We are increasingly focusing on achieving a few core aims and we are identifying levers for change at all levels. We are committed to forming alliances and networks with other NGOs and working with them to achieve our goals. On issues such as debt we have helped convince multilateral institutions like the World Bank of the power of poverty-focused arguments. These have all involved changing the culture in Oxfam GB and knowing what not to change, what constitutes Oxfam s essence, and the traditional and excellent practice based upon it. We shall do more advocacy work, but this has entailed a culture change in the organisation.
People now see it as an essential outgrowth of our development and emergency work.
Working more closely with others will involve a further change of culture. We are used to taking a lead in the north. We will have to get better at working with others, often in the south, and often in a supportive role. These things were right for us, but they are not right for all NGOs. Some French NGOs have advanced cogent arguments why they cannot sign up to the Sphere standards not because their emergency humanitarian work is not first-class, but because they stem from a different tradition of solidarity.