New DARE Forum position papers

The development education working group o the CONCORD confederation, DARE Forum, published two new position papers. The first one, Development needs Citizens, redefines the role and contribution of development education and awareness raising (DEAR) to the development discourse. The paper, which was endorsed by the DARE Forum members at their last meeting in May, defines “development” as “shared responsibility for planet and humanity”. It argues that DEAR fosters public engagement: This would be important in order to provide legitimacy for political action on global justice, to foster individual engagement and to open a public debate on the root causes of global poverty.

Development Education, based on strong universal values and through the promotion of critical thinking and deep engagement, would be particularly well placed to do so. Furthermore, DEAR would foster the emergence of a Global Civil Society: DEAR as citizens’ empowerment for change, not involved with a “powerful giver-grateful receiver approach” would be particularly well placed to engage citizens all around the world in issues of global justice, which then would form the natural tissue of a global civil society. And lastly, DEAR would be central to new development paradigms such as a Human Rights Based Approach to development, Policy Coherence for Development and Development Effectiveness. The paper contains a number of recommendations to NGOs and other development actors. Download the position paper from the DEEEP website.

DARE Forum Youth and Children working group has published a position paper on Involving Youth and Children in Development Education and Awareness-raising.

For more information contact by DEEEP advocacy officer Tobias Troll

Information provided by DEEEP