Cord works almost exclusively in partnership with local & international organisations to achieve our mission. We strive to ensure that all our partnerships are characterised by valued, meaningful and interdependent relationships.
Cord aspires to work in partnerships which are mutually empowering rather than conditional, which emphasise ‘power with’ rather than ‘power over’, whilst at the same time recognising power imbalances. We recognise and celebrate the unique qualities and capacities that our partners bring to our work. We seek to maximise these qualities in addition to bringing our own experience and expertise.
Our partnership principles
Cord uses the following partnership principles, to ensure strong working relationships, clear roles and responsibilities and local ownership throughout:
- Shared understanding of goals and objectives;
- Clarity of purpose and expectations;
- Joint accountability and transparency;
- Reciprocal dialogue and consultative decision-making;
- Reflective practice is used to enhance working relationships.
Our ‘Charter for Change’
Cord strongly supports the drive to increase local ownership and decision making in humanitarian, development and peacebuilding work known as the ‘Localisation agenda’. We regularly evaluate ourselves against the 8 components of the ‘Charter for change’ that was created to shape what localisation looks like in practice:
1. Passing funds to Local Organisations
A key element of most Cord projects is the sub-granting of funds to partner organisations
2. Principles of Partnership
We place high value in partnership and sign a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with all partners
3. Transparency of funding
Cord is open and transparent with regard to our sources of funding and these are published in our annual report
4. Fair Recruitment policies
Cord always seeks to recruit local staff to country teams without taking those with the most capacity away from local organisations
5. Advocate to funders
Cord regularly promotes the benefits of working with local partners to our donors and the unique challenges they face
6. Involvement from the beginning
Cord always seeks to involve partners in project and programme design from the very start, ensuring the issues highlighted and proposed solutions are locally relevant and needed
7. Capacity Development
All Cord’s projects include development of the capacity of our partners as a standard element, any support is discussed agreed with the partners
8. Recognising our Partners
In Cord’s communications we strive to highlight the amazing role of our partners and the invaluable work that they do
