Good Governance

Amplifying all peoples’ voices and rights, fostering good governance, enhancing inclusive access to services, preventing and resolving conflicts and ensuring that people on the move, whether by choice or force, do so safely, in decent and dignified conditions.

Helvetas supports local actors in achieving sustainable systemic change that

amplifies the voices of vulnerable communities, migrants and refugees
enhances the space for civil society and the private sector to meaningfully participate in inclusive decision making
strengthens the capacities of public institutions to deliver gender and youth responsive services and to articulate transformative policies for a cohesive society

Our Edge

Expertise
With decades of experience and a team of highly skilled professionals, Helvetas brings solid knowledge and extensive experience to every project. The Good Governance team consists of gender-balanced, highly professional, committed, and multilingual advisors with solid experience working in international development cooperation across the globe.

Innovation
We are at the forefront of inclusive and sustainable development with cutting-edge approaches and methodologies. Our innovative methods and development approaches are designed to address contemporary democratic challenges and drive institutional change, setting new standards for sustainability and efficiency

Commitment
Helvetas nourishes long-term partnerships with development actors, which builds a strong track record in the on-system work, inclusion and sustainability. We are dedicated to equitable and impactful initiatives that benefit both people and their livelihoods

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Key Strengths and Value Propositions

Our Good Governance portfolio focuses on:

Governance & Civic Space: Our aim is to ensure that communities and civil society can claim their rights and meaningfully engage in development and policy processes. To achieve this, we develop the capacity of civil society to wield influence, and for local governments to manage resources and efficiently and transparently deliver public services.
Urban engagement: We encourage urbanization that is sustainable and inclusive by advancing the capacities of public institutions and facilitating citizen engagement in urban planning.
Conflict transformation: We build cohesive societies where people can live in dignity by fostering peaceful relationships and creating spaces to exchange ideas, prevent radicalization of youth, and constructively resolve conflicts by tackling their root causes and potential drivers.
Migration: We maximize the development benefits of migration and protect the rights of migrant workers and their families by strengthening institutions that work at the interface between governments, migrants, and migrant organizations in the places of origin and destination.

Our cross-cutting topics:

Gender & Social Equity (GSE): GSE focuses on people centred approaches. It addresses inequality, discrimination, and exclusion based on gender and social factors. Good Governance projects focus on systemic and transformative change by addressing policies, governance systems, culture and values, with affirmative actions which promote women’s representation, leadership, decision-making and public and/or political participation.
Advocacy & Human Rights: Advocacy is a transversal theme in all our work, enabling systemic change by strengthening local partners and improving policy frameworks. We utilize our Advocacy toolbox broadly and consistently. We also follow a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) aiming to protect, defend, and promote political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural rights. HRBA reinforces accountability, participation, transparency, and non-discrimination by aligning our work with international human rights frameworks and mechanisms. See our guidelines for using the UN and EU human rights mechanisms.

«This playground was built on our initiative»

Dujan Stojkovic’ (l) and Živosav Simic’, the founders of the Roma association “Rom,” sitting on a small playground on Veliko Gradište in eastern Serbia

Our Offerings

Partner with HELVETAS to drive impactful projects, promote innovation, and build a reliable sustainability network through:

Supporting the design, implementation, adaptation and reviews of projects;
Promotion of innovations through applied research and sourcing of good international practices;
Developing and contextualizing methodologies, tools and approaches such as Conflict Sensitivity; Political Economy & Power Analysis, Socially Inclusive and Gender Responsive Budgeting, Social Dialogue & Audits, Experiential Peace Education and Arts & Culture for Social Cohesion;
Conducting DAC evaluations, feasibility analyses, and capacity development;
Managing knowledge, capitalizing and sharing of project experiences;
Concluding partnerships in consortia, and joint project implementation.