Overview

LIFE WITH DIGNITY (LWD) is a local NGO, transformed from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)/Department for World Service’s Cambodia Program in Jan 2011. LWD, under the local leadership, continues working with all existing donors/partners and related government agencies to improve the livelihoods of the poor in rural Cambodia. LWD continues the more than 30-year-old program of LWF Cambodia (since 1979), which shifted its mode of operation according to the country context from emergency relief, demining, resettlement and rehabilitation to integrated rural development with an emphasis on rights-based empowerment, to uphold the rights of the poor and oppressed. Beyond a focus on the delivery of Development Service to the poor in rural Cambodia, LWD has also provided Training and Consultancy Service (TCS) since 2007. In 2015, the Training Unit was transformed into LWD Learning Center.

Vision

People living with dignity

Mission

LWD facilitates the empowerment of vulnerable people to claim their universal rights.

Goal

“To contribute to the equitable development of Cambodia, through enhancing local good governance, improving sustainable livelihood, and increasing resilience to prepare for, cope with and adapt to disasters and climate change.”

Core Values

  • Justice  LWD recognizes the inherent dignity of every person and supports vulnerable communities in their efforts to achieve justice, human rights and a sustainable future. LWD facilitates the empowerment of those with whom it works to achieve this end.
  • Equity – LWD promotes fair, even and sustainable access to and distribution of resources and the equitable delivery of social service. And we believe in the event and balanced treatment of all men and women.
  • People’s Participation – LWD Programs are characterized by inclusive and participatory processes regardless of ethnicity, races, religion, political view and gender. LWD facilitates participation and promotes ownership of focus groups by applying the empowerment approach, which gives people choices or options in their lives and the competence and confidence to seek and obtain their universal rights and achieve a life with dignity.
  • Transparency and Accountability – LWD maximizes its capabilities through responsible stewardship of all entrusted resources. This is complemented by the highest standards, flexibility and pragmatism in program implementation—balancing accountability towards the affected population and the expectations of partners and back donors. LWD is committed to transparency of its motives and aims, as well as its financial transactions.

OBJECTIVES

Objective 1: To enhance local good governance, focuses on:

  1. Civic Education
  2. Increasing Responsiveness of duty bearers
  3. Increasing Collective Voice and Advocacy of rights holders

Objective 2: To improve sustainable livelihood, focuses on:

  1. Increasing Income Generation
  2. Improving Food Utilization
  3. Increasing Food Production

Objective 3: To increase resilience to prepare for and cope with disasters and adapt to climate change, focuses on:

  1. Increasing responsiveness of duty bearers in Disaster Risk Reduction DRR and CCA
  2. Emergency Response
  3. Building resilience of disaster prone communities in DRR and CCA

Objective 4: Organizational Development and Strategy, focuses on:

  1. Organizational governance and human resources management
  2. Quality Program
  3. Resource mobilization and financial management & stewardship
  4. Effective communications
  5. Learning and knowledge management

Approaches

LWD applies four approaches in their day-to-day work to improve the living standard of the poor in rural Cambodia.

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[acc_item title=”Rights-based Approach”]The Rights-based Approach builds closer engagement between rights holders and duty bearers for better responsiveness and accountability following the human rights normative such as the United Nations Declarations and Conventions, Millennium Development Goals, National Constitutions, pro-poor development plans and other relevant international as well as local laws.

It enables the rights-holders to be active citizens by encouraging them to exercise their rights and engage in development processes. Civic education to right holders and capacity building to duty bearers is provided in all levels to promote quality of interaction and informed decision-making and responsiveness. Promoting advocacy and dialogue among those stakeholders is a mechanism to enlarge space for positive interaction and to lead for addressing the issues.[/acc_item]

[acc_item title=”Integrated Approach”]The Integrated Approach also strives to link different focuses in a holistic manner, such as good governance, sustainable livelihoods, disaster preparedness, climate change and sustainable development.[/acc_item]
[acc_item title=”Community-led Approach”]The Community-led Approach enables communities to take the lead in their development toward their self-reliance for long term sustainable local development. The community empowers itself by tackling their issues with the  resources gathered from their local initiatives through capacity development, building hope and self-confidence and promoting cooperation with relevant key actors.[/acc_item]
[acc_item title=”Partnership Approach”]The Partnership Approach brings all relevant stakeholders with expertise to address the development challenges effectively, efficiently and sustainably. Additionally, it builds ownership and long-term partnership through working together, contribution and shared responsibilities. All relevant partners work closely with each other to identify the critical challenges and undertake joint actions to meet the common goals. Communities are the main partners while other stakeholders come together to achieve the objectives. This partnership approach is well linked with the community-led approach and contributes significantly to achieve the common goal by addressing the local issues.[/acc_item]
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