Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Protea is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities, ensuring program sustainability, and promoting local ownership which is fundamental to achieving lasting impact. We are committed to decolonizing global health and localizing aid by centering the voices and leadership of the communities we partner with.
Empowering Marginalized Communities
- We prioritize the active participation of historically marginalized groups.
- We engage in active listening and co-creation with affected communities to ensure our interventions are responsive to their needs and ambitions.
- We implement participatory monitoring and evaluation practices that involve local stakeholders in assessing impact.
Sustainability of Programs
- We design and implement programs with long-term sustainability at the forefront, ensuring that they are community-driven.
Local Ownership
- We endeavor to shift power to local actors by supporting the autonomy and leadership of community-based organizations and institutions, and, when working with INGOs, local counterparts.
Decolonization of Global Health
- We recognize and actively challenge the colonial legacies and power imbalances in global health.
- We advocate for equitable partnerships that move beyond extractive research and aid models, ensuring knowledge products and decision-making are shared equitably.
Localization of Aid
- We advocate for channeling resources directly to local organizations, ensuring that they benefit those closest to the issues being addressed.
- We work to reduce dependency on international aid.