of leaders for recovery in Haiti
Country: Haiti
Speakers and attendees of the event included (from left) Haitian Minister of Tourism Patrick Delatour, Eleni Kalisch from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Mark Schneider from International Crisis Group and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Photo: Cameron Peake/Mercy Corps
Last week Mercy Corps hosted the Haitian Minister of Tourism, Patrick Delatour, in Washington, DC to spur thinking about how the government, private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can work together to promote recovery in Haiti.
Held on an outdoor patio on Capitol Hill, more than 60 guests — including members of the Obama Administration and Congress, leaders in business and the NGO world, and experts on Haiti — convened with a shared commitment to Haiti’s development. Among the guests were the Haitian Ambassador, Raymond Joseph; Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana; and Senator Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey.
The reception underscored the importance of multi-sector engagement around the theme “Partnerships for Development.” Minister Delatour was the keynote speaker on the subject in a lineup that included Nancy Lindborg of Mercy Corps; Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana; Mark Schneider, a Haiti expert at the International Crisis Group; and Eleni Kalisch, a Vice President at Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. All echoed the importance of coordination and sustained engagement in Haiti’s reconstruction.
Professional events are a dime a dozen in DC, but I was particularly impressed by the diversity of the audience at this reception. Haitian small business owners spoke with Red Cross officials; the Haitian Ambassador met with executives from the apparel industry. It was this sort of spontaneous dialogue that we hoped would lead to new perspectives and spark creative solutions.
As the co-mingling subsided and the crowds receded, the guests left the event with the colleagues they had arrived with. But, if our ultimate measure of success if realized, this cross-pollination of leaders will have planted the seeds of partnerships for recovery in Haiti.
Blog Post: Posted April 22, 2010, 4:30 pm by Ruth Allen
“Don’t give us aid, give us a chance!”
Country: Mongolia
Congratulations to the Mercy Corps Mongolia team for winning the 2010 Disability inclusion Award given by InterAction!
Their work is living proof of how major strides for disability inclusion can happen rapidly with focused interventions and strong public-private-civil society partnerships. People With Disabilities (PWDs) are among the most marginalised groups in the rural areas of Mongolia where Mercy Corps’ programmes are implemented. In only 15 months since our programming with PWDs began in Mongolia, the team has had nationwide impact through major policy change and fostering a culture of inclusion.
Mandal Urtnasan (Civil Society Director) and Oidov Vaanchig (FIELD Project Officer) hold the approved “National Standards for Accessible Construction and Walkways,” which Mercy Corps helped a task force write for the government of Mongolia. Photo: Mercy Corps Mongolia
As an initial step, Mercy Corps established a diverse multi-agency task force of leading Mongolian organisations and government and private sector representatives to deliver advocacy campaigns designed to improve the accessibility of public buildings and walkways for PWDs. Insufficient access to basic infrastructure prevents PWDs accessing basic public services such as education, health and social welfare, as well as limiting their ability to seek and find employment.
By consequence, most PWDs in Mongolia are housebound and isolated from community life. The task force also studied the legal environment and worked with engineers to design accessibility guidelines that were then presented to the Mongolian government.
In February 2010, the "National Standards for Accessible Construction and Walkways" became enforceable under Mongolian law. Although approval of the standards will alone not automatically result in greater access for PWDs, they do create the needed legal foundation and provide specific engineering regulations for all current and future buildings in the entire country.
This policy victory has also motivated disabled people’s organisations to strive for the full achievement of accessibility for PWDs in all aspects of life. As a result of the Mercy Corps campaign, 23 accessibility ramps have already been built by government and private sector agencies at their own cost and several agencies have also modified their facilities to accommodate the needs of PWDs (including Mercy Corps ourselves!).
The Mercy Corps Mongolia team has shown that successful public education, advocacy campaigns, collaboration with policy-makers and other activities supporting PWDs can be designed and delivered by and for local people without significant external resources.
Approval and implementation of the new National Standards is only a first step in ending the exclusion of PWDs from social, economic and political life in Mongolia. Real change will only be complete when PWDs are accepted as equals with all people in all spheres of life. As one programme participant said, “do not give us aid, give us a chance.” Mercy Corps is committed to continuing its work with all people in Mongolia to help realize that dream.
Again, congratulations to Country Director Dominic Graham, Civil Society Director Mandal Urtnasan, programme team members Nasandelger Zandan, Oidov Vaanchig, Erdenesuvd Nyam, Dashzeveg Enkhtaivan, Chimeg Chuluun, Odkhuu Sanjaa, Saruul Orsoo and all partner organisations that made these efforts possible.
Bosnia: 17 Years of Restarting Broken Lives:
Blog Post: Posted March 31, 2010, 6:50 am by Marko Nisandzic
Thoughts as Mercy Corps Bosnia comes to a close
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
As the Mercy Corps Bosnia and Herzegovina office closes today after 17 years, our feelings are mixed, of course. Sadness and nostalgia from one side, and pride and satisfaction on the other. Those latter feelings are much more intensive and important, because of everything we've done here over the last 17 years — because of the following. Today, we feel pride and satisfaction, because:
During the 17 years of working as a team, we all gave a significant and very recognizable contribution to the post-war recovery of this country through collective centers; reconstruction and maintenance of thousands of houses for refugees; rehabilitation of necessary infrastructure such as schools, health clinics, electrical grids and water supply systems; building a spirit of reconciliation and understanding between war returnees and local populations; and economic recovery for individuals and communities.
We were, through our work, recognizable and distinguished by all the actors: beneficiaries, local authorities, donors, international agencies and institutions, and a wide variety of partners. We built an organisation that is truly devoted to its goals and which, through the highest standards of its professional work, helps individuals and communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the most effective manner.
The Mercy Corps Bosnia and Herzegovina team outside the office in Tuzla. Photo: David Snyder for Mercy Corps
During this entire time, we established high standards of team work and interaction in-country as well as in relation to the global Mercy Corps team. Many of our colleagues have gone on to other jobs around the world, taking a little bit of us with them.
We had a strength, willingness and desire to fight for our team's opinions, attitudes and vision, even when we were not understood.
We managed to — through all this period and having implemented dozens of projects — remain spotless, with only successful projects, with only satisfied clients, donors and of course headquarters colleagues.
We quickly gained the full trust of the global Mercy Corps team and, as a result, have worked strictly as a team comprised of local and national staff members that were able to achieve great results.
That trust has resulted in our team forming its own, local non-governmental organisation — the Centre for Development and Support. We realize that the time has come for our team to use its knowledge and vision in new ways. We will capitalize on the years of learning and collaboration to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to membership in the European Union through responsible development, sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Even though our office is closing — a decision that was reached by all of us — we have many friends throughout Mercy Corps, the organisation that helped us begin this great work. We will stay in touch with Mercy Corps and therefore remain part of the family.
Here at the end, I need to thank all of you at Mercy Corps — you've worked with us, you've supported us and you've believed in us. You've made it possible for this great story to happen.
That is the strength and legacy of Mercy Corps. And it will remain in our hearts forever. All the best!
Blog Post: Posted March 26, 2010, 12:20 pm by Valerie Ceccherini
Make this election count for the world's poor
The UK General Election will take place very soon, on May 6, 2010. With a large number of new Members of Parliament (MPs) likely to be elected, Mercy Corps wants to make sure that the fight against poverty as well as the risks of climate change and its impact on developing countries feature highly on the agenda of every political party.
So we have engaged in a joint campaign, and endorsed the International Development Vote Global Manifesto, which asks all political parties to commit to fight poverty worldwide focusing on action in five key areas:
- More and better aid and debt relief;
- Tackling climate change;
- Making the global economy work for the poor;
- Good governance and addressing corruption; and
- Responding to conflict situations
This manifesto, which was endorsed by 150 humanitarian and development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), was presented at each political party conference last September and has already been distributed to over 200 UK MPs and Prospective Parliamentarian Candidates.
YOU CAN ALSO TAKE ACTION:
Visit the http://www.voteglobal.org.uk website to find questions to ask your candidates, a handy map of local events and a lot more information about how you can make this election count for the world’s poor.
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