How We Work
Our Working Approach
Rights-based approach (RBA)
Rights-based approach aims at strengthening the capacity of duty bearers (the institutions obligated to fulfil the rights holders' rights) and empowers the rights holders (who do not experience full rights). SNJD applies special focus on empowering those poor and highly marginalized communities so that they can claim their rights in a responsible manner. At the same time, assisting communities acquire knowledge and skills that lead to changed attitudes and transforming people into informed decision makers and active citizens. Active citizens are able to challenge policies or actions and existing structures on the basis of principles such as equality, inclusiveness, diversity and social justice.
Community-Based Empowerment Approach
Empowerment is both a means and an end SNJD’s work with communities. This implies consulting the people first, in particular the poor and the marginalized, considering the impact of decisions and activities on them and enabling them fully to participate in and own these activities. SNJD engages with communities in ways that enhance and build on competencies and capacities of people, particularly the poor and the marginalized so that they can direct their own development, both as individuals and as active members of families, groups and communities.
Participatory and Inclusive Approach
SNJD is accountable to work for the poor and marginalized communities. While aligning its project goal and objectives with government, it will include goals and objectives set forth by the rights holder community, which is developed through participatory approach. It supports local government bodies to include those poor and marginalized communities in their formal and informal institutions and also support them to develop capacity of those community members for effective participation in local bodies and institutions.
Workforce Diversity
Workforce diversity will be promoted while recruiting staff and consultants, and developing local resource persons. Emphasis will be on increasing diversity and inclusion among staff from the excluded and marginalized castes and ethnicities at all levels. Serious attempts will be made to include a minimum of 50% women in staff composition at all levels.
People with Disability (PwD) & GESI Mainstreaming
Local institutions and community-based organizations, including groups/Cooperative will be assisted to be more inclusive, democratic and transparent in their functioning so that excluded, marginalized and disable women and men will have a proper voice and an equitable share of resources. Greater participation by such people has an important role to play in ensuring diversity and equitable treatment by these decision-making bodies.
Integrated Program Approach
SNJD provides highest priority to the project that is aligned with SDGs, government program and also targeted to poor and marginalized communities. Understanding the holistic needs of the rights holders, SNJD makes its maximum effort to create synergy with existing projects.
Cooperatives-Based Development Approach
SNJD promotes saving and credit cooperatives led by women, Dalits and Indigenous Minorities. It strengthens capacity of the cooperatives, including the community-based women-led cooperatives in ensuring that their policies, organizational strategies and business plans are pro-poor and inclusive and effectively implementing them. Attempts will also be made to mainstream the entire community in the development process with clear division of role, responsibilities and necessary action for each group of people in the community.
Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change Adaptation
SNJD supports communities that are extremely vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Environmental considerations will be integrated into the identification and design of projects in the areas of: promoting technologies and practices for increasing agricultural food production and food security in the context of climate change; land use management; soil conservation; alternative or green energy use etc. Adaptation strategies as part of disaster risk management and sustainable livelihoods are inextricably linked to the protection and management of natural resources and will be a core aspect of this work in the project.