I have been meaning to share with you PELUM-ZWE's guiding principles developed in 1995 when the organisation was founded. A friend of PELUM Association, John Wilson shares a lot about the importance of having guiding principles. Over the years, I have found their relevance especially in planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of activities. More often, I use them as "spectacles" through which I get clarity especially when dealing with complex issues.
As I reflect on PELUM-ZWE's guiding principle, I am able to (re)connect with the SPIRIT in which they were formulated. It is indeed a sacred path with the potency to allow us to connect the past, present and future in order to fulfill the reason why PELUM-ZWE exists.
1. People-centred development: We aspire to carry out development that is rooted in the interests, hearts and minds of the communities we work with. People participation is central to our work because we believe that the people are capable of thinking and transforming their lives.
2. Empowerment of land users: We seek to facilitate the empowerment of poor and marginalized people, especially small-scale farmers so that they are listened to, respected and have adequate food and means to lead better lives.
3. Respect for indigenous knowledge: We prize and build on local knowledge systems seasoned into wisdom over several centuries of practice and thought. We challenge over-dependence on the “Western hill of knowledge”.
4. Creativity and innovation: We value and promote the generation of solutions to problems in creative and innovative ways as a fundamental requirement for growth and development.
5. Commitment to action and impact: We only do those things that help communities to bring about sustainable social change.
6. Support for the struggle against exploitative practices: We fight against oppressive policies and practices, especially those with a bearing on smallholder farmers.
7. Gender sensitive development: We lobby for gender and inter-generational equity and equality.
8. Transparency and positive self-criticism: We will always be accountable to network members and to the communities we work with. We will strive to self-criticise so that we learn from doing, reflecting and (re)plan accordingly.
9. Regionalism: We value and foster the spirit of regionalism as strategic alliance harnessing the strength residing in countries of the regions. It is a strategic alliance, a synergy upon which the clout of PELUM is built.
10. Sustainability: Responsible management of natural, physical, human and social capital in a manner that maintains or enhances their productive potential for current and future generations.