The following are excerpted from the UNFPA publication Working from Within:
24 Tips for Culturally Sensitive Programming. These guidelines for
development practitioners can lead to more effective and efficient implementation
of almost any project. http://www.unfpa.org/culture/24tips/cover.htm).
1 Invest time in knowing the culture in which you are operating.
Understanding how values, practices and beliefs affect human behaviour is fundamental
to the design of effective programs. Nowhere is this understanding more important
than in the area of power relations between men and women.
2 Hear what the community has to say. Before designing a project,
find out from community members what they hope to achieve. Soliciting their
views on different aspects of a project, from the overall strategy to specific
advocacy messages, can foster local acceptance and instill a sense of ownership.
3 Demonstrate respect. Make an effort to show that you understand
and respect the roles and functions of community leaders and groups, avoiding
attitudes or language that may be perceived as patronizing.
4 Show patience. A great deal of dialogue and awareness-raising
may be needed to persuade others to accept new ways of thinking, especially
ones that challenge beliefs closely tied to individual and social identity.
Invest as much time as necessary to clarify issues and address any doubts. If
questions are not resolved, they may resurface later and derail progress.
5 Gain the support of local power structures. Winning over
those who wield power in a community, whether they be NGOs, women’s groups,
religious leaders or tribal elders, can be a crucial first step in gaining acceptance
at the grass roots. Make sure your first encounter sends a positive message.
6 Be inclusive. The best way to dispel mistrust is through
a transparent process of consultation and negotiation involving all parties.
7 Provide solid evidence. Using evidence-based data, show
what program interventions can achieve, such as saving lives. In addition to
advocacy, such information can be used to clarify misconceptions and obtain
support from policy makers and local power structures, including religious leaders.
Credible evidence is especially important when the issues under discussion are
controversial.
8 Rely on the objectivity of science. Addressing culturally
sensitive issues in the context of health can help diffuse the strong emotions
that may be associated with them. A technical or scientific perspective can
make discussion and acceptance of such issues easier.
9 Avoid value judgements. Don’t make judgments about people’s
behavior or beliefs. Rather, put your own values aside as you explore other
people’s thoughts and dreams, and how they think they can best achieve them.
10 Use language sensitively. Be cautious in using words or
concepts that may offend. Frame issues in the broader context of health and
healthy families and communities.
11 Work through local allies. Rely on local partners that
have the legitimacy and capacity to influence and mobilize a community. Such
partners have the added advantage of knowing what local people are likely to
accept.
12 Assume the role of facilitator. Don’t presume to have all
the answers. Give up control and listen to others express their views, share
their experiences and form their own ideas and plans. In an environment charged
with ethnic or religious differences, assuming the role of facilitator sends
a message of neutrality.
13 Honour commitments. Doing what you say you will do is a
powerful way to build confidence and trust.
14 Know your adversaries. Understanding the thinking of those
who oppose your views can be key to successful negotiations. Analyze the rationale
on which they base their arguments and be ready to engage in an ongoing and
constructive dialogue.
15 Find common ground. Even with seemingly monolithic institutions
there are different schools of thought. Look for areas of common interest that
can provide entry points for working with nontraditional partners.
16 Accentuate the positive. When addressing harmful traditional
practices, emphasize that both harmful and positive practices are found in all
societies. This can help diffuse tensions around the challenging issues.
17 Use advocacy to effect change. Well-planned advocacy campaigns
are particularly important when project goals are likely to provoke religious
or cultural controversy.
18 Create opportunities for women. Give women the opportunity
to express themselves and demonstrate their capabilities. This can help diminish
false, culture-based beliefs about stereotypical gender roles.
19 Build community capacity. Reinforce a sense of ownership
and ensure sustainability by strengthening the skills of community members,
including health-care providers and peer educators.
20 Reach out through popular culture. In many parts of the
world, music and dance are popular cultural expressions. Use them to communicate
new ideas, and be sure to involve young people in the creative process.
21 Let people do what they do best. Often, an appropriate
role for traditional or religious leaders is mobilizing communities or helping
to reshape public opinion. Seek their engagement in these areas.
22 Nurture partnerships. Cultivating relationships requires
an investment of energy, patience, and time. Don’t allow them to disappear just
because [work] has ended. Sustaining partnership beyond a single [consultation]
allows trust to mature, increasing the chances for positive results over the
long term.
23 Celebrate achievements. Bringing accomplishments to the
attention of others and publicizing success can create a sense of pride and
reinforce community involvement.
24 Never give up. Changing attitudes and behaviors can be
an excruciatingly slow process, especially in closed societies. Don’t expect
to accomplish everything at once. Even small changes are significant, and may
be more enduring over the long term.
