JLI Fair & Equitable Approach

JLI is undertaking a process to re-envision its joint learning and knowledge partnerships. The Fair and Equitable Approach is shifting power, resources, and leadership to local, national, and regional levels, by building inclusive and accessible Regional Joint Learning Hubs.

These new Regional Hubs bring together researchers, policy-makers, practitioners and local faith actors to define and lead their own learning and evidence agendas.

The initiative was inspired by JLI’s Commitment to Action for Racial Justice and Solidarity, and ultimately aims to create safe, inclusive spaces to confront power inequalities in knowledge and evidence.

Regional Joint Learning Hubs :

Are inclusive of national and local languages

Are accessible to different faith communities, including non-dominant faiths

Reach out beyond traditional humanitarian and development organizations

Integrate fair and equitable approaches across research and practice

Background

Local communities are central agents in their own liberation, yet they continue to be marginalised in decision-making and excluded from equitable resource allocation by the international aid sector. Racist and colonial mindsets continue to permeate aid agencies and systems globally. One symptom is underestimating the capacities and expertise of local faith actors. 

Confronting asymmetries of power is uncomfortable and requires Northern organizations to be willing to give up privilege and share power.  JLI aims to address issues such as a lack of acknowledgment of colonial legacies, the dominance of Western theological constructs, the marginalization of indigenous knowledge and belief, complicity in broader racist structures in aid and development, and inequity between local and international actors.

Agenda for change

Over the next two years the JLI will focus on the following priorities to develop new models of joint learning. These two pillars feed into restructuring JLI’s leadership and governance.

Contact us:

If you have any questions in mind, or would like to join us and embark on the Fair & Equitable journey, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter and stay updated about our progress on the Fair and Equitable Initiative. We will be tweeting with the hashtag #JLIFairEquitable.