Working with children as stakeholders in development: the challenges of organisational change

Abstract

This article considers the challenges of promoting children's participation in development programming. It argues against the tendency to see the main obstacle to achieving this aim as technical. Instead it explores the institutional dimensions of change that may be required. The experience of a four-year process of training and organisational review within Save the Children Denmark provides the substance for reflection about the kinds of cultural and structural change that are implicated in enabling a development organisation to become capable of engaging young people as stakeholders in a meaningful and sustainable manner.

Travailler avec les enfants en tant que parties prenantes du développement: les défis des changements organisationnels

Cet article traite des défis à relever au moment de promouvoir la participation des enfants aux programmes de développement. Il présente des arguments à l'encontre de la tendance à considérer que le principal obstacle entravant les efforts pour arriver à ce but est d'ordre technique. Au lieu de cela, il examine les dimensions institutionnelles des changements qui peuvent être requis. L'expérience d'un processus de quatre ans de formation et d'examen organisationnel mené au sein de Save the Children Danemark fournit la substance pour une réflexion sur les sortes de changements culturels et structurels qui entrent en jeu pour permettre à une organisation de développement de devenir capable de faire participer les jeunes comme parties prenantes, et ce de manière utile et durable.

Trabalhando com crianças como partes envolvidas no desenvolvimento: os desafios da mudança organizacional

Este artigo avalia os desafios de se promover a participação de crianças em programas de desenvolvimento. Ele argumenta contra a tendência de ver o principal obstáculo para se alcançar este objetivo como sendo técnica. Em vez disto, ele explora as dimensões institucionais da mudança que podem ser requeridas. A experiência de um processo de treinamento de quatro anos e revisão organizacional dentro da Save the Children da Dinamarca oferecem a base para reflexão sobre os tipos de mudança cultural e estrutural que estão implicadas para permitir que uma organização de desenvolvimento torne-se capaz de engajar os jovens como stakeholders de uma maneira significativa e sustentável.

El trabajo con niños como sujetos en el desarrollo: los retos del cambio institucional

Este ensayo analiza los retos de promover la participación de los niños y niñas en la programación del desarrollo. Sostiene que el principal obstáculo para lograr el objetivo no es técnico y, más bien, se analizan los cambios institucionales que podrían ser necesarios. Basándose en el proceso de capacitación y evaluación organizacional que se realizó durante cuatro años en Save the Children Dinamarca, se analízan los cambios culturales y estructurales que serían necesarios para que una organización de desarrollo pueda relacionarse de manera significativa y a largo plazo con jóvenes.

Keywords:

• Civil society
• Gender and diversity
• Rights

Notes

Given its base within the USA – one of only two countries not to have ratified the UNCRC – Save the Children US does not explicitly pursue a rights-based approach to development and humanitarian initiatives.

Statement taken from the International Save the Children Alliance website www.savethechildren.net/alliance/about_us/mission_vision/index.html Accessed 25.08.09

See www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org/cmsfiles/ingo-accountability-charter-eng.pdf for the text of this charter.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jason Hart

Jason Hart (corresponding author) is a lecturer in international development at the University of Bath and a research associate of the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford.

Marianne Bo Paludan

Marianne Bo Paludan is an adviser on policy, strategy, and change with Save the Children Denmark and chairperson of the Danish Children and Youth Network.

Lene Steffen

Lene Steffen is an adviser on civil society, child participation, and rights-based approaches with Save the Children Denmark.

Geoff O'Donoghue

Geoff O'Donoghue is the International Director at CAFOD – the Catholic agency for overseas development.