What I’ve Learned after over a Dozen Years in Inclusive Civic Engagement
I blinked, and over a dozen years have gone by. When I started at my first job - in a small international non-profit with only two co-workers - I expected to build friendships and to learn about the world. What I did not expect was to continuously fall for humanity. This field is exciting, challenging, and will test every previously held belief and bias. I would not change these experiences for the world.
My work is guided by the things that I have learned over these 12+ years. For most development professionals, these ideas are not new, but they are important.
Listen with real interest.
If you do not have a curiosity about people and their experiences, then this field is not for you! One of the greatest joys I have found in working with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs) is that it is a continual learning process. Every story is unique and contributes to the global experience. If this work is approached with listening, it suddenly becomes easy to make connections across advocacy movements, which can be beneficial to the people with whom you are working. Many of the advocates I connected with wanted to know about what was happening in rights movements in other parts of the world (see point three below).
I have seen colleagues at many international organizations arrive in a country with preconceived notions or become jaded about the places in which they were working. They brought “answers” and approaches not always contextualized to the topic or geographic area. What is missing in that equation is that people have a right not only to influence international support but to lead how they want it to take place. As an international professional, it is critical to remember that they were here before you arrived and will be here after you leave. This work not only impacts real lives but can only be successful when internationals listen (and, more importantly, follow what they learn).
Advise, don’t “build” capacity.
Each person is an expert of their own lived experience. This is simply a fact! When working with people who live in different country contexts, we can provide advice, relevant international examples, and proven effective good practices, but what happens after that must be the prerogative of those we support. This point is closely tied to point one; listen first, then advise.
Build community, not contacts.
I have noticed among my colleagues two approaches to working internationally: prioritizing people and prioritizing networking. Certainly networking has its place, but inherent in the practice is the transaction. International civic engagement support cannot and should not be a networking exercise.
One of the greatest joys I have had in this work is making incredible friends around the world. Some of my friends are people at my organization, and many have been people who were in trainings that I facilitated. There is initially an inequality — a power dynamic — in the facilitator-participant relationship, but connecting on a personal level — as peers — is essential. Not only does this encourage questions and interaction but it makes the experience more enjoyable! Would you prefer to go to a training with a stranger or a friend?
Building friendships also builds trust. One of the things I have learned working with advocates in challenging contexts is that trust is hard-earned; often there are security considerations when sharing information, for example. Once you know each other and it feels safe to do so, advocates can be more open and frank about the challenges that a they are experiencing. This in turn helps you to provide advice that is more relevant and impactful, which becomes more actionable for the advocate.
Most importantly, I treasure these friendships. Learning is a two way street; I have benefited immensely from the wisdom of friends in the over 25 countries where I have worked. Their guidance and experiences have made me not only a better professional but a better person.
Don’t forget the bigger picture.
As in every industry, there is intense competition among organizations. In development, there are real life consequences for organizations that focus more on their gains than on the people in country that they serve. I was fortunate at IFES to work with colleagues who could see beyond the everyday annoyances of discussions among INGOs. It can be tempting as an individual to become frustrated with international partners for lack of coordination, for implementing ideas that were not theirs, and for work that is perhaps not up to a standard. Although these actions can (and often do) impact partners in country, it is important to remember that this is not the end-all-be-all of development. Stepping back to look at how we got here (how are relationships with other INGOs, for example?) and what we can do better (how can we ensure that our petty squabbles do not make things worse for the people we serve in country?) is not only a useful exercise but necessary for individual mental health.
Take breaks.
Working in this field can be intense. So many of us are passionate (to a fault?) and are putting all our energies into ensuring that programs and activities are the best they can be. I have met many colleagues who have been - have have myself experienced - burnout. Without time to let one’s mind wander, to contemplate, and, most importantly, to rest, it is not possible to continue working in this field. Take breaks early and often. Remember that you are working on a team, and lean on team members. Inclusive civic engagement is not proprietary to any individual; it takes support from all people, including donors, implementing partners, in country partners, and individuals. Most importantly, coming back from a break results in renewed energies that can make the work more creative and more impactful.