Social Justice Group – Guiding Principles for Planning, Action and Funding

Wherever possible, all planning, action and funding should strive to:-

• raise awareness about the causes of poverty
• contribute to ending poverty
• bring people together in organisations to empower them to act
• reflect the felt needs and priorities of poorer communities
• reach the poorest people
• involve people, especially women, in planning and implementing initiatives
• use local people and skills
• respect the local physical environment
• serve the whole community (not just one religious group)
• influence the policy and practice of others
• support organisations that are credible and authoritative in their field.

In funding, we should maintain a balance between providing sustained support for particular organisations for longer-term and/or specified periods, and providing one-off support for organisations which we feel need support at particular times.

These principles are based on Christian Aid’s development guidelines.