Embassies play a vital role in the co-ordination of bilateral and multilateral development efforts. Certain embassies organise and directly implement a funding country bilateral aid (such as the Dutch Embassies). Other external funder countries, such as Germany, manage grant schemes through their diplomatic offices abroad. Embassies could also provide crucial training schemes to support the managerial and administrative capacity of NGO workers (such as the British Embassy) and serve as platforms to get in contact with other local and international NGOs working in the same field of action. This guide takes in account programmes and strategies of five embassies working in developing countries. It illustrates what strategies have been so far implemented, offers ideas on how to engage local embassies on collaborative projects.
Useful Resources
The Haki Zetu handbook is a practical toolkit for local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) working with local communities to realise their economic, social and cultural rights. The main target group is rural or local activists and development workers who would like to use a rights-based approach to tackle economic and social problems. The handbook can be used immediately on the ground, to help NGO/CBO workers in their jobs to assist communities secure access to economic, social and cultural rights. It will assist them to better study laws and policies and promote citizens to use them and monitor where they are not being used effectively. This is part 1 of the book.
The Haki Zetu handbook is a practical toolkit for local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) working with local communities to realise their economic, social and cultural rights. The main target group is rural or local activists and development workers who would like to use a rights-based approach to tackle economic and social problems. The handbook can be used immediately on the ground, to help NGO/CBO workers in their jobs to assist communities secure access to economic, social and cultural rights. It will assist them to better study laws and policies and promote citizens to use them and monitor where they are not being used effectively. This is Part 2 of the handbook.
The right to the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human right. However, millions of people in Africa do not receive adequate health care. Putting the right to health into practice would allow everyone, regardless of who they are or what health problems they have, to be able to receive help and treatment. Better health would also benefit the economy and society as a whole, argues Amnesty International. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) can make a significant difference by promoting the right to the highest attainable standard of health. NGOs and CSOs have already encouraged governments to realise the right to health and they should continue to do so by monitoring government policies, calling attention to violations of the right to health and empowering communities to participate in realising their right to health. In conjunction with the main handbook (included in this newsletter), this booklet explains how this can be done. The booklet is divided into three sections: Section 1 gives a brief introduction to the right to health and the main issues facing CSOs working on the right to health; Section 2 gives advice on preparing to work on the right to health; and Section 3 is about realising rights in practice.
One of the most powerful ways to visualise information is to display it on a map. You can use the Ushahidi Platform for information collection, visualisation and interactive mapping. It is free for you to download and use and is aimed at activists, news organisations and every-day citizens. It provides information mapping tools that allow you to track your reports on the map and over time. You can filter your data by time and then see when things happened and where, as it's also tied to the map. With multiple data streams, the Ushahidi Platform allows you to easily collect information via text messages, email, twitter and web-forms.
The Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage systematically documents the reforms of its member countries and other countries that have expanded health coverage through demand-side financing. The network has compiled all available data on this website, which contains case studies describing the key highlights and technical features of each programme for each country. This tool allows users to compare health funding mechanisms for various countries, including African countries.
The Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool has four key objectives: 1. Help identify unintended potential health equity impacts of decision-making (positive and negative) on specific population groups. 2. Support equity-based improvements in policy, planning, programme or service design. 3. Embed equity in an organisation’s decision-making processes. 4. Build capacity and raise awareness about health equity throughout the organisation. The HEIA tool includes a template and a workbook that provides users with step by step instructions on how to conduct an HEIA. The workbook walks users through five steps: scoping, potential impacts, mitigation, monitoring and dissemination. The results are recorded in the HEIA template. The tool may be used by organisations both inside and outside the health care system whose work can have an impact on health outcomes.
The World Health Organisation’s Health Equity Monitor currently includes data for about 30 reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health indicators for 91 countries, disaggregated by child’s sex, place of residence (rural vs. urban), wealth quintile and education level. Data are based on demographic and health surveys and multiple indicator cluster surveys conducted in the represented countries - 90 of which are low- or middle-income countries - totalling nearly 200 surveys in the period 1993-2011. For around half of the countries, data are available for at least two time points. Country profiles are also provided. These highlight disaggregated data for each of the 91 study countries, using the most recent available data. Finally, interactive visualisations show inequalities in select health outcomes and services (situation and trends).
A billion people around the world never see a health worker in their lives. This short, animated video asks ‘Where are the health workers?’ It looks at the problem of health worker migration from developing countries to developed countries, resulting in severe staff shortages in the donor countries. It proposes retention strategies in the form of living wages, decent working conditions, supportive management and adequate training for health workers. These health workers are also seen as important drivers of change through educating the public about health issues. They can serve as role models in their communities and save many lives. The video promotes the vision of ‘A health worker for everyone, everywhere’. With powerful visual representations and simple English, it can be used for health worker advocacy work in African settings.
This motion design documentary puzzle looks at cities that are reversing water privatisation to regain public control. Unequal access, broken promises, environmental hazards and scandalous profit margins are prompting these municipalities to reverse privatisation. The video explores water 'remunicipalisation' in Buenos Aires and Paris, looking at the challenges and benefits of reclaiming public water. It calls on citizens worldwide to mobilise around this option.