Rights-Based Approaches

This report presents the findings of a collaborative Learning Project between CARE USA and Oxfam America, who compared RBA projects with non-RBA projects and identified best practices; and lessons that could be used to improve the application of rights-based approaches in programming.

Case studies that provide compelling conclusions about the differences between rights-based and more traditional projects, and their relative impacts. The failure to respect, protect, or fulfil human rights is a fundamental and leading obstacle to economic development and social justice. Practically speaking, however, we are still struggling to understand what this major organisational shift means. The term rights-based approaches; (RBAs) has become so familiar that we tend to assume that it is well- understood and that it is a foregone conclusion that rights-based approaches offer more potential for sustainable impact. This report presents the findings of a collaborative Learning Project between CARE USA and Oxfam America, who compared RBA projects with non-RBA projects and identified best practices; and lessons that could be used to improve the application of rights-based approaches in programming. In doing this they confirmed that rights-based approaches strengthen development work. For field-based staff, partners, and other development practitioners working on the design and implementation of rights-based projects.