Philosophy

This stream contains information and resources for academic researchers, interested in learning about the Project and its methodology

Section guide

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The Culture and Philosophy of IHAUDP

A Participatory and Holistic Approach

An organization that promotes a certain philosophy must practice what it preaches. It is based on felt need of the community and it requires a dedicated solid team to carry out its important task of poverty alleviation. The Integrated Holistic Approach looks upon its work with the poorest of the poor as being holistic and integrated primarily because the approach is participatory and the community is viewed as both the agent and beneficiary of the development project. Thus the strategy is 'community based' and 'bottom up'. This is a strategy that requires project staff to be dedicated to creating an enabling environment for the community by projecting a model of collaborative and supportive relationship among themselves. Team work among professional and non-professional staff is the name of the game. It is a cardinal item in the philosophy of IHA-UDP to make the families of the members of staff feel part of the project. This is promoted through such simple approaches as project staff being intimately involved in special festive occasions such as Christmas,weddings and sharing in the sorrows of staff during bereavement.

While competitive recruitment through head hunting is the general principle adopted in the process of hiring, greater reliance is placed on character witnesses. What IHA-UDP looks for in its staff is not those whose commitment ends at the end of an eight-hour day but those who are willing to go beyond what a formal job description stipulates. IHA-UDP staff do not impose agency schedules. Rather community convenience is the determining factor in-work scheduling The holistic approach, which is the guiding principle of IHA-UDP operations emanates from the belief that the problem of poverty is a multidimensional one and it is not possible to do effective work in poverty alleviation by just picking one or two variables. So a variety of facets of intervention should be provided in an integrated fashion. Since the staff are required to be role models, they are expected to show models of cooperation and mutual support if the community is going to learn anything from them.

The Donors

Donors are considered as part of the larger membership of the team. The approach attempts to create better understanding in being genuine partners rather than 'give recipient', or 'master-servant' relationship. This challenge to change such relationship to ensure the donors membership of the team, has met with fruitful results.

Relationship with the Authorities

As no organization should work outside the given law of the country, IHA-UDP struggles to make those who are in supervision or positions of authority to join the team in changing quality of life for the poorest community. This is done through attitudinal change from the lowest unit of the government local authority representative to the highest regional or federal officials.

The Advisory Committee

The community felt needs are the major determining factors for setting objectives, preparing plans of action and implementing. The Advisory Committee as well as the Technical Committee are set-up to help the Project with their professional advice, giving support as well as assisting in its endeavour to serve the community with high standard of professionalism, to be accountable, credible and responsible in their performance. They are also part of the team.

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Glossary:

AHISDO: Addis Hiwot [New Life] Integrated Sustainable Development Organization

CBISDO: Community-Based Integrated Sustainable Development Organisation

CD: Community Development

EEW: Educational Extension Worker

IGU: Income Generating Unit

IHA-UDP: Integrated Holistic Approach Urban Development Project

NHG: Neighbourhood Group

PUG: Physical Upgrading

PHC: Primary Health Care

Is anything missing? If you think it would be helpful to add other terms to this list, please simply email the web editor.

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