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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Sanjay Sinho, Director Health Unit, CARE, 151 Ellis St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30303-2440, 404-979-9434, sinho@care.org

Over the last decade CARE, along with the larger international community, has shifted its programming paradigm to incorporate rights-based approaches in its poverty reduction work by addressing not only the short-term needs of populations but also working at the level of systemic, underlying causes of poverty. CARE defines rights-based approaches as those that “deliberately and explicitly focus on people achieving the minimum conditions for living with dignity …by exposing the roots of vulnerability and marginalization and expanding the range of responses.” The four principles of RBA programming - participatory governance, promoting inclusive development, mutual accountability in respect of rights and responsibilities, and a holistic perspective focusing on root causes - underscore CARE's programming principles and approaches.

CARE believes that poverty and poor health are linked in an iterative, causal cycle, with poor health being both a consequence and an underlying cause of poverty. CARE has identified three determinants of the underlying causes of poverty: human conditions, social positions, and enabling environment. Through increasing emphasis on addressing issues of social positions and enabling environment, in addition to human conditions, CARE's work in the health sector is addressing the systemic causes of poor health and poverty.

To support this organizational evolution, CARE is trying to create a culture that rewards learning and sharing. Successful knowledge sharing improves the effectiveness of programming by enhancing CARE's ability to quickly share successful field practices and by boosting program innovation.

The implications of applying rights-based approaches will be illustrated through highlighting CARE's work on gender-based violence.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify key enablers and barriers to adopting rights-based approaches to health programming from one NGO’s experience.
• Using gender-based violence as an example, attendees will be able to discuss the implications of employing rights-based approaches.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation