Guiding Principles for Working from Within

In the decade since the International Conference on Population and Development, UNFPA has initiated culturally sensitive approaches in diverse cultural and social contexts. Through this work, a number of common themes have emerged, which are examined in more detail in the case studies themselves. For example, we have learned that:

• Communities can be encouraged to incorporate universally recognized rights into their own realities through an exploration of how human rights and gender issues contribute to the well-being of men, women, children and families.

• Promoting behaviour change often begins by identifying individuals who have the capacity and legitimacy to motivate and mobilize communities. Partnering with local ‘agents of change’ has become an invaluable strategy in gaining wider acceptance and ownership of programmes.

• Effective negotiation requires an understanding of the interests of diverse stakeholders -- from political leaders to civil society organizations, cultural leaders and the private sector. Until their interests are clearly understood, it will be difficult to find common ground.

• Gaining the support of agents of change and local power structures is often necessary before engaging effectively with communities. One way to do this is by presenting evidence-based data on issues of concern to the community, such as the health of mothers and children, the impact of violence against women, and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Such information can help defuse potential tensions by focusing on the shared goal of people’s well-being. Once trust develops, discussions can be expanded to more sensitive issues.

• Avoiding value-laden language can help create neutral ground in which understanding and support for programme objectives become possible.

• Carefully developed advocacy campaigns, closely tailored to the cultural context in which they are launched, can make it easier to deal with sensitive subjects. These campaigns should reflect a clear understanding of the views of both allies and potential adversaries, and draw from sources that are popular within a given culture. In Uganda, for example, the use of African music, poetry and drama has proven to be an effective way to reach a wide audience. In Muslim contexts, using Islamic references in advocacy campaigns has helped to dispel suspicions and promote local ownership.