From Polls to Policy: Building a UK coalition for community-led global development

With just weeks to go before the UK General Election politicians are trying to maintain a disciplined focus on their key themes, seeking that critical moment of cut-through to the electorate. Many organisations are putting forward their priorities to draw the attention of an incoming Government.? So much information. So many messages. So many problems to be solved and challenges to be addressed.?

In the midst of this noise there is always the danger we lose sight of the real goal.? It is not the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ that has the capacity to effect change.? In elections there is such a lot of focus on the ‘what’; identifying the problem that needs fixing. The ‘how’ is a less attractive narrative; details dragging on the nimble messaging.? Any proposed solutions are often left to some broad brush top line policy indications or directions of travel.?

We know from our programme partnerships in central and eastern Africa that acute climate impact, conflict, hunger and malnutrition are impacting massively on lives and livelihoods; on those individuals with whom we share a common humanity, and with communities with whom we share a global interest.?

Despite this, and the immediacy and severity of the global challenges, I suspect International Development will not get much air time during this election campaign, either on the ‘what’ or the ‘how’. There may be one or two top line policy announcements from the main parties in manifestos - a commitment to get back to 0.7% of GDP spent on aid, perhaps a return to a bespoke Government department for International Development. These would be significant headlines, but we need to go much further in connecting the top line to the communities affected.

At Five Talents we know through our programme partnerships in central and eastern Africa, that empowering communities with the right skills can be a simple and effective way to address some of these global challenges. A recent independent report on our Literacy and Savings Group programme partnership in Burundi shows the incredible economic and social impacts over two decades when you start with the communities you are seeking to serve; building on the assets of communities, rather than just identifying what is lacking. The report shows that community-led development -? built on invitation, partnership and empowerment - is sustainable and effective. The empowerment of women members of literacy and savings groups in particular builds resilience and stability through education, enterprise and employment, even in the most disadvantaged and challenging parts of the region.? This is a ‘how’ that really works in enabling people to provide for their families, become more resilient to climate change and to build peace in their communities.

I suspect more unites than divides The Labour Party 's Lisa Nandy and The Conservative Party MP Andrew Mitchell in their outlook and sense of mission for UK international development. In this vital area of Britain in the world, what a step forward it would be if our national leaders could not only agree on the challenges, but begin to coalesce around some of the solutions; taking this election campaign as an opportunity to bring both supporters and sceptics with them on the journey.?

For more information on Five Talents UK 's approach to #internationaldevelopment, visit our website or check out our latest impact report.