Research report: the level of integration of the human rights-based approach by French NGOs

Paris, October 22, 2024

Publication of a report on the level of integration of the human rights-based approach by French NGOs (French only)

The general objective of this study is to promote the operationalization of the human rights-based approach (HRBA) in development projects and programs following France's commitment to integrate such an approach in all sectors of its international cooperation policy.

This report offers a non-exhaustive analysis of the level of integration of a HRBA by a sample of NGOs, an analysis based on the comments collected from collaborators of French international solidarity NGOs. It highlights the divergences in the understanding of the HRBA and reveals the many difficulties that NGOs face and which compromise an effective integration of this approach. These include insufficient funding from donors to achieve the objectives of the HRBA, but also a lack of time and human resources that prevent the identification of rights holders and their needs from being fully carried out.

It also makes recommendations to NGOs to strengthen existing positive approaches and address the shortcomings identified. In particular, we recommend real political support for the HRBA at the highest level by NGO leaders. We also call for the strengthening of participatory evaluations of projects and the establishment of internal complaint mechanisms so that rights holders can express their concerns and actively participate in improving projects.

However, the integration of the HRBA cannot rely solely on NGOs. We therefore recommend that the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, as well as private and public donors, formulate requirements for the integration of the HRBA in their calls for projects for NGOs. These requirements should be systematically accompanied by sufficient budgets and adequate project durations in order to allow for the gradual integration of the HRBA by NGOs.

This report is intended for NGOs and all stakeholders involved in France's international cooperation policy so that they can gradually implement this approach.

This study was written by Amélie Lafage and Charly Hamel of the Euclid legal clinic at the University of Paris Nanterre at the request of Human Dignity, with the support of the association's management and the supervision of their tutor Florian Couveinhes-Matsumoto. The study is the sole responsibility of its authors, and as such, they are independent of any opinion of the University of Nanterre as an institution. It is the result of research work and a series of interviews conducted with employees of French international solidarity NGOs. The comments collected are those of the interviewed collaborators and do not engage their respective organizations.

For more information on the HRBA, do not hesitate to visit our website and/or contact us.