Collaboration with partners
Our understanding with partners
Our involvement is based on an understanding between equal partners. We understand that our role is to mediate and guide in order to underline the importance of children’s rights and the ways to effectively implement them and incorporate them into projects. Creating sustainable development is the concern of each and every one of us, whether we live in the north or south. We are all responsible for the future of the next generations. So the ideal for us is a partnership which confronts current challenges and needs and is determined to create a better future.
Based on openness, clarity and mutual respect, we support our partners in carrying out their campaigns and projects on the implementation of children’s rights and humane development.
Our contribution
We offer efficient and effective expert advice, based on our years of experience in different African countries:
- Support and guidance on strategy and concept development of a children’s rights-based approach to work,
- Guidance on drafting project proposals Involvement in financing projects and support in looking for further means of finance and cooperation partners,
- Support in project management (planning, setting up and leading a participatory monitoring system, evaluating etc.),
- Guidance and collaboration on formulating guidelines, procedures or handbooks (“good practice”),
- Guidance and management of the organisation incl. financial management, administration and personnel management,
- Guidance on increasing public and lobby work on the subject of children’s rights.
The change towards greater sustainability has to come from local participants who have a vision and a holistic approach to work, and are not restricted to short-term aid.
Our Work Principles
1- All projects supported by KiRA contribute towards promoting rights for children and young people in their individual living environment; cultural and religious values are respected as long as these do not breach the general rights of people and children.
2- KiRA demands that projects serve as models. This means they must be adapted to the culture, be carried out by the population and have adequate funding to put them into practice. We also want both our partner organisations and the population to have the openness, curiosity and courage to get involved in something new, so that we can pursue these new paths together.
3- In accordance with our basic understanding of the responsibility of the individual for their own actions, campaigns should grow from our own initiative; only then can they be sustainable. To that effect, one of our basic principles is that project ideas and the engagement for implementing rights for children and young people come from the African partner organisations.
4- Nevertheless, KiRA can be proactive themselves; they can seek out new or less well known incidents of breaches of children’s rights, begin suitable initiatives and research, and get partners or alliances to fight against these incidents.
5- In this way, all projects promote self-potential and autonomy, not just from the project partners but also from the target groups. This enables them to put forward and implement their own requests and rights (empowerment) and therefore create sustainability.
6- This is particularly relevant for children and young people who would like to engage in asserting their own specific needs. Their requests should be considered, supported and promoted (participation of children and young people).
7- Girls and young women require particular consideration since they are more in need of protection against violence, discrimination and social exclusion. They are supported, so that their specific interests can be put into effect and incorporated into projects, meaning their strategic and practical needs and requests are considered (empowerment / consideration of gender aspects).
8-The collaboration with other likeminded national or international organisations is promoted, as well as work within networks, as long as they are concerned with achieving the goal of an ‘Environment which Protects Children’s Rights’.
9- Projects developed and implemented together, should also be supported by the project partners. This requires intensive exchange, openness and clarity in administration, finance and personnel management.
10- With regards to a project which has shared responsibility, KiRA expects adequate financial, material and personal participation from the partners on the project and, to a lesser degree, also from the target group.
11- KiRA finances projects using its own resources, and engages in raising funds from German and international cooperation partners when there is a lack of finances.
12- The structure of the partner organisation should be straightforward and the administration should be clear. Major decisions should be made democratically, by obtaining and considering the opinion of all parties involved.
13- The personnel adminisatration of the organisation is open about age and gender, nationality, ethnicity and religion. It rules out discrimination and is based on the laws and regulations in force in that particular country.
14- KiRA’s code of conduct with regards to corruption and sexual abuse of children is also adhered to by the partner organisations and signed by all staff employed on the project promoted by KiRA.
Cooperation Partners
International partners
- European Commission, Brussels
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Development Aid, Belgium
- SIDA: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
- Kindermissionswerk (“Pontifical Missionary Childhood in Germany”), Aachen, Germany
- CORDAID, Netherlands
- Caritas International, Freiburg, Germany
- Women’s World Day of Prayer, Stein/Nuremberg, Germany
- Missio, Aachen and Munich, Germany
- Fransiscan Sisters, France
- Oak Foundation, Switzerland
- Alois-Erb-Stiftung, Switzerland
- Sternstunden e.V., Munich
- UNICEF
Local partners
- Ministries for: Social Affairs, Human Rights, Interior, Family, Women and Children, Defence, Culture and Health.
- Organisations of civil societyLocal child protection committees (adult and youth voluntary workers), religious orders, parishes, mayors and church wardens, village elders and traditional village chiefs.
- Networks of local or international NGOs
- Media: Journalists, local newspapers and radio stations

