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What is the Rights Based Approach All About? Perspectives from International Development Agencies

Author: C Nyamu-Musembi and A Cornwall
Date: 2004
Size: 65 pages (548 KB)

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Summary

Are rights-based approaches transformative, or merely a new development fashion? What are the implications for donors of adopting them? This discussion paper by the Institute of Development Studies analyses rights-based approaches in international Non-governmental organisationa, multilateral and bilateral donors.

There is a growing interest in adopting rights-based approaches in development. Enthusiasts regard this as re-politicising development, and a powerful force for change. Critics maintain that they are simply another development fashion. Rights-based-approaches (RBAs) are grounded in human rights legislation and bring an ethical and moral dimension to development in contrast to technical, needs-based approaches. They are inherently political because they call for equity, and assist the marginalised in asserting their rights. RBAs are also pragmatic because they provide a vehicle for increasing the accountability of government towards citizens. However, there is a lack of direct accountability in the relations between donors, recipient governments, NGOs, and target communities. This makes the claim that recipients are transformed from being passive beneficiaries to active rights-holders questionable.

Behind the common language of RBAs, multilateral, bilateral and non-government actors see RBAs in four different ways:

As a set of normative principles that guide how development is done.
As a set of instruments for developing assessments, checklists, and indicators against which indicators can be judged.
As a component to be integrated into programming.
As the underlying justification for institutional strengthening for either marginalised citizens groups or increased accountability, respect and responsibility in government.

RBAs transform the practice of development; from identifying and meeting needs to enabling people to recognise and claim their human rights. They give development agencies the opportunity to shift their approach from unreflective patronage to self-aware exercises of agency on behalf of the poor and marginalised. Key policy pointers are:

The difficult job of transforming power relations between actors must be accepted and thought through.
There is a need for direct accountability to the target communities. At present, this is non-existent. Formal institutions may not be representative, or behave fairly. People's groups may help the marginalised claim rights, but have limited broader impact on society.
Adopting normative principles should not be mere reference to good intentions while repackaging interventions.
Care is needed in using the "checklist" approach to avoid introducing another programme layer and then just paying lip-service to it.
RBAs as an integrated component within programmes risk becoming "add-ons", with no real impact.
To effectively mainstream human rights in development it is necessary to incorporate all four of the above approaches.

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Source: Nyamu-Musembi, C. and Cornwall, A, 2004, 'What is the Rights-based Approach all about? Perspectives from International Development Agencies', IDS Working Paper no. 234, Institite for Development Studies, Brighton
Author: Institute of Development Studies , http://www.ids.ac.uk